Powerhouse Hobbs, who might soon adopt a new ring name, is reportedly on his way to Saudi Arabia, according to recent reports. After his AEW contract expired on January 14th, Hobbs apparently signed with WWE in anticipation of the Royal Rumble event.
Fightful Select shared that a WWE insider mentioned Hobbs was scheduled to fly to Riyadh, where the Royal Rumble will take place on Saturday. However, he did not board the same chartered flight as other WWE superstars who left following Monday’s “WWE Raw.” As of now, there’s no confirmation about Hobbs appearing in Saudi Arabia or participating in the Rumble match. It was also noted earlier in the week that WWE plans to keep Royal Rumble surprises under wraps more effectively this year by scheduling multiple weekly flights to bring talent into the country.
Fightful also backed up Dave Meltzer’s report from Friday’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, revealing that Hobbs turned down a lucrative contract extension from AEW. Meltzer highlighted that this offer was one of the most expensive ever made by AEW, second only to Chris Jericho’s deal in 2019. He compared it to the contract presented to Bryan Danielson when he joined AEW in 2021.
The former TNT and AEW World Trios Champion is set to debut under a new ring name, reportedly “Royce Keyes.” Interestingly, Lois is the name of Hobbs’ son.
Fan Take: Hobbs’ move to WWE represents a potential game-changer for the company’s roster, injecting fresh energy and star power just in time for a major event like the Royal Rumble. This signing not only shakes up WWE’s competitive landscape but also signals ongoing shifts in wrestling’s biggest promotions, providing fans with exciting new matchups and storylines to follow.
