Following the 2026 Royal Rumble, several AEW wrestlers expressed their reactions to Powerhouse Hobbs, now known as Royce Keyes, making his WWE debut. Keyes, a former AEW TNT and Trios Champion, appeared in the Royal Rumble event on January 31st, stepping into the WWE spotlight under his real name. During the match, he notably defeated former World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest before being eliminated by Bronson Reed and Vision after nearly 10 minutes in the ring.
Many of Keyes’ ex-AEW teammates took to social media to show their support. Wardlow tweeted enthusiastically, “Hobbes! LFG!” while Darius Martin simply posted “Hobbs.” Kevin Knight also gave a shout-out, writing “S/O Powerhouse!” WWE has since provided updates about their plans for Keyes’ character development moving forward. Meanwhile, Roman Reigns won the Royal Rumble and later bested Gunther to secure his spot at WrestleMania 42, with Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre commenting on Reigns’ victory.
Fan Take:
This marks a significant moment for AEW fans as one of their standout stars transitions to WWE, highlighting the fluid nature of modern wrestling careers. Royce Keyes’ move could open exciting doors in the industry while fueling friendly rivalries and storytelling between the two promotions.
