WWE’s 946 has added another significant name to its growing ranks, and faction leader Royce Keys believes Carmelo Hayes is an ideal fit for the group’s increasingly chaotic mission on WWE Raw.
Hayes made his presence felt on the most recent edition of the red brand, returning to the spotlight after months away from WWE SmackDown. Rather than arriving alone, Hayes was revealed as the latest member of 946 during an assault involving The Usos and Solo Sikoa. The development expanded a group that has quickly become one of the central forces in WWE’s ongoing conflict with The Bloodline.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Keys made it clear that the connection with Hayes goes well beyond a convenient alliance formed on television. The 946 leader described Hayes as someone he has known from well before his own WWE arrival and emphasized the mentality that makes him suited to the stable.
“That my dog, you know, way, way before I even set foot in the door,” Keys said of Hayes. “He’s a great addition. He’s got a chip on his shoulder like we all do. There’s more to come... More to come with the destruction and chaos. People are genuinely afraid of us, so we like that.”
For more background on this topic, read William Regal Urges Wrestlers to Treat Every Pinfall and Kickout Like It Matters.
The comments, made during an appearance on Busted Open Radio, underline the identity 946 has established in a relatively short period of time. Keys is not presenting the unit as a collection of wrestlers simply looking for numbers in a fight. Instead, the faction is being positioned around a shared sense of frustration, ambition, and willingness to target anyone standing across from it.
Hayes gives 946 another major weapon
Hayes’ addition changes the makeup of 946 in an important way. The group already possessed physical power through Lucien Price and Bronco Nima, the former NXT standouts who arrived alongside Keys following his return to WWE television. Jaida Parker’s subsequent call-up and alignment with the unit added another layer to the act. With Hayes now involved, 946 gains an accomplished and highly confident performer whose speed, athleticism, and experience in major singles matches can make the faction even more difficult to prepare for.
His television absence from SmackDown also gives the reveal added weight. Hayes did not merely appear for a one-off confrontation; he joined in a defining attack directed at The Usos and Solo Sikoa, immediately connecting himself to one of WWE’s most prominent rivalries. The moment made clear that 946 is not content to operate on the edges of Raw. It intends to challenge the people and groups with the most influence on the show.
That choice is particularly notable because The Bloodline has long been built around family loyalty, internal power struggles, and dominant numbers. By bringing Hayes into 946, Keys has answered that threat with a new ally who can operate in a different style than the group’s larger enforcers. The result is a faction with more options in both confrontations and matches, whether the situation calls for overwhelming force, opportunistic timing, or a standout singles competitor.
Keys’ remarks also suggest that the story is not meant to stop with the simple shock of Hayes joining. His promise that there is “more to come” leaves open the question of what 946’s next move will be and whether the stable’s expansion is complete. WWE has already established the group as unpredictable, and its willingness to attack members of The Bloodline makes every segment involving either side important moving forward.
946’s rise has been rapid on Raw
The current direction for 946 grew out of Keys’ involvement with The Bloodline at SummerSlam. On night one of the event, Keys joined Solo Sikoa and LA Knight in a victory over Jacob Fatu and The Usos. That match placed Keys in a high-profile setting and immediately tied him to a conflict with major consequences.
After that, Keys spent several weeks away from WWE television. His return came as a surprise on the August 24 edition of Raw, when he resurfaced alongside Price and Nima. The reunion with OTM transformed what might have been viewed as an individual return into the launch of a serious faction presence. Since then, the group has only added to its footprint, first with Parker and now with Hayes.
The pace of those additions has been a key part of the story. WWE has not positioned 946 as a group that slowly introduced its members over a long period while staying away from top-level issues. It has instead built the stable through impactful reveals and direct confrontations. Each new addition has made the unit feel broader, while the group’s repeated connection to The Bloodline ensures its actions carry immediate relevance.
There is also a contrast in how 946 and The Bloodline are being framed. The Bloodline’s history centers on a lineage and a family structure that has repeatedly shaped WWE’s landscape. 946, by comparison, is being presented as a group bound by attitude. Keys’ description of a collective “chip on his shoulder” points to resentment and hunger as the glue holding its members together. That does not make the alliance any less dangerous. If anything, it gives the stable a volatile quality, because its members appear motivated by proving themselves at the expense of established names.
Keys embraces the opportunity
For Keys personally, the elevation has been dramatic. He acknowledged that the move from undercard appearances into multiple main-event segments on Raw has been a dream scenario. At the same time, he stressed that he is trying to remain prepared rather than becoming distracted by the attention.
“You know, you gotta always stay ready,” Keys said on Busted Open Radio. “When they call the play for you, you may only get one shot at it. I’m ready to run any play they throw at me.”
That mindset fits the way Keys has been used since his return. His rise has involved sudden appearances, major rivalries, and an expanding faction around him. The opportunities have arrived quickly, but Keys’ message is that he sees preparation as the reason he can capitalize when WWE puts him in a major position.
It also helps explain why the Hayes reveal matters so much to the larger presentation of 946. A faction leader who wants to seize every opening needs allies capable of doing the same. Hayes has long carried himself with the confidence of someone who expects to be in important matches and pivotal segments. Pairing that outlook with Keys’ stated determination gives 946 a more defined competitive personality.
The group is now equipped with a leader focused on making the most of his moment, powerful members in Price and Nima, Parker’s arrival from NXT, and a proven high-level talent in Hayes. That collection of personalities may make the unit difficult to contain, particularly if it continues to direct its attention toward The Bloodline.
What comes next for The Bloodline conflict
The immediate issue is whether The Usos and Sikoa will respond to Hayes’ involvement with 946 and how Jacob Fatu may factor into the wider situation. Keys’ group has already shown it is prepared to confront multiple members of The Bloodline orbit, and the latest attack ensures there will be no shortage of unresolved business.
Hayes’ first night as an official 946 member was built around violence and surprise, which means his next appearance will be closely watched. WWE now has several possibilities to explore: Hayes could become a featured singles representative for the faction, team with other members in multi-person competition, or take a more direct role in the battle against The Usos and Sikoa. Nothing has been confirmed about the exact next step, but Keys has left little doubt about the group’s overall intent.
For now, 946 is growing, its members are gaining visibility, and its leader is openly embracing the fear the faction creates. Hayes’ arrival gives the group another headline-making piece at a time when its war with The Bloodline is becoming increasingly personal. If Keys is correct that more destruction and chaos are on the way, Raw’s power structure could be headed for another major shift.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.