WWE Star Says ‘Personal Reasons’ Led To AEW Departure

WWE/AEW

A WWE star has spoken about their decision to join the company from AEW, saying ‘personal reasons’ led to the decision.

Back in January, The Opps lost the AEW World Trios Championship to ‘Hangman’ Adam Page and JetSpeed on AEW Collision.

The decision came due to Hobbs’ AEW contract expiring the following day, with him leaving the company to sign with WWE.

Royce Keys Says ‘Personal Issues’ Led To AEW Departure

Hobbs would debut in the Royal Rumble under the new ring name Royce Keys, and he has now opened up on his decision to leave AEW and join WWE.

Speaking on 107.7 The Bone, Keys was asked about what went into his decision to leave AEW and join WWE, with him saying that there were a lot of personal reasons behind the decision.

He said:

“A lot of personal ones that I won’t speak on, but the dream is always to be a WWE superstar, it’s all I dreamed about as a kid, and I will never live my life as to having what ifs. What if I would have went? What if I didn’t go?

“There was no second thought about putting pen to paper when that opportunity came up. You look at what WWE is, it’s the all and be all of professional wrestling, so why wouldn’t I want to go?”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it, please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

After his debut in the Royal Rumble, Keys would not debut on WWE television for three more months, with him winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal over WrestleMania 42 weekend.

Royce Keys Pitched Dark Match Appearances Prior To Television Debut

Though Keys was not on television, he was competing in dark matches prior to both Raw and SmackDown on most weeks, with fans questioning the decision on social media.

Keys mentioned during the interview that it was his decision to compete in dark matches, and Triple H was all for the choice.

He said:

“I didn’t know where I was going when I started, I just know that once I signed I was a WWE superstar.

“What I did ask of Hunter, and he had no problem with it and it was a ‘hell yeah’ was after I signed was to do dark matches every single TV taping. Every Raw, every SmackDown, every week for almost three months.

“Once I debuted at the Rumble people were like ‘where did he go?’, I was on the road every single week opening up the shows. Of course you’re not gonna see dark matches unless you’re in that city, but I was on the road, every single week, for about three months, doing dark matches, getting feedback, getting better.

“That’s what I was doing, so I’m throwing that out there for anyone saying I was missing or, what’s the word they used, I was buried or whatever the internet says, no, I was doing dark matches.

“The best training I was told is on the job training, and what better way to get on the job training than being in front of two live crowds every single week.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it, please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Keys is set to make his SummerSlam debut next weekend, when he teams with LA Knight and Solo Sikoa against Jacob Fatu and the Usos.

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• AEW
• wwe
• powerhouse hobbs
• Royce Keys

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