Royce Keys wasn’t just handed OTM as backup. He was apparently the one who wanted Bronco Nima and Lucien Price standing beside him in the first place.
According to False Finish, sources indicate that Keys personally hand-picked OTM to become part of his new WWE faction, 946. Keys is also expected to be presented as the sole leader of the group, with Nima and Price operating under him rather than being treated as equal partners. That adds a pretty important piece to the story after OTM suddenly showed up alongside Keys on RAW and immediately started wrecking people.
Nima and Price helped Keys tear through the August 24 WWE RAW main event involving The Usos, LA Knight and Solo Sikoa before coming back the following week and going after The Usos again. WWE made it obvious right away that the trio was supposed to be dangerous, but never explained who actually put the group together.
Now that part of the picture is a lot clearer. The alliance apparently started with Keys himself wanting OTM in the group, which also explains why WWE is positioning him as the man calling the shots. This isn’t being presented as three guys who just happened to link up. Keys is the leader, and OTM are the two wrestlers he specifically chose to have with him.
WWE has already filmed additional material designed to explain the relationship between Keys and OTM on television. The group recently shot vignettes outside Orlando that are expected to give fans more background on how 946 came together. OTM’s move to RAW has also been met with a positive reaction behind the scenes, and putting them with Keys has immediately moved Nima and Price into a much bigger spot.
Royce Keys wanted OTM, WWE gave him OTM, and now he’s being positioned as the clear boss of 946. That makes the group feel a lot less random than it did when they first stormed RAW and started dropping bodies.
Do you think Royce Keys made the right choice by hand-picking OTM for 946? Leave your feedback in the comments and let us know what you think.
