The rumors are finally official, and Royce Keys is WWE-bound. Some fans may already be familiar with Keys and his previous work under the alias Powerhouse Hobbs, but I’m sure there are many who aren’t.
Royce Keys made his debut in the company at the Royal Rumble PLE entering at number 14 and went straight for Damian Priest. In the match he eliminated Priest and not long after was eliminated by Bronson Reed.
But how did Royce Keys get his previous name that he became well known for, Powerhouse Hobbs? What makes Powerhouse Hobbs a so-called “powerhouse”? Why should the WWE roster be intimidated by this WWE newcomer? There are many reasons that they may not be aware of if his appearance in the Royal Rumble wasn’t reason enough.
Who is Will Hobbs?
Before he earned his title, Powerhouse Hobbs, he went by Will Hobbs/Rood on the independent wrestling scene. His career began back in 2009 in California. He was wrestling for promotions such as APW, PCW, and more.
It wasn’t until 2020 that he became more widely known after signing with AEW. At the time Alle Elite Wrestling was still a new company too. They helped build each other and had faith in each other’s ability to succeed, which came true.
Despite how difficult 2020 was for everyone, Hobb’s still made his presence known in the company. This includes the fact that many of Hobbs’ first matches in AEW were on AEW Dark, which is only streamed on the company’s YouTube channel. He didn’t let the fact that there were no live fans there diminish the connections he would make with them. He may have had a slow start with the company, but it turned into a very successful next few years.
All Elite Wrestling
Going into AEW in 2020, Hobbs pushed his way towards the frontline. During his five years there, he has been in the ring with some of the wrestling world’s most well-known names. People such as Claudio Castagnoli (WWE’s Cesaro), Jon Moxley (WWE’s Dean Ambrose), Konosuke Takeshita, and so many more.
Hobbs also held gold in AEW. He was the TNT Champion and Trios Tag Team Champion with Katsuyori Shibata and Samoa Joe (The Opps). Hobbs’ last match in AEW was a loss to Adam Page and JetSpeed (Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight) for the Trios Tag Team Championships.
The Opps held the championships for 273 days, which is a very impressive reign. This loss was a sign to many that new things were soon to come for Hobbs, as it was discussed that his contract would be expiring soon. He is incredibly talented and has a bright career ahead of him, no matter where he may end up.
What will Royce Keys Bring to WWE?
Powerhouse Hobbs earned his name, but now is a new chapter. The chapter of Royce Keys. He is 6ft 1 in and is 266 pounds of muscle. The WWE hasn’t seen anyone like him. There will be a bunch of new opponents for Keys as he enters WWE, and it will be exciting to see what approach is taken first. With what happened in the Royal Rumble match, it seems like Damian Priest may be his first opponent.
Many of the matches he has in WWE will be against opponents he has never stepped in the ring with. Meaning that every match will be unpredictable, and I’m sure he won’t disappoint. Keys has the potential to be a top guy in the WWE. He is a unique individual who makes the perfect professional wrestler. It’s time to get ready for the powerhouse.
WELCOME, ROYCE KEYS!!! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/q1t9DD0t6Z
— WWE (@WWE) January 31, 2026
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