The debut of Royce Keys (formerly Powerhouse Hobbs) at the 2026 Royal Rumble was designed to make an impact. Entering at number 14, Keys eliminated former World Champion Damian Priest before eventually being tossed out by Bronson Reed. It seemed like the start of a major push for the new signing, yet Keys has not appeared on WWE television since that night. A new report from WrestleVotes sheds light on why the powerhouse has been kept off-screen during the most important time of the year.
According to the report, the original creative direction called for a feud between Keys and Damian Priest stemming from the Rumble elimination. “I do believe the program we end up getting is Damian Priest and Royce Keys… But if you’re changing the top of the card, that means the bottom or middle part of the card is up for grabs,” the report explained. It appears that shifts in the main event picture for WrestleMania 42 caused a “trickle-down effect” that disrupted the planned mid-card programs, leaving Keys without a confirmed spot for the time being.
“They had an idea to do Damian Priest and Keys coming out of the Rumble… there are still a lot of matches up in the air, and that’s one they reconsidered. That’s the reason Royce Keys hasn’t shown up,” the source added. This hesitation suggests that WWE wants to ensure Keys has a concrete direction before reintroducing him to the audience, rather than having him float aimlessly on the roster.
Interestingly, Keys himself confirmed his presence at the arena for tonight’s show. Earlier today, he took to Instagram to post a photo of the signage at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, promoting tonight’s episode of Raw. While his creative plans may be in flux, his presence backstage indicates he is ready to go whenever the writing team finalizes the script.
With WrestleMania 42 rapidly approaching, the window to establish a marquee match for Keys is closing. However, a post-Mania debut on Raw or SmackDown often serves as a strong launchpad for new talent, potentially positioning him for a major run in the summer of 2026.
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