WWE Believed To Have Signed Major Ex-AEW Champion

It seems the rumours have come true and WWE have put pen to paper with a big name former AEW champion.

AEW cleared several unused stars off its roster at the start of 2026 when their contracts expired. The company looks all but certain to lose Chris Jericho in the very near future as well. Jericho was last seen in AEW back in April 2025, and rumours of his return to WWE have gathered pace ever since.

A more sudden departure happened more recently as Powerhouse Hobbs’ AEW contract expired on January 14th. Hobbs taped his final match, where he and The Opps lost the AEW Trios Title to Hangman Adam Page and JetSpeed on that same day.

And it seems his future is all but secured.

WWE Operating As If Powerhouse Hobbs Has Signed

Fightful Select has now reported that it’s perhaps more than a foregone conclusion that Powerhouse Hobbs is heading to WWE. Sources in the company have noted they are operating on the belief that Hobbs has already signed a deal with the sports entertainment giant.

Hobbs has not been spotted backstage as of yet in WWE, but it was suggested by sources that they expected Hobbs to be present over the Royal Rumble weekend. It was not confirmed if any plans were definitively in place.

WWE is clearly planning some surprises for the Royal Rumble with several NXT stars and one major free agent already advertised for the event in Saudi Arabia.