Powerhouse Hobbs may be WWE-bound now, but his AEW journey could have looked very differentif not for an untimely injury and a crowded main event scene.
As Hobbs free agency continues to make headlines, Wrestling Observer Radio delivered a telling update on why the powerhouse never truly broke through in AEW despite flashes of momentum. During the January 21 mailbag episode, a fan asked why AEW never gave Hobbs a consistent top-level push. Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer didnt dodge the question.
Meltzer agreed, noting the same problem exists in WWE, and offered key insight into how Hobbs was this close to a major run before his momentum was stopped cold.
That match wasnt just a one-off momentit was designed as a launchpad.
Meltzer revealed Hobbs was also booked in a championship match against Jon Moxley for the IWGP Title, further solidifying that AEW had bigger plans. But ultimately, Hobbs was never going to win that beltand creative didnt have a fallback path strong enough to maintain his momentum.
One option floated internally was a post-breakup feud with Samoa Joe, which Meltzer said could have seen Hobbs go over. But once Hobbs chose to leave, those plansif they existedwere obviously shelved. The big picture? AEWs top-heavy roster may have simply left no long-term room for Hobbs. Meltzer laid it out plainly:
So while Hobbs may have looked like another AEW star underused or stuck in a faction ( la Brian Cage or Lance Archer), this update confirms the company did have real plansit just didnt pan out. Now, WWE has a second chance to unlock Hobbs potential, and all signs point to his arrival being imminent.
Do you think AEW missed the boat with Hobbs, or was the roster simply too stacked? Will WWE use him betteror fall into the same trap? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
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