Powerhouse Hobbs Turned Down Significant AEW Contract To Join WWE

There are more details about the contract offer Powerhouse Hobbs turned down from AEW to join WWE. 

It’s been a very newsworthy month for former AEW TNT Champion Powerhouse Hobbs, who spent nearly six years in AEW. There were reports earlier in the month about his AEW deal expiring and WWE showing interest in the big man.

On January 23rd, it was confirmed that former Powerhouse Hobbs has officially signed with WWE.

As a WWE superstar, it’s expected that Hobbs’ name will likely be Royce Keys. Hobbs has three kids, and one of his sons is named Royce, so that’s likely where the name comes from.

In a previous report about his departure, it was noted that Hobbs was well-liked in AEW, but his decision to join WWE was likely due to a desire to explore new horizons.

Powerhouse Hobbs Likely Got A Massive Offer From WWE

The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reports that AEW made Hobbs a great offer that he turned down.

“He got a great AEW offer to stay but I don’t know his WWE offer. The AEW offer was much higher than I would have expected. It would have been a number that I believe would have been higher than anyone but Chris Jericho earned in AEW’s first year in 2019.”

The WWE-bound Hobbs likely was offered a huge contract by WWE, as Meltzer continued his report.

“It would be in line with what Bryan Danielson got to jump from WWE to AEW, maybe slightly less but in line.

It would be more than guys the level Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were making four years ago (less than they are making now) and in the range of what a guy the level of Rollins were making around the same time and nearly triple of what many significantly high WWE stars were making in the first year or so of AEW after the first round of increases had taken place.”

“If WWE did offer him similar money, in theory it would guarantee a decent push.”

There is a lot of speculation that Hobbs’s WWE debut as Royce Keys could come as soon as the Royal Rumble on January 31st, so fans won’t have to wait much longer to see the big man in his new home.