Backstage Update on Powerhouse Hobbs Leaving AEW for WWE & WWE Reportedly Working on Name Change for Hobbs

As noted before, Powerhouse Hobbs’ contract expired earlier today and he is expected to be leaving AEW and joining WWE.

Dave Meltzer reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that his sources stated that WWE officials had been expecting Hobbs arrival to their company for a while. Meltzer reported that WWE officials had believed that Hobbs’ match on last Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show would have been his last one in AEW but he then did another match for this week’s Collision show.

Meltzer reported that those spoken to confirmed that AEW had made an offer to try to keep Hobbs but he turned it down due to he wanted to go to WWE.

Meltzer also speculated that AEW CEO Tony Khan keeping Hobbs on AEW television likely meant that AEW was not certain that he would be leaving until very recently. Meltzer reported that those spoken to confirmed that Khan liked Hobbs and Hobbs acted professionally over the situation.

In regards to WWE, WrestleVotes on Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that WWE officials already have had discussions for a name change for Hobbs for his upcoming arrival to their company.

It was reported that there has been at least one pitch within WWE for Hobbs to skip NXT and immediate begin his WWE career on the main roster.