wrestling / News

Dave Meltzer Questions Royce Keys’ Absence From WWE TV Post-Royal Rumble

February 23, 2026 | Posted by Yash Mittal

Image Credit: WWE

Royce Keys, formerly AEW’s Powerhouse Hobbs, has yet to appear on WWE TV since making his debut for the company in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month, something which Dave Meltzer recently spoke about on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio.

Keys departed All Elite Wrestling in mid-January after opting against signing a new contract with the company. He subsequently signed a deal with WWE and made his maiden appearance for the promotion at the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event last month.

He entered the Men’s Royal Rumble Match at No. 14 and secured one elimination in the form of Damian Priest before being eliminated by Bronson Reed. However, he has yet to appear on weekly programming since then, and there is no indication which brand he’ll be assigned to.

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer questioned Royce Keys’ continued absence from WWE TV since the Royal Rumble PLE. He stated on Keys’ absence from WWE TV (WrestlingInc.com), “I don’t have a good reason. You know what? I’ll ask tomorrow night after the show, see if I can find anything out on that, but I have pointed it out that it is kind of weird.”

Meltzer continued, “You know, the Rumble was weeks ago now, and after the Rumble,e\ he should have been on TV somewhere. He should have been on the next week, and as far as like, why not? I mean, I have theories, but the reality is I don’t know, and it doesn’t really make a lot of sense.”

He also questioned why Royce Keys participated in the Men’s Royal Rumble if WWE had no immediate plans to feature him on TV. “Why was he in the Rumble then? Because in the Rumble, instead of being this big spotlight debut in the Rumble, it was Oba Femi’s night, and he was just there,” Meltzer said.

Keys recently appeared on What’s Your Story? With Steph McMahon’s podcast, where he opened up about his goals in WWE. Highlights of the interview were shown on WWE SmackDown last week. You can check out a clip of Key’s WWE debut at the Royal Rumble below: