Royce Keys Talks WWE Debut in Behind the Scenes Video, Praises Cody Rhodes

Royce Keys made an immediate impression during his first WWE appearance by entering the Men’s Royal Rumble match last Saturday in Riyadh. The debut marked his official arrival after leaving AEW and adopting a new in-ring name.

Previously known to fans from AEW, Keys enters WWE with a fresh presentation and open possibilities. He entered the match at #14 and eliminated Damian Priest before getting eliminated by Bronson Reed. This brief showing has grown early intrigue about where he may land on the roster.

In a WWE YouTube video filmed before the event, Keys shared his first reactions from inside Kingdom Arena. He described the scale of the setup as overwhelming in the moment. The stage, lighting, and crowd stood out to him as he paused on the entrance ramp.

“This is wild. This is like something out of a movie, man. It’s just this whole setup, walking out this aisle and into the ring, and the background. It’s pretty amazing, man. Just getting goosebumps under this sweatshirt. So it’s crazy. It feels real. Looking at the ring, the seats, the stage setup, it’s real. Never thought I’d be part of something like this, something this big. This is huge. Leading to the granddaddy of them all, you know, WrestleMania.”

The former AEW powerhouse also spoke about the support he received behind the scenes. After a brief, wholesome on-screen appearance, Cody Rhodes was mentioned as someone who had been there for him during a difficult time

“He’s probably gonna get mad, but this dude [Cody Rhodes] doesn’t know how special he is to me… That dude’s been there for me, like the toughest time of my life when my mom passed away but if I gotta kick his a** then I gotta kick his a**… It’s just like seeing familiar faces. You know, it’s real. So, you know, I’m home. I’m moved in, so it was time to collect.”

Keys said the experience felt unreal compared to watching Royal Rumble matches while growing up. He noted that stepping into the ring during one of WWE’s biggest events felt like a full-circle moment.

“Growing up as a wrestling fan, it’s like stuff you dream about, you know? Growing up, we had plenty of Royal Rumbles in the backyard, getting in trouble. So this is it, man. I’m excited. Man, I get goosebumps and butterflies just talking about this. It’s one of those things where you’re realizing your dreams are right there. You just gotta reach out and grab it, and you’re here. I’m a believer that things happen. Like, the universe plays everything out, so you don’t want to have any regrets. I personally don’t like looking back at things in life. I don’t like second-guessing myself or thinking, ‘What if I’d done this?’ or ‘Maybe I should have done that.’ Everything lined up and made sense to be here.”

He also revealed a brief conversation with Triple H before heading out. According to him, the reassurance helped him focus as he prepared for the fast-paced Royal Rumble environment.

“I got to talk to Triple H earlier. First thing, he let me know that I’m here for a reason. That definitely eased my nerves.”

Now officially a part of WWE, Royce Keys begins the next phase of his career with momentum. His Royal Rumble debut has served as a starting point.

Keys also shared a post on X, saying about his debut, “Aight then.”

Aight then#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/oSXtGLafJE

— Royce Keys (@RealRoyceKeys) February 2, 2026

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