'I was mentored by WWE legend Rikishi and now I've made it.'

Royce Keys stepped into the world of WWE accompanied by some of the biggest names in wrestling history, a preparation that has brought him to where he is now. As the 2026 winner of the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, Keys will soon be joining the WWE 2K26 roster in the sixth season of Ringside Pass, set to release in October. But his journey to the top started way back in 2026, when he made his debut for the company and really took off in the months leading up to WrestleMania.

In an exclusive interview with Metro, in between his motion capture sessions for the upcoming video game, Keys opened up about his rise to success and gave credit to some influential figures in his life. "Jacob Fatu has been my best friend for the last 14 years," he shared. "We used to drive long hours together to get to shows and sometimes had to work early morning shifts.

But it was all worth it, and I have a strong connection with his family, especially with his uncle, Rikishi, who trained me and his father, the Tonga Kid, who taught me a lot." Keys also fondly recalled the times when he would sleep on the couches of his friends' families and enjoy meals at their tables, while learning from someone as experienced as Rikishi was truly invaluable. "It's amazing to have someone who is straightforward with you," he said with a smile. "Just like Mark Henry, who I consider my wrestling dad, he will never let me fail.

And I can always count on other legends like Booker T, who I call 'big Unc,' and many others who have been where I want to be." Despite having such legacies behind him, Keys doesn't feel the pressure because he knows he has the support of many Hall of Famers and current champions. "It can't go wrong with so many legends on my side," he added confidently. "And it's a full circle moment for me to be a part of the same video game roster as Rikishi, Booker T, Mark Henry, and more." Keys also had the opportunity to work with current champions like CM Punk and Cody Rhodes during their time in AEW, which only added to his experience and growth.

"We stayed in touch no matter what, even when we were not working for the same company," he shared. "And before my Royal Rumble debut, both Punk and Cody gave me the same advice - 'stick with it.' And that's exactly what I did, and now I'm finally here for a reason." With a strong work ethic and dedication to his craft, Keys is already making waves in the WWE world. And fans can expect an authentic experience when they see him on their screens, as he has put his personal touch on his character's moves, like his signature Spinebuster.

"It's different from everyone else's," he explained. "And I want to be talked about as someone who dominates, just like Mark Henry's 'Hall of Pain' era. I want to be up there with the greats." As for now, fans can catch Keys in action on WWE 2K26, which is already available, and look forward to seeing him on the Ringside Pass season 6 roster later this year.

And for those who want to see him live, tickets for the WWE European Summer Tour are now available on wwe.com/events. Do you have a story to share? The Agency entertainment team would love to hear from you!

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