Andrew Ravens
Powerhouse Hobbs is reportedly on the verge of joining WWE. There is a widespread internal belief within the company that the 34-year-old standout has already signed a contract.
According to Fightful Select, sources indicate that while official confirmation has not been made public, those within WWE are operating under the assumption that a deal is finalized following the expiration of his AEW contract at midnight on January 15, 2026. Meaning he could be on WWE TV as soon as this week if it made sense for the company creatively.
Hobbs, a former TNT Champion, officially entered free agency after turning down a “huge” and “substantial” offer from AEW President Tony Khan to remain with the promotion. WWE has reportedly maintained interest in the physically imposing star for years.
Current creative pitches suggest he could bypass NXT entirely to debut directly on the main roster. His arrival in WWE may come with a modified ring name, such as “Hobbs”.
His final televised appearance for AEW took place on the January 17 episode of Collision: Maximum Carnage. In the main event, Hobbs and his fellow The Opps teammates, Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata, lost the AEW World Trios Championships to the team of “Hangman” Adam Page and JetSpeed (Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey).
The match saw Knight pin Hobbs to secure the titles, ending The Opps’ dominant 276-day reign. With the Royal Rumble scheduled for January 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, many expect Hobbs to be present for the event as he begins his WWE career.
Should Hobbs go to WWE and be assigned to the NXT brand, he would immediately be positioned as a top star. NXT has lost a lot of talent to the main roster, and he could be slotted right into the main event scene, where he could challenge for the NXT Title. On the flip side, a move to the main roster would also be needed as he is ready for the big stage now.
