Triple H’s Message to Royce Keys Before WWE Debut Revealed

Royce Keys—formerly known as Powerhouse Hobbs—has officially arrived in WWE, and his first night couldn’t have been bigger. Making his surprise debut in the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble match, Keys delivered power moves, eliminated a top star, and instantly made his presence felt.

In a released behind-the-scenes video shared by WWE, Keys opened up about what the moment meant to him as he soaked in the view of the Riyadh Season Stadium.

“This is wild. This is like something out of a movie, man,” Keys said as he stared down the entrance ramp. “Walking down this aisle and into the ring… I’m getting goosebumps under this sweatshirt. It feels real. Never thought I would be part of something this big. This is huge. Leading to the Grandaddy of Them All, you know? WrestleMania. This starts tonight.”

Keys was previously with AEW for nearly six years, where he won both the TNT and Trios Championships. After quietly finishing up his run there last month, he made the leap to WWE—and instantly made an impact by entering the Rumble at #14 and eliminating Damian Priest before being tossed by Bronson Reed. Backstage, Keys shared a moment with Cody Rhodes and got emotional about what Rhodes meant to him during a difficult period in his life.

“He’s probably going to get mad, but this dude doesn’t know how special he is to me. Thank you for everything. That dude’s been there for me, like, toughest time of my life when my mom passed away. But if I gotta kick his ass, then I gotta kick his ass [laughs].”

Triple H also gave Keys a confidence boost before his WWE debut, telling him:

“We’re going to get rolling and get some good sht started. We’ll be in a good place.”*

After the match, Keys made it clear this was only the beginning.

“Eliminating a former World Champion. Ah, I’m here, I’m here, I’m here, I’m here,” he said. “I’m going to take everything I want. Everything.”

From AEW powerhouse to WWE breakout, Royce Keys just made his mark—and he’s not slowing down anytime soon.

What did you think of Royce Keys’ debut? Is he the next breakout star on the road to WrestleMania? Drop your thoughts and predictions in the comments below.