Massive update on WWE’s plans for Royce Keys following Royal Rumble debut

There has been a major update regarding Royce Keys’ WWE future following his debut in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. The veteran spent the past few years in All Elite Wrestling performing under the name Powerhouse Hobbs.

Royce Keys debuted as the 14th entrant in the Men’s Royal Rumble match and didn’t last too long. He eliminated Damian Priest from the match but was sent over the top rope by The Vision’s Bronson Reed shortly after.

According to a new report from BodySlam+, the company is planning on having Keys be a member of the SmackDown roster moving forward.

Keys spent six years in All Elite Wrestling and captured the TNT Championship as a singles star. He was a member of The Opps faction with Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata when he exited AEW earlier this year. The veteran also captured the Trios Championships alongside Joe and Shibata in AEW.

Royce Keys turned down a major offer from AEW to join WWE

Wrestling insider Dave Meltzer recently shared that Royce Keys was made a substantial offer by All Elite Wrestling, but he decided to turn it down.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer disclosed that the popular star received a five-year offer from AEW. However, Meltzer added that Keys had already made up his mind that he was leaving when the offer was made.

“He (Powerhouse Hobbs / Royce Keys) got a 5 year offer from AEW, I think that in the negotiations it became kinda clear (that he was going to WWE). The offer was a very good offer. — It was not a top 10 offer in the company or anything like that, but a good offer. I don’t really know much more, I don’t know what the WWE offer was. I don’t think he was very interested in the AEW offer, I think he already made up his mind. In WWE for a long time, their belief was as soon his contract’s over, he’s gone.” [H/T WrestlePurists on X]

It will be fascinating to see what the future holds for the 35-year-old on SmackDown.