Royce Keys may have made a surprise debut at the Royal Rumble, but behind the scenes, his WWE debut was the end result of serious frustration during his time in AEW. Speaking on the DukeLovesRasslin podcast on February 7, 2026, D-Von Dudley opened up about Keys journeyand revealed just how unhappy the powerhouse formerly known as Hobbs had become before making the jump. D-Von, who previously worked with Keys when he was appearing as an extra in WWE, said the difference now is clear: under WWEs system, Keys finally has the environment he needs to thrive. He added that WWE offers a level of mentorship and growth that cant always be replicated elsewhereand that its already made a difference for others whove jumped from AEW. This comes after Rikishi recently revealed on his Off The Top podcast that he was the one who advised Keys to leave AEW in the first place. Rikishi said the two had a long-standing relationship and shared that Keys had reached out to him during his time in AEW for guidance. Now, with Royce Keys officially in WWE and already making an impact, both D-Von and Rikishi believe the gamble is already paying off. Do you think Royce Keys will reach the next level in WWE? Or did AEW miss the mark in letting him walk? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication. G Add as a preferred source on Google
