10 Superstars Who Could Debut (Or Return) On WWE Raw After WrestleMania 42
8. Royce Keys
Speaking of Mr. Keys...
...here he is! The one time Powerhouse Hobbs debuted with a thump (after a quick 'huh?' moment from the live audience, admittedly) at the Royal Rumble over in Saudi in late-January. Since then, he's been largely missing from programming. Royce did produce an emotional, grounded interview with Stephanie McMahon, but that's been about it.
Keys has been working dark matches at SmackDown shows in the interim and nothing else. Thus far, he's beaten Nathan Frazer, both members of the Motor City Machine Guns in singles matches, then Rey Fenix twice. Triple H is reportedly happy to play the waiting game on Royce until he has something massive in store for him.
Fair enough, but questions are rightly being asked about why he was even in the Rumble at all if he wasn't going to make an immediate splash on telly. WWE chiefs do seem charmed by his childhood story and willingness to share it, but it's anyone's guess whether or not that plays a part in his character on the main roster when it comes.
AEW flirted with the same thing before getting cold feet and reverting to type by casting the then-Hobbs as a meathead heavy, so maybe that'll happen to him in WWE as well. Whatever the case, don't rule out big Royce getting some Oba Femi-esque treatment once he does start showing up on TV regularly.
The dude is visibly strong. He looks like a walking action figure from head to toe, and that still carries some weight in the company. It'll guarantee Keys a chance, at least. That could start on the Raw after Vegas.