Steve Carrier on February 1, 2026
The 2026 Royal Rumble gave fans the usual chaos and surprises—but when the former Powerhouse Hobbs entered at #14, the real noise wasn’t just in the arena—it was backstage.
As the crowd in Riyadh lit up for the debuting big man, WWE flashed the name Powerhouse Hobbs on screen before quickly switching it to his new WWE identity: Royce Keys. It was a bold move—and one that had people behind the scenes talking immediately.
According to Fightful Select, the vibe backstage was overwhelmingly positive. But not everyone was on the same page.
“We heard very positive things about the debut of Royce Keys and his reaction backstage, and his overall introduction to many on the WWE staff.”
“There were some confused as to how WWE could use Powerhouse Hobbs, as the Powerhouse name originated in AEW.”
Yeah—you read that right. WWE literally teased the AEW-era name on screen, then hit the rebrand mid-entrance. It was flashy, dramatic, and apparently a little messy for staffers who weren’t clued in.
What we do know? AEW didn’t want to lose him. Hobbs reportedly turned down a major offer from AEW to jump to WWE—and even reached out to Jim Ross before his Rumble debut to make it clear he was ready for the next chapter.
So far, Royce Keys is already turning heads—and if this reaction backstage is any sign, he’s about to make a serious impact.
Do you think WWE botched the rollout with the Powerhouse name flash? Or was the transition to Royce Keys the right call? Sound off in the comments and tell us where you stand.
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