It’s been a couple of weeks since Will Hobbs allowed his AEW contract to expire so he could make his WWE debut at the Royal Rumble. The former Powerhouse Hobbs dropped the moniker in favor of Royce Keys. Will Hobbs chose Royce Keys as his name for sentimental reasons. Nonetheless, he seemed poised for a role on Raw or SmackDown. However, Royce Keys has disappeared since his Royal Rumble debut. So, where is Royce Keys? We have the latest update on Royce Key’s WWE status.
Why Is Royce Keys Off of TV?
Royce Keys was set to become a fixture on WWE television, with many speculating the former AEW star was going to be a member of the SmackDown roster. SmackDown on USA recently extended to three hours, so it’s in need of more talent. However, things have been put on hold with Royce Keys because injuries keep stacking up.
With Seth Rollins’ injury, followed by Bron Breakker’s hernia surgery, the Raw side of the card is in flux. As a result, the rest of the card has been put on hold until the main players are put into place. That halt also includes Royce Keys. WWE doesn’t want to bring him up aimlessly.
However, they haven’t forgotten about the 35-year-old growing talent. He was recently featured on What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon, where Will Hobbs emotionally recalled watching his brother die after taking a bullet for him.
What Is Royce Keys’ WrestleMania Plans?
It’s unclear as to why WWE has put a pause on Will Hobbs on TV. His plans don’t seem to be altered by the shakeups at the top of the card. He is expected to join the SmackDown roster, penciled in to wrestle Damien Priest at WrestleMania.
Royce Keys made a statement in his WWE debut. The former FTW Champion eliminated Damien Priest from the Royal Rumble. This elimination was supposed to kickstart a WrestleMania build between Royce Keys and the former World Champion.
WWE WrestleMania Plans Keep Changing Among Low Ticket Sales
The heat is on for WWE to lock down the WrestleMania 42 card. Its second year in Las Vegas isn’t going too well, with the company reporting low ticket sales. In fact, Allegiant Stadium has started deploying flash sales on tickets to help boost attendance.
Originally, WWE planned for Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns. However, Seth Rollins’ injury caused a pivot, with Reigns winning the Royal Rumble and challenging CM Punk.
With Seth Rollins seemingly being cleared before WrestleMania, he was scheduled to face Bron Breakker at The Showcase of the Immortals. Unfortunately, Bron Breakker worsened an existing hernia when he flipped an announce table during a recent episode of Raw. It’s been reported that The Unpredictable Badass underwent hernia surgery, and his WrestleMania hopes are in the air.
Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre petitioned for The American Nightmare to drop the WWE Championship to McIntyre during 3 Stages of Hell. Now, WWE is considering running it back with Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. However, there is pressure for a different approach, as many believe this match has been done to death.
So, the WrestleMania card is still in flux. That’s why the former Powerhouse Hobbs has been absent since his WWE debut.