Backstage Plans For Royce Keys Revealed (WWE News)
WWE originally wanted Royce Keys to feud with a big star after Royal Rumble 2026.
WrestleVotes Radio (via Fightful Select) is reporting that Royce Keys was supposed to start feuding with Damian Priest following his debut over in Saudi Arabia at the 2026 Royal Rumble PLE. Sources say that Keys vs. Priest was going to be a major program on SmackDown, but Royce hasn't made his in-ring debut on the blue brand just yet.
Nobody's quite sure why this was scrapped - neither Priest nor Keys are carrying an injury that'd threaten their potential rivalry, but WWE's creative team decided not to press ahead with it. Of course, they may just be keeping things on ice for now. It could start soon. Only time will tell on that front.
WrestleVotes Radio did speculate that the topsy turvy nature of WWE's build towards WrestleMania 42 could've played a role here. Perhaps Triple H has decided to go in a different direction with Priest, or maybe he fancies doing something else with the debuting Keys entirely.
A feud with former World Heavyweight Champion and current upper-midcard babyface Damian would represent a solid start for Royce on the main roster. It's promising that WWE have him in mind for stories that high up the card, but it's also true that warring with Priest hasn't done much for Aleister Black's standing.
It looks likely that Keys will end up on SmackDown whether the story vs. Priest happens or not. Again though, that idea isn't 100% locked in at time of writing. Stay tuned for more news on precisely why the planned Royce vs. Damian feud has been (temporarily?) iced if/when it breaks.