{"id":152583,"date":"2026-02-04T09:00:39","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T14:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=152583"},"modified":"2026-02-28T18:36:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T23:36:46","slug":"the-powerhouse-has-arrived-5-must-see-matchups-for-royce-keys-in-wwe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/02\/04\/the-powerhouse-has-arrived-5-must-see-matchups-for-royce-keys-in-wwe\/","title":{"rendered":"The Powerhouse has Arrived: 5 “Must-See” Matchups for Royce Keys in WWE"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.\u00a0 <\/span>But one of the underrated highlights from this past weekend was the WWE debut of Royce Keys<\/a>. After spending the last six years in AEW as Powerhouse Hobbs, it appears he has found a new home in WWE.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Powerful Beginning of Royce Keys<\/h2>\n

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 \u201cWorld\u2019s Strongest Man,\u201d Mark Henry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u201cWorld\u2019s Most Dangerous Slam.\u201d The move was directly inspired by Mark Henry, whom Hobbs describes as his \u201cWrestling Dad.\u201d He even shared that he has Henry saved in his phone contacts as \u201cDad.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s men\u2019s 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 \u201cRoyce\u201d is the name of his youngest son and \u201cKeys\u201d is his late mother\u2019s maiden name.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The
Photo Credit: AEW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

5. Jacob Fatu\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Despite his high-profile feud with Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu would be an excellent option for Keys. Both men share the rare ability to be much quicker than their size suggests, making them an ideal match in the ring. Their shared combination of surprising speed and agility would make for a standout physical encounter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An excellent match option for these two would be a Street Fight, as it would allow them to showcase their impressive athletic ability while highlighting their brute strength. Incorporating weapons like chairs and tables would perfectly display their dominance and intensity in the ring.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two have crossed paths before, most notably in 2016 for All Pro Wrestling, where Fatu defeated Keys (then known as Will Hobbs) in his promotional debut. This history provides a perfect foundation to build upon when they do eventually meet. Seeing Fatu and Keys collide and go toe-to-toe would be an absolute treat for the fans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

4. Bronson Reed\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Amongst all the names on this list, Bronson Reed feels like the most logical opponent to face Keys imminently. Reed was the one who eliminated Keys from the Royal Rumble this past weekend, cutting his WWE debut shorter than he would have liked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A match between these two would be a true \u201cBattle of the Behemoths,” with the winner being crowned the company\u2019s ultimate powerhouse. This would give Keys the perfect opportunity to exact his revenge, though WWE would need to be bold in its booking to make this match unforgettable for the fans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To make this matchup truly must-see, WWE could create a viral moment rarely seen in the ring. There have been only a few instances in WWE history where the ring has collapsed; having it happen again during a battle between these powerhouses would make a massive statement. <\/span><\/p>\n

Brock Lesnar and Big Show were the first to stun fans and commentators with this feat, and recreating such a legendary spot would generate instant viral buzz and elevate both Reed and Keys to a new level of popularity.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Brock Lesnar\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Despite his recent run-in with Oba Femi, whom he eliminated in the Royal Rumble, Brock Lesnar remains an extremely intriguing opponent for Keys. With rumors suggesting Lesnar is nearing the end of his in-ring career, engaging in a feud with a high-profile legend like \u201cThe Beast\u201d could do wonders for Keys\u2019 trajectory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A clash between these two would be a battle of heavy hitters, carrying a \u201cGodzilla vs. King Kong\u201d atmosphere. If WWE views Keys as a future main-eventer, a feud with Lesnar would be the perfect way to solidify his status at the top of the card.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WWE fans have a specific love for matches between two powerhouses who try to run through each other. Since both Keys and Lesnar utilize a \u201csquash\u201d style of offense to dominate their opponents, seeing what happens when two men who cannot be easily overpowered finally collide would create immediate, high-stakes drama.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Oba Femi<\/b><\/h2>\n

Following his dominant performance this past Saturday, fans are incredibly excited about Oba Femi\u2019s future. The WWE Universe is so sold on him that many hoped to see him go the distance in the Royal Rumble, with some even making a compelling case that he should have won the match.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite that momentum, he was eliminated by Brock Lesnar, teasing what could potentially be a future WrestleMania clash between the two. Once that rivalry concludes, Royce Keys would be an ideal opponent for him for a number of reasons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The two share a rare combination of raw strength and explosive offense, making them ideal rivals. This matchup would also provide a perfect opportunity for WWE to showcase two superstars viewed as potential torchbearers for the future of the industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This would be a rare matchup where neither man would have a clear physical advantage, creating a truly compelling dynamic. While Femi has the height and weight advantage, Keys\u2019 experience and powerhouse style make him one of the few wrestlers capable of matching Femi\u2019s raw strength. A clash between the two would be a high-intensity, physical encounter that would keep fans on the edge of their seats.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. CM Punk\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Amongst all the wrestlers discussed here, CM Punk might be the most surprising addition to the list. The two share a notable history, as Royce Keys (competing then as Powerhouse Hobbs) was Punk\u2019s opponent in his second AEW match at Rampage: Grand Slam in 2021. As it was Punk\u2019s first televised wrestling match in over seven years, it was a significant milestone for Keys to go toe-to-toe with such a legend.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keys has frequently spoken about the significant mentorship he received from Punk during their time in AEW. Punk would often sit down with him after shows to offer advice and encouragement following his matches. Given Punk\u2019s elite mic skills, drawing on this personal history could open up a fascinating psychological angle for a potential feud.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fast forward to today, Punk is the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion, receiving immense praise for the quality of his run. He has already successfully defended the title three times, with every defence occurring on Monday Night Raw. Having Punk grant Keys a title opportunity would be a perfect way to spotlight Keys\u2019 abilities and put him over, signalling the confidence the company has in his future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether he\u2019s colliding with the raw strength of \u201cAus-zilla\u201d Bronson Reed or testing his technical limits against CM Punk, one thing is certain: WWE needs to showcase Keys as a cornerstone of the future. The blueprint for this success already exists in the rise of Trick Williams; the task now is for the company to replicate that momentum and prove that Royce Keys is, indeed, the next big thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/b><\/strong><\/amp-ad><\/amp-ad><\/p>\n

Header photo \u2013 WWE\u00a0\u2013 Stay tuned to the\u00a0<\/span>Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/span><\/a><\/u>\u00a0for more on Royce Keys\/Powerhouse Hobbs and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/span><\/em><\/amp-ad><\/amp-fx-flying-carpet><\/amp-ad><\/p>\n

You can check out WWE programming on\u00a0<\/span>Netflix<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(Raw, WWE archives, WWE Unreal, and other specials),\u00a0<\/span>USA Network<\/a>\u00a0(SmackDown),\u00a0The CW<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(NXT),\u00a0<\/span>ESPN\u00a0<\/span><\/a>(WWE PLEs),\u00a0<\/span><\/em>Tubi<\/a>\u00a0(WWE Evolve),\u00a0A&E<\/a>\u00a0(WWE Superstar Sunday \u2013 Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments) and\u00a0Peacock<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(Saturday Night\u2019s Main Event). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on\u00a0<\/span>YouTube.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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.\u00a0 But one of the underrated highlights from this past weekend was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5699,"featured_media":152598,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2192,4,3],"tags":[7238,9624,7214],"class_list":["post-152583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wrestling","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-powerhouse-hobbs","tag-royce-keys","tag-wwe-royal-rumble"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152583","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5699"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=152583"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152583\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":154094,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152583\/revisions\/154094"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/152598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=152583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=152583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=152583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}