Summary

Royce Keys says winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the April 17 episode of WWE SmackDown still feels surreal.

While speaking on The Drive, Keys looked back on the victory and said the connection to Andre The Giant is what makes the moment stand out most. The win added another early milestone to his run on SmackDown, which recently also included his comments about the nerves that came with his Royal Rumble debut.

Quote from Royce Keys

"That battle royal had some great previous winners who hit different heights in their career. To be tied to a name like Andre The Giant, that’s wonderful. Not everyone can say they won this battle royal or put ties to Andre The Giant. We know what Andre meant to this business and what he’s done for people’s careers, and his career speaks for itself. I can sit back and say my first accomplishment in three months, I won the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. It’s amazing and a great feeling. I have a picture of myself with the trophy in my office. A lot of these highs, it feels like I’m stuck in a dream."

What the win means for Royce Keys on SmackDown

Royce Keys now has a signature SmackDown achievement to point to, and that gives WWE an easy way to keep presenting him as a rising name on the brand. He specifically framed the battle royal as his first major accomplishment in three months, which turns the trophy into a built-in part of his on-screen momentum.

The Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal has also carried weight because of the names attached to its history, and Keys made clear he understands that lineage. Even without promising a specific next step, the win gives WWE a credible talking point if the company wants to move him deeper into the weekly mix.

Sources

Royce Keys while speaking on The Drive