Why Royce Keys Isn't On WWE Television At The Moment (WWE News)
WWE boss Triple H still has grand plans for former AEW man Powerhouse Hobbs/Royce Keys.
Bodyslam.net are reporting that Royce Keys, who debuted as part of the 2026 Royal Rumble field over in Saudi Arabia in late-January, is currently working dark matches with a view to popping up on TV soon. WWE boss Triple H remains high on the former AEW star after renaming him from Powerhouse Hobbs to Royce.
In other words, the website doesn't think there's any cause for alarm just yet.
Meanwhile, PWInsider's sources within the company tell them that Keys is being "acclimated" to the way WWE does things. Thus far, he's wrestled dark matches against Nathan Frazer and both members of The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) before episodes of SmackDown go live on the air.
It's expected that Keys will land on the blue brand once he's ready, and there are even talks that he'll win the show's annual Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Of course, that match used to be a sneaky way to get more guys onto the WrestleMania card, but it's more of a television attraction these days.
Royce is predicted to enter the mix for that. If Hunter ultimately decides against it, then he'll be kept in reserve for the traditional post-'Mania lull and be used as a way to spice things up on SmackDown under GM Nick Aldis. Basically, it looks like Keys will land in a good spot no matter when WWE ushers him onto screens again.
PWInsider also noted that the promotion shot vignettes that are ready to go. They could start showing up on programming any minute now.