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William Hobson Debuts in WWE as Royce Keys at Royal Rumble in Riyadh

He declined a reported big-money AEW offer after WWE moved to trademark 'Royce Keys' for his rebrand.

Overview

  • Hobson, formerly known as Powerhouse Hobbs in AEW, signed with WWE in January following the expiration of his AEW contract on January 14.
  • WWE filed a trademark for the name "Royce Keys" days before the event, with some reports also listing the spelling as "Royce Keyes."
  • Pre-event reporting noted uncertainty over his travel to Saudi Arabia, but his appearance confirmed his participation in the Royal Rumble.
  • AEW tried to keep him with a reported big-money deal that industry reports said was on par with the company’s top past offers.
  • The 35-year-old brings more than 15 years of experience and an AEW resume that includes the TNT Championship and World Trios Titles.