Powerhouse Hobbs reportedly signed with WWE last week, following the official expiration of his contract with AEW earlier in the month. Although fans anticipate his WWE debut as soon as the Royal Rumble, insider Dave Meltzer has shared new details about Hobbs’ contract situation. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Hobbs will wrestle under the name “Royce Keyes,” a name initially revealed by BodySlam+. While “Royce” is actually the name of Hobbs’ son, Meltzer suggests that WWE prefers the new name because Powerhouse Hobbs isn’t considered well-known enough, and WWE wants full control over his new identity.
Meltzer also revealed that AEW made Hobbs a significantly lucrative contract offer, far exceeding expectations. The amount was reportedly higher than what any AEW talent except Chris Jericho received in 2019 and is comparable in value to Bryan Danielson’s 2021 AEW contract. This pay scale reflects the ongoing competitive battle between WWE and AEW, which has driven wrestler salaries up across the board. Meltzer pointed out that the numbers align with what stars like Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn were earning in WWE about four years ago.
Even though WWE matching or surpassing AEW’s offer could signal a major opportunity for Hobbs, Meltzer cautions that he might end up in a similar situation to Rusev—who left AEW amid high expectations but never became a main event player. Hobbs reportedly believes he has a better shot at stardom in WWE, but Meltzer suspects he wouldn’t have ranked higher than AEW’s top stars had he stayed with the company.
Fan Take: This move is significant because it shows WWE doubling down on competing with AEW for emerging talent, potentially reshaping the roster dynamic. For fans, Hobbs’ transition could introduce exciting new storylines and fresh matchups that invigorate the WWE product.
