Cruz Montana’s surprise jump from WWE NXT to the main roster has a name attached to it. According to a report from False Finish, relayed by eWrestlingNews, it was Royce Keys who personally selected Montana to be the newest member of his 946 faction on WWE RAW.
Montana, a former TNA World Champion, made an emphatic entrance on the November 2, 2026 episode of RAW by attacking Roman Reigns before aligning himself with Keys’ group. The call-up came just days after WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels spoke publicly about how NXT often has to scramble when the main roster pulls talent up without much warning.
Michaels made those comments on Busted Open’s NXT Halloween Havoc Preview, acknowledging that call-ups are a constant and sometimes disruptive reality for the developmental brand. Montana’s move to RAW arrived shortly after that interview, underscoring the point Michaels had just made about how little notice NXT can get before one of its stars is moved up.
Michaels has since reacted to Montana’s call-up, according to eWrestlingNews, though the specifics of his comments were tied to a broader discussion that also touched on NXT’s Kam Hendrix. Hendrix, for his part, used Twitter during the same November 2, 2026 episode of RAW to declare his confidence that he can beat anyone WWE puts in front of him in the upcoming John Cena Classic tournament, regardless of the field.
Montana’s addition to 946 gives Keys’ faction another body with main-event pedigree, and the attack on Reigns immediately signals that the group has its sights set on one of WWE’s most decorated stars. Reigns, a multiple-time world champion, now finds himself a target of a stable that has shown it is willing to expand its numbers through aggressive, unannounced main-roster additions.
What remains unclear from the available reporting is how deep Keys’ involvement went in identifying Montana specifically, or whether other 946 members had input into the decision. The reports also do not specify what, if any, direct response Reigns has given since the attack. As the John Cena Classic tournament looms and NXT talent like Hendrix make their intentions known, Montana’s arrival adds another layer to a roster already in flux heading into the next stretch of WWE programming.
