As noted earlier, Powerhouse Hobbs is expected to join WWE following the expiration of his contract with All Elite Wrestling. According to a report from Fightful Select on WrestleVotes Radio, the expectation is that the wrestler will debut in WWE with an altered name rather than the “Powerhouse Hobbs” moniker used during his tenure in AEW.
Reported Name Change and Main Roster Pitch
The report states that while it is possible he could use simply “Hobbs,” an alteration to his name is considered likely. WWE frequently renames talent entering the company to secure intellectual property rights and trademarks for merchandising purposes. This practice ensures the company retains ownership of the character name. Examples of talent renamed upon entering the WWE system include Gunther (formerly WALTER), Bron Breakker, Kevin Owens (Kevin Steen), and Sami Zayn (El Generico).
In addition to the potential name change, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that the pitch made to Hobbs involved a position on the WWE main roster rather than a start in the NXT developmental brand. Discussions regarding Hobbs’ positioning in AEW often centered on his potential as a main event talent, with fans on social media noting that he was not consistently featured in the world title picture during his time with the promotion.
Contract Expiration and Negotiations
Hobbs’ contract with AEW reportedly expired at midnight, and he finished his commitments with the company at the recent Collision tapings. Fightful Select reports that contract negotiations between Hobbs and AEW had been ongoing for months, with AEW presenting offers up until this week. Sources described the offers to retain Hobbs as “huge.”
The report indicates that Hobbs decided to leave to “test the waters” and that the departure was amicable, with Hobbs aiming not to “burn bridges.” WWE reportedly maintained interest in Hobbs for several years, including during the tenure of Dan Ventrelle in talent relations.
Career Background
Hobbs, whose real name is William Hobson, began his professional wrestling career in 2009 on the independent circuit, initially performing under the name “Will Rood”. He debuted in AEW in July 2020 and signed a contract with the company in September of that year after participating in the Casino Battle Royale at All Out.
During his time in AEW, Hobbs was a member of several factions, including Team Taz, the Don Callis Family, and The Opps. His championship accomplishments in the promotion include:
- AEW TNT Championship: Won on March 8, 2023, by defeating Wardlow in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
- AEW World Trios Championship: Held with Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata as part of The Opps.
Hobbs also competed for promotions such as All Pro Wrestling (APW) and Championship Wrestling from Hollywood prior to his national television exposure.
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