When Royce Keys first signed with WWE, fans were eager to see him reach the potential he never showed as Powerhouse Hobbs in AEW. What followed was a disappointing Royal Rumble debut, a months-long absence, and a return as a forgettable babyface. That changed after Jacob Fatu viciously destroyed Keys in a Raw match, forcing him out on a stretcher. Keys came back as a heel — and this time, he wasn’t alone.
With NXT’s Bronco Nima and Lucien Price at his side, the new faction known as the 946 has overwhelmed every opponent in its path, particularly the Usos. It’s a reinvention that feels only just beginning.
This year has been rough creatively for WWE. After dismal SummerSlam attendance, it seems Triple H and TKO are finally responding — Raw in particular has improved. LA Knight received a main event push, Solo Sikoa became an unexpected fan favorite, and The Vision rose to dominance. Then came Keys’ transformation.
On SmackDown, Keys was stagnant, barely relevant outside of Fatu harassing him about the Bloodline. But on Raw, Fatu’s brutal assault on Keys changed everything. Was it poor booking or a masterstroke? Clearly the latter. Frustrated by the wait and the numbers disadvantage, Keys stormed back with Lucien Price and Bronco Nima to lay waste to anyone in their way — a shocking twist in an era of predictability.
The Usos and Jacob Fatu Are Working Against the 946
With Roman Reigns now a part-timer, the Usos and Fatu need more to do than repeatedly facing Knight and Sikoa. The 946 — named for Oakland, California’s area code — delivers a compelling three-on-three dynamic. The faction has dominated backstage encounters while igniting a fierce transformation in Fatu, who was recently screaming profanities in a promo before suddenly urging the Usos to stay calm and trust him.
On the September 7 Raw, Jimmy and Jey Uso were desperate for immediate retaliation, but Fatu insisted on patience. By the show’s end, the Usos called out the 946 in the ring — and the faction answered by torching their car in the parking lot. Fatu stood composed, shaking his head. What shifted so drastically in a single week?
Look for Jacob Fatu To Join the 946 and Leave the Bloodline
The answer may be simpler than it appears. Fatu is quietly aligning with the 946. He broke free from his family once and thrived on his own terms — until Reigns forced him back into the Bloodline after a loss. Though compliant, Fatu chafes under the arrangement, as seen when he attacked Solo Sikoa only to be reprimanded by Reigns. When Knight and Sikoa then overpowered Reigns and the Usos, Fatu stood idle.
He doesn’t belong there. Keys, however, was his real ally — the man he trusted before being brutalized into submission. That beating forged Keys into something terrifying, and Fatu respects strength. Reigns and the Usos look weak in his eyes; the 946 looks like a winning side. He wants in. Paired with his friend, Fatu could finally break free and be himself again. Any moment now, when the Usos let their guard down, the Samoan Werewolf will strike.
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