Here’s what matters today in wrestling 👇
Image Credit: AEW
We found out last week that Hobbs’s contract with AEW was expiring and he’d be on his way to WWE. Sure enough, Hobbs made his final appearance on Collision as part of the Opps losing AEW’s Trios Championship to Adam Page & JetSpeed, taking the fall in the time-honored tradition. Some people feel that Hobbs has already signed with WWE, and his first appearance may be at the Royal Rumble on January 31st.
I always thought Powerhouse Hobbs could have done more in AEW. He had a 42-day run as TNT Champion after winning the Face of the Revolution ladder match in early 2023, but other than that he spent most of his time in heel factions as a heater. Hobbs hasn’t had many opportunities to talk, and he hasn’t had a ton of lengthy matches. He’s got the look to be a star, but we haven’t seen it all come together yet. Sometimes a change of scenery is all that’s needed, and Hobbs seems to fit more of what WWE’s looking for. I hope everything works out for him, but it’s going to take time to develop.
WRESTLING HEADLINES 👊🏽
• Update On Stephanie Vaquer's Future As Women's World Champion Amid Recent Injury
Image Credit: WWE
Listen, I’m as old school as the next guy, but I’ve never been one of those guys that gets bent out of shape about arbitrary deadlines for wrestlers to defend a championship. Hollywood Hogan went months at a time using the WCW Championship as an air guitar and not defending it. Heck, just recently we saw Jade Cargill go nearly two months before her first title defense, and she still hasn’t had one televised! As long as Stephanie’s timeline for a return doesn’t take a turn for the worse, there’s no reason I see to take the championship off her.
Image Credit: TNA
Another career potentially limited by previous social media outbursts. It’s a tricky tightrope to walk, and the standards for punishment vary based on who you are or who you know. I’d say the best solution is to delete all your social media and keep to yourself, but that’s probably unrealistic for a young wrestler trying to get their name out there. Maybe just don’t say dumb stuff? I feel bad for Trey and wish AEW was getting the full Rascalz experience, but unfortunately that isn’t in the cards.
MORE MUST-READ LINKS FROM 411MANIA
→Hall’s WWE Raw Review 1.19.26
→Fixing The WWE Smackdown Women's Division
→Memphis Wrestling (8.20.1983) Review
Thanks for reading,
- Steve Cook