Royce Keys finally set to make WWE SmackDown debut
More than two months after his Royal Rumble debut, Royce Keys is finally set to arrive on WWE SmackDown.
WWE has announced that Keys will make his SmackDown debut this Friday night. He’s worked several dark matches since the Rumble, but this will be Keys’ first televised appearance since then. The show is being held in San Jose, California — near where Hobbs grew up in East Palo Alto.
To promote his SmackDown debut, WWE produced a video package on Keys, the adversity he’s overcome in his life, and how the support of his grandparents and love of professional wrestling helped get him to where he is today.
“Not a lot of people can make it out of here,” Keys said about East Palo Alto. “I just want to do my part. This is all I ever wanted to do, this is all I know, this is what brings me peace, this is what motivates me. This is it. I refuse to be defined by where I’m from, but instead by where I’m going.”
The former Powerhouse Hobbs wrapped up his six-year AEW run this January and signed with WWE shortly after. Following his Rumble debut, he appeared on Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast for an interview where he discussed his life story and WWE goals, which include winning championship gold and eventually working for the company behind the scenes.
Keys eliminated Damian Priest from the Rumble and it appeared that WWE could be setting up a program between them, though it’s unknown if the company will still end up going in that direction.
Friday’s SmackDown is the second-to-last episode of the show before WrestleMania 42. Here is the updated preview:
WWE SmackDown (Friday, April 10) —
- How will Cody Rhodes respond to Pat McAfee?
- Pat McAfee has some things to say
- Drew McIntyre promises to expose the real Jacob Fatu
- Sami Zayn is out for payback on Trick Williams
- Royce Keys debuts
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.