Former AEW star Royce Keys will make his Smackdown debut tomorrow night.
Keys, who gained prominence under the ring name Powerhouse Hobbs over the past few years in AEW, is booked to appear on tomorrow night’s WWE Smackdown episode from the SAP Center in San Jose, California, not far away from where he grew up in East Palo Alto.
“I refuse to be defined by where I’m from, but instead by where I’m going.”
From East Palo Alto to the world stage, @RealRoyceKeys’ journey has shaped him into the man he is today. Keys writes another chapter in his story when he makes his official #SmackDown debut TOMORROW!! pic.twitter.com/8vpYJXDIO8
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2026
WWE released a video package re-introducing Keys to fans on Thursday, also confirming in the caption that he’ll be part of tomorrow’s broadcast on the USA Network.
Keys made his WWE debut in this year’s men’s Royal Rumble match, appearing on the program just weeks after being written off AEW TV. He has yet to re-emerge on WWE TV since that late-January match, but has kept busy by working non-televised bouts at Raw and Smackdown tapings since February.
The time for his long-awaited first singles WWE match is now just one night away.
Here’s an updated look at tomorrow’s Smackdown lineup:
- Cody Rhodes responds to Randy Orton & Pat McAfee
- Drew McIntyre says he will expose Jacob Fatu
- Sami Zayn to appear and address Wrestlemania opponent Trick Williams
- Royce Keys in action
