The potential departure of Powerhouse Hobbs from All Elite Wrestling to WWE has sparked significant conversation regarding his utilization over the last five years. While reports suggest Hobbs, alongside names like Chris Jericho, may be WWE-bound in 2026, wrestling analyst Jim Cornette has vocalized his frustrations with how AEW handled the powerhouse’s development. On episode 617 of The Jim Cornette Experience, Cornette argued that Hobbs’ transition to WWE, likely starting in NXT, is necessary because the AEW environment failed to teach him the fundamentals of the industry. Cornette emphasized that the issue wasn’t just about executing moves, but about understanding match psychology, finishes, and the risk-reward ratio—skills he believes remain undeveloped in AEW’s current system.
Cornette pointed to the inconsistent booking that plagued Hobbs’ tenure, specifically noting the lack of sustained character work. He highlighted that despite watching Dynamite for five years, he could rarely recall Hobbs delivering a memorable promo, attributing this to the company’s haphazard creative direction. According to Cornette, Hobbs was frequently thrown into high-profile spots with top talent, only to disappear from television for weeks without explanation. This “stop-start” momentum prevented Hobbs from establishing himself as a permanent fixture in the main event scene, despite having the physical tools and potential that Cornette had praised years prior. He noted that unlearning the “bad habits” picked up in AEW might be more difficult for Hobbs than starting from scratch.
Adding context to Cornette’s critique, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez recently discussed the internal factors that contributed to Hobbs’ ceiling in AEW. On Wrestling Observer Radio, it was reported that bad luck and timing played as much of a role as booking decisions. Before a debilitating knee injury, there were reportedly significant plans for Hobbs, including decisive victories over legends like Chris Jericho and Kenny Jericho—wins that were intended to launch a major push. Jericho specifically put Hobbs over in a squash match to signal the company’s high confidence in him. Plans were even in place for a high-profile IWGP World Title match against Jon Moxley, which would have solidified his standing as a top-tier competitor.
However, the injury halted this momentum entirely, and upon his return, the landscape had shifted. Creative plans, including a potential feud with Samoa Joe, were scrapped as Hobbs’ contract status became uncertain. Meltzer noted that AEW’s crowded main event scene, dominated by stars like Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland, left little room for Hobbs to regain his spot. With the timing for a renewed push having passed, the decision to move to WWE appears to be a bet on his ability to finally realize his potential in a new system.
As the wrestling world looks toward the upcoming WWE Royal Rumble on Saturday, January 24, 2026, speculation is rampant about potential surprise entrants. With Hobbs’ AEW status winding down and rumors of his WWE signing intensifying, fans will be watching closely to see if the former TNT Champion makes an immediate impact on the Road to WrestleMania, or if he will indeed head to the Performance Center to refine the skills Cornette believes were neglected.
