Royce Keys Opens Up On Overcoming Grim Expectations To Become WWE Star – Royce Keys has always spoken openly about his upbringing in East Palo Alto and Oakland, but one of the most jarring moments from his appearance on What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon came when he described what some adults expected from him. Keys explained that several authority figures in his early life didn’t believe he had a future worth investing in.
“I’ve had teachers tell me, ‘Oh, okay, well, you graduated. Well, I’m sure I’ll be at your funeral in two to three years.’”
The remark wasn’t delivered as tough love. It was presented as a prediction. Stephanie questioned whether those comments were meant to push him toward something better, but Keys made it clear they were not. “No, no. They mean what they say.”
Growing up in a two‑square‑mile city once labeled the murder capital of the United States, Keys said those words carried real weight. Violence, drugs, and gang activity shaped the environment around him, creating a sense that outcomes were already decided. He recalled being surrounded by people who believed there were only two paths: getting involved in the streets or ending up in prison. He had seen many friends land in San Quentin, some still serving time today.
Despite the negativity, Keys held onto lessons from his grandmother. She taught him early that not everyone would support him and not everyone would be his friend. Her discipline and love became the foundation that kept him from becoming another statistic. Keys believes that without her guidance, he might have ended up exactly where others expected him to be.
Instead, he used those low expectations as fuel. “There’s no plan B. Like, it’s either you gonna do it or not. You gonna sink or swim.” That mindset carried him far beyond what some predicted. Today, as a WWE Superstar with his own city proclamation day in East Palo Alto, Keys stands as proof that environment does not define destiny.
He refuses to be shaped by the limitations others placed on him. His mission now is to share his story so that someone facing similar circumstances might see another way forward. From being told he wouldn’t survive to performing on WWE’s biggest stages, Keys’ journey highlights resilience, guidance, and the power of rejecting someone else’s ceiling.
Royce Keys Opens Up On Overcoming Grim Expectations To Become WWE Star