Royce Keys' WWE Brand Revealed

Royce Keys - the former Powerhouse Hobbs - will be a full-time wrestler on the main roster following his WWE debut.

Keys made his first WWE appearance at the 2026 Royal Rumble, entering the men's Royal Rumble match as the #14 entrant. Keys eliminated Damian Priest and lasted just under 10 minutes in the match before he was dumped over the top rope by The Vision trio of Logan Paul, Bronson Reed, and Austin Theory.

Keys' time in the Rumble suggested he had ready-made feuds on both Raw and SmackDown, but the former Powerhouse Hobbs will be spending his time on Friday nights. According to BodySlam, Royce Keys was backstage at Raw in Philadelphia following the Royal Rumble and the word was he will be a part of the SmackDown roster moving forward.

Royce Keys' WWE debut came together just a couple of weeks after his contract with All Elite Wrestling expired. The reaction to Keys' appearance at the Royal Rumble was met with positivity both within WWE and AEW.

WWE had been interested in Hobbs for several years and the company even tried to sign him shortly after his AEW debut in 2020. WWE were interested in Hobbs again a couple of years ago, but he opted to remain in AEW at that time.

Hobbs' new ring name of Royce Keys has a personal touch as his son's forename is Royce, while his late mother's maiden name is Keys.