Despite making a debut at the Royal Rumble in January, the immediate future of Royce Keys on WWE television remains uncertain. According to a new report from WrestleVotes Radio, the creative direction for the former Powerhouse Hobbs is currently unknown, leaving many to wonder when the powerhouse will officially join a weekly roster.
During the latest episode of WrestleVotes Radio, it was revealed that while Keys has been present at recent television tapings, there is currently “nothing” that they know for him that is in the works.
“Nothing. Big question mark. Absolutely nothing. You know, we had speculated that SmackDown was the place for him. It certainly does still seem like that’s going to be his home. I know he was backstage Friday night. Saw some pictures of him. Don’t know when he’s showing up on TV. Hopefully, they have an idea. Hopefully, this is part of the plan.”
His absence from the actual broadcast has led to frustration among fans who were impressed by his performance in Saudi Arabia, where he memorably eliminated Damian Priest before being tossed by Bronson Reed.
Internal reports previously suggested that a planned program with Damian Priest was scrapped due to broader creative changes heading into WrestleMania 42. While Keys has remained active behind the scenes—recording content at WWE Headquarters and even competing in a dark match against Nathan Frazer—his television debut as a full-time roster member has yet to materialize.
WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, 2026. The event will see CM Punk defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns. Whether Royce Keys will find a slot on the star-studded card depends on how quickly the WWE creative team can finalize a direction for the newcomer.
Thanks for putting this out, Sean. We were asked during our live “Q&A” show if we had heard an update on creative plans for Royce Keys — the answer was “no, nothing.”
That DOES NOT translate to WWE “having nothing” for Royce Keys. Simply listening to the podcast would reveal… https://t.co/SUqKuylX5U
— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) March 3, 2026
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