What You Didn’t See with Royce Keys Before February 13 WWE SmackDown

Before WWE SmackDown even hit the airwaves in Dallas, Royce Keys was already in the ring.

In a development fans watching at home didn’t see, Keys wrestled Nathan Frazer in a dark match prior to this week’s broadcast at the American Airlines Center. The bout took place before the televised portion of the show began, meaning the live crowd got an early look at the former AEW standout in action.

The dark match comes just hours after Keys confirmed via Instagram Stories that he was in the building for SmackDown. His post featured the WrestleMania Vegas logo inside the arena, signaling he was backstage and ready for the show.

There had been speculation about when WWE would officially feature Keys following his debut at No. 14 in the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble in Riyadh. Competing under his new ring name, he eliminated Damian Priest before being taken out by Bronson Reed in a moment that introduced him to a global audience.

While fans anticipated a major televised follow-up, the match with Frazer suggests WWE may be easing him into weekly programming. Whether this was a one-off dark match or a sign of bigger plans remains unclear. But what you didn’t see is that Royce Keys didn’t just show up — he worked.

Do you think WWE should fast-track Royce Keys onto SmackDown television, or continue building him behind the scenes first? Let us know your thoughts below.