SmackDown Star Says Reuniting With Names Like Cody Rhodes & Jacob Fatu in WWE Is ‘Rewarding’

WWE

SmackDown star Royce Keys says reuniting with the likes Jacob Fatu and Cody Rhodes in WWE is “rewarding” and provides “healthy competition.”

After five years in All Elite Wrestling, Royce Keys (fka Powerhouse Hobbs) left the company to sign with WWE, making his debut during the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble.

While it took three months after that first appearance for Keys to properly debut as a part of the SmackDown roster, he hasn’t looked back since his first televised singles match on April 10 – winning the 2026 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, mixing it up with The Bloodline and even facing off with GUNTHER in a number one contender’s match for the Undisputed WWE Championship – then held by Cody Rhodes.

Having already ran into Rhodes and long-time friend Jacob Fatu, Keys was asked during an interview with Josh Henning what it’s been like working alongside those he has a history with outside of WWE.

Keys said:

“You go to work with your partners. You go to work to make things better. I’m living my dream and I’m doing it with people that I can compete with. There’s no egos or anything like that, it’s good healthy competition trying to outdo each other.

“The people that helped you get there and was on the grind with you and you’re at the same spot, that’s rewarding. Like how often does that happen?

“…You struggle up and down the road with your partner, driving 150, 200 miles, even sometimes 400 miles to a show then turning right back like Jacob and I did and having to work a 6am job. It’s great man, it lets you know that you have a good circle of people.”

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One Big Reunion Left On The Table For Royce Keys & WWE

While Keys has now already crossed paths with many names from his past, WWE has yet to tap into the history between he and Ricky Saints – someone who now also happens to be on the same brand as him.

Saints just received his first WWE United States Title shot against Trick Williams at Night of Champions, but was unsuccessful.

The manner in which Saints was put away by Trick and Lil Yachty in the post match suggests that “Absolute” will not be getting a second chance at the gold, at least not right now.

With Saints now without a clear direction, and Keys knocking back Solo Sikoa’s offer of an allegiance, perhaps WWE should reunite the pair, either as rivals or tag team partners.

The latter would involve a babyface turn for Saints, or heel turn for Keys, neither of which are ideal right now, so a feud may be the way to go at least to begin with.

What would be required however, is WWE giving Saints some wins and building some momentum for him following his loss to Trick Williams, otherwise he’d be in danger of having his stock fall further if he comes out on the losing side of a rivalry with his former Team Taz stablemate.

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• Smackdown
• Jacob Fatu
• Royce Keys
• wwe
• Cody Rhodes

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