Debuting for WWE in the Royal Rumble was a dream come true for the former Powerhouse Hobbs. Now known as Royce Keys, the wrestler arrived in WWE as a surprise entrant in the men’s Royal Rumble match last Saturday. He signed with the company shortly after finishing up with AEW last month, ending a nearly six-year run that included reigns as TNT Champion and Trios Champion.
WWE uploaded a behind-the-scenes video today documenting Keys’ debut. The footage captures his raw emotions upon seeing the magnitude of the event for the first time. Standing on the stage before the show, Keys expressed disbelief at the scale of the production and the realization of a lifelong goal.
“This is wild. This is like something out of a movie, man,” Keys said while taking a look at the Rumble stage. “This whole setup. Walking down this aisle and into the ring and background. It’s pretty amazing, man. I’m getting goosebumps under this sweatshirt. It’s crazy. It feels real. Looking at the ring, the seats, the stage setup — it’s real. Never thought I would be part of something this big. This is huge. Leading to the Grandaddy of Them All. WrestleMania. This starts tonight.”
Reconnecting With Cody Rhodes
Keys also caught up with another former AEW wrestler, Cody Rhodes, backstage. In a touching moment, Keys explained the depth of their friendship and how much the current Undisputed WWE Champion means to him personally, citing Rhodes’ support during a personal tragedy. However, he noted that friendship wouldn’t stop him from competing.
“He’s probably going to get mad, but this dude doesn’t know how special he is to me. Thank you for everything,” Keys said regarding Rhodes. “That dude’s been there for me, toughest time of my life when my mom passed away. But if I gotta kick his ass, then I gotta kick his ass. This is special, man. It’s just like, seeing familiar faces. It’s real. I’m home, I’m moved in. So it’s time to collect.”
Words From The Boss
The video also featured a brief interaction between Keys and WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque before the match. Levesque offered words of encouragement to the new signing, helping to ease his nerves by affirming that he belonged in that spot.
“We’re going to get rolling and get some good sh*t started,” Levesque told Keys. “We’ll be in a good place.”
Making An Immediate Impact
Keys entered the Royal Rumble at number 14 and made his presence felt immediately. He eliminated former World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest during his time in the match, showcasing his dominance before eventually being eliminated by Bronson Reed.
“Eliminating a former World Champion. Ah, I’m here, I’m here, I’m here, I’m here,” Keys said after the match. “I’m going to take everything I want. Everything.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit WWE with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
