The landscape of professional wrestling has shifted once again. In a major blow to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and a significant acquisition for WWE, reports confirm that Powerhouse Hobbs has departed AEW and is widely believed to have signed with WWE. Following the expiration of his contract in mid-January 2026, the former TNT Champion has entered free agency, with multiple sources indicating his arrival in WWE is imminent.
According to reports from Fightful Select and other wrestling insiders, Hobbs' contract with AEW officially expired at midnight on January 15, 2026.
Despite AEW President Tony Khan reportedly making a "substantial" and "huge" financial offer to retain him, Hobbs declined the extension. Sources indicate the split was amicable and professional, with Hobbs wishing to "bet on himself" and test the waters of free agency.
His final appearance for AEW aired on the January 17 episode of Collision, where he, along with The Opps (Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata), dropped the AEW World Trios Championships to "Hangman" Adam Page and JetSpeed. The loss served as the on-screen write-off for the powerhouse star.
While WWE has not yet released an official "welcome" graphic, backstage belief within the company is that Hobbs has already put pen to paper.
The speculation now turns to how WWE will utilize the 6’1", 270-pound super-heavyweight.
The Main Roster Pitch: Unlike some recent signings who reported to the Performance Center first, there is a strong internal push for Hobbs to bypass NXT and debut directly on Raw or SmackDown. His polished TV experience and physical presence fit the "main event" mold WWE typically favors.
The Royal Rumble Factor: With the Royal Rumble scheduled for January 31, 2026, in Riyadh, many fans and analysts predict Hobbs could make a splash as a surprise entrant in the Men's Rumble match.
A Potential Rebrand: Rumors suggest Hobbs may undergo a slight presentation change, with discussions about shortening his ring name to simply "Hobbs" or adopting a new moniker entirely to fit WWE's intellectual property preferences.
Hobbs' defection is significant for the "wrestling war." A homegrown AEW talent who started on AEW Dark and rose to become a TNT Champion, Hobbs was often cited as a wrestler with arguably the highest "upside" on the roster.
For WWE, acquiring Hobbs weakens a rival's heavyweight division while adding a legitimate powerhouse to their own ranks—a profile of wrestler that Triple H and WWE creative have historically booked very well.
