The dust has settled on WWE Royal Rumble 2026, and the road to WrestleMania has begun with a bang. There is a lot to unpack from the evening: from the dominant wins by Liv Morgan and Roman Reigns to the showcasing of new talent. But one of the underrated highlights from this past weekend was the WWE debut of Royce Keys. After spending the last six years in AEW as Powerhouse Hobbs, it appears he has found a new home in WWE.
The Powerful Beginning of Royce Keys
William Hobson was born in East Palo Alto, California, and grew up a dedicated wrestling fan. During high school, he transitioned from the football field to the wrestling ring, where Donovan Morgan and former WWE superstar Ezekiel Jackson trained him. He even spent time learning under the “World’s Strongest Man,” Mark Henry.
Hobson made his in-ring debut in 2009 as Will Rood, spending the next decade on the independent circuit with APW. True to his future ringname, he was a powerhouse during his tenure, becoming a three-time Worldwide Champion and a three-time Tag Team Champion.
Following several appearances on AEW Dark, he was rewarded with a contract on September 5, 2020. During his time in AEW, he adopted the name Powerhouse Hobbs, serving as a key member of Team Taz and later joining The Don Callis Family.
During his time in AEW, he captured the AEW TNT Championship and the AEW World Trios Championship alongside partners Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata. However, he was best known for his powerhouse physique and signature move, the “World’s Most Dangerous Slam.” The move was directly inspired by Mark Henry, whom Hobbs describes as his “Wrestling Dad.” He even shared that he has Henry saved in his phone contacts as “Dad.”
Following the expiration of his AEW contract in January 2026, he decided to move on and sign with WWE. He was a surprise entrant in this year’s men’s Royal Rumble match, entering at number 14. Rather than using his past moniker, he debuted a new name: Royce Keys. The name holds special meaning, as “Royce” is the name of his youngest son and “Keys” is his late mother’s maiden name.
Now that he has officially arrived on the WWE stage, it remains to be seen whether Royce Keys will make his mark on the main roster or start his journey in NXT. Regardless of where he lands initially, the possibilities for blockbuster matchups are endless when he does make the transition to Raw or SmackDown.
From hard-hitting veterans to rising superstars, here are five potential opponents who would be the perfect first tests for the powerhouse when he lands on the main roster.
