The highly anticipated SmackDown debut of Royce Keys is set to take place this Friday. At long last, Keys is set to make his official debut on the main roster. WWE shared the news via a social media post. Keys reflected on his upbringing, and most notably said, “I refuse to be defined by where I’m from, but instead by where I’m going.”
The last time WWE fans saw Keys on their screens was at the WWE Royal Rumble, where he entered at number 14. He made an immediate impact, shocking the crowd by eliminating former World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest shortly after entering the ring. Despite that incredible moment, his time in the match was short-lived. He lasted only 9 minutes and 55 seconds before being eliminated by Bronson Reed.
From the Royal Rumble to SmackDown
Since making his debut at the Royal Rumble, Keys has been absent from television, with fans yet to see him on either Raw or SmackDown. In the meantime, he has been competing in a series of dark matches intended to help crossover talent acclimate to WWE’s specific pacing. During this period, he’s been honing his craft against the likes of Rey Fénix, Nathan Frazer, and the Motor City Machine Guns.
Most recently, Keys competed in a dark match this past Monday before Raw, dominantly defeating Brutus Creed. It’s possible that specific performance was what finally convinced Creative he was ready for the spotlight. The burning question for fans is what WWE has in store for Royce Keys moving forward, especially tomorrow night.
With WrestleMania 42 just over a week away, the company has several intriguing directions they could take. Whether he makes a statement in the ring or shakes up an existing storyline, all eyes will be on Royce Keys tomorrow night to see if he can truly live up to the hype.
