Powerhouse Hobbs
Hobbs in November 2022
Birth nameWilliam Hobson
Born (1991-01-23) January 23, 1991[1]
East Palo Alto, California, United States[2]
Children3[3]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Powerhouse Hobbs[4][5]
Will Hobbs[6]
Will.I.IS[7]
Will Rood[7]
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[2]
Billed weight270 lb (122 kg)[2]
Billed fromEast Palo Alto, California, United States[8]
Trained byDonovan Morgan[6]
Ezekiel Jackson[9]
Frank Murdoch[6]
Michael Modest[6]
Roland Alexander[10]
DebutJuly 18, 2009[11]

William Hobson (born January 23, 1991), better known by the ring name Powerhouse Hobbs, is an American professional wrestler signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a former AEW TNT Champion.

Early life

Hobson attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California, where he played football and other sports.[2] As a youth, he attended professional wrestling events, including SuperBrawl VIII in the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California.[10]

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2009–2020)

After graduating from high school, Hobson attended the All Pro Wrestling (APW) professional wrestling school in Hayward, California.[2] He made his professional wrestling debut on July 18, 2009 at APW's "Gym Wars" event under the ring name "Will Rood".[6][11] Hobson wrestled for APW over the following decade, during which time he held the APW Worldwide Internet Championship three times.[12] He also held the APW Tag Team Championship thrice, teaming with Marcus Lewis as "Lion Power".[13] In 2014 he briefly used the ring name "Will.I.IS";[14] in 2016 he changed his ring name to "Will Hobbs".[15]

Between 2011 and 2020 Hobson also appeared with multiple independent promotions, principally in the San Francisco Bay Area.[16] These included Championship Wrestling from Hollywood (where he held the UWN Tag Team Championship with Damien Grundy as "Cold Cold War"),[17] Gold Rush Pro Wrestling (where he held the GRPW Dynamite Division Championship),[18] and Pro Championship Wrestling (where he held the PCW Tag Team Championship with Mitch Valentine as the "Dream Team").[19] In 2016, Hobson made a one-off appearance for WWE, losing to Baron Corbin in a dark match in the SAP Center in San Jose, California.[20]

All Elite Wrestling (2020–present)

Team Taz (2020–2022)

In July 2020, Hobson began to work for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as "Will Hobbs", wrestling on its YouTube show AEW Dark. On September 5, 2020, Hobbs competed in a 21-man Casino Battle Royale at the All Out pay-per-view, which was won by Lance Archer.[21] His performance in the match impressed AEW president Tony Khan,[22][23] and he was signed to a contract with AEW.[24][25] On the September 16, 2020 episode of Dynamite, Hobbs saved AEW World Champion Jon Moxley from an attack by Brian Cage and Ricky Starks.[26] On the October 7 episode of Dynamite, Hobbs unsuccessfully challenged Cage for the FTW Championship.[27] On the November 18 episode of Dynamite, Hobbs turned heel by aligning himself with Team Taz (Taz, Brian Cage, and Ricky Starks), joining them in an attack on Cody Rhodes and Darby Allin.[28] Later that month, his ring name was tweaked to "Powerhouse Hobbs".[4][5] At the December 2, 2020 television special Winter Is Coming, Hobbs and Starks lost to Rhodes and Allin.[29]

Throughout early 2021, Hobbs scored a series of singles and tag team victories on episodes of AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation. At the Double or Nothing pay-per-view in May 2021, Hobbs competed in a Casino Battle Royale that was won by Jungle Boy.[30] On July 14, 2021 on the Fyter Fest television special, Hobbs aided stablemate Ricky Starks in an FTW Championship victory over Brian Cage, thus expelling Cage from Team Taz;[31] Hobbs went on to defeat Cage on the September 1 episode of Dynamite.[32] On the September 15, 2021 episode of Dynamite, Team Taz attacked CM Punk while he was on commentary, resulting in a match between Hobbs and Punk at the AEW Grand Slam television special (Punk's first televised match in over seven years),[33][34] which was won by Punk.[35] For the remainder of the year, Hobbs wrestled primarily on AEW Dark.[30]

In March 2022 at Revolution, Hobbs competed in a Face of the Revolution ladder match that was won by Wardlow. Throughout mid-2022, he largely competed in tag team matches alongside Starks; at Double or Nothing in May 2022 they unsuccessfully challenged Jurassic Express for the AEW World Tag Team Championship in a triple threat match that also featured Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland.[36] At Dynamite: Fight for the Fallen on July 27, 2022, Hobbs turned on Starks after Starks lost the FTW Championship, delivering a clothesline to the back of Starks' neck followed by a spinebuster.[37] The following week, Taz formally disbanded Team Taz.[38] At All Out in September 2022, Hobbs defeated Starks; later that month, on Grand Slam, Starks defeated Hobbs in a lights out match.[36][39]

TNT Champion; QTV; Don Callis Family (2022–present)

At Full Gear in November 2022, Hobbs faced Samoa Joe and Wardlow in a three-way dance for the AEW TNT Championship that was won by Samoa Joe.[36][40] In March 2023, Hobbs won a Face of the Revolution ladder match, giving him a shot at the TNT Championship.[41] On the following episode of Dynamite, Hobbs (with assistance from Q. T. Marshall) defeated Wardlow in a falls count anywhere match to win the TNT Championship.[42] Hobbs subsequently jointed Marshall's "QTV" stable.[43] On the April 19, 2023 episode of Dynamite, Wardlow defeated Hobbs to regain the title.[44] In July 2023, Hobbs left QTV.[45]

In July 2023, Hobbs competed in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, defeating Dustin Rhodes in the quarter-finals[46] before losing to Ricky Starks in the semi-finals of the tournament.[47] At All Out in September 2023, Hobbs lost to Miro.[48] In October 2023, Hobbs joined the Don Callis Family, attacking Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega.[49] In November 2023, the Don Callis Family (Hobbs, Konosuke Takeshita, and Kyle Fletcher) and Brian Cage lost to Jericho, Omega, Kota Ibushi, and Paul Wight in a street fight.[50]

Professional wrestling style and persona

Hobbs wrestles in a "powerhouse" style.[7] His finishing moves have included a falling powerslam named the "World's Most Dangerous Slam",[51][52][53] a spinebuster,[54][55][56] an Oklahoma Stampede,[57][58] a frog splash,[59] a torture rack,[60][61] a burning hammer,[62] and an emerald flowsion named the "Town Business".[63]

Personal life

Hobson was raised by his grandparents, and he states that his love of professional wrestling came through his grandparents who regularly watched and attended wrestling shows at the Cow Palace. When Hobson was 21, his older brother was killed by gunfire; they had aspirations of being a manager-wrestler duo in professional wrestling. Hobson was also injured in the shooting, taking a bullet in his forearm.[2] Hobson has two sons and one daughter.[3]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ "Will Hobbs". ProFightDB.com. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Barney, Chuck (January 8, 2021). "Pro wrestler, East Palo Alto native Will Hobbs out to be one of the greats". Mercury News. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Schiavone, Tony; Edwards, Aubrey (January 21, 2021). "Powerhouse Will Hobbs". TNT Unrestricted. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Gagnon, Joshua (November 25, 2020). "Will Hobbs gets a name change, Taz's son appears on Dynamite". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Blanchard, Matthew (November 26, 2020). "AEW Dynamite results: Powerhouse Hobbs in action, Taz wants to speak with a nanager". TheOvertimer.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Greer, Jamie (July 21, 2020). "Indie Watch: "the Embodiment of Will Power" Will Hobbs". LastWordOnSports.com.
  7. 1 2 3 Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Powerhouse Hobbs". Cagematch.net. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  8. ↑ Sean Legacy vs Will Hobbs | AEW Dark 9/8/20. YouTube. All Elite Wrestling. September 11, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  9. ↑ Growley, Liam (December 9, 2020). "Powerhouse Hobbs reveals he thought call to sign with AEW was a joke". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  10. 1 2 Jericho, Chris (2021). "The will & power of Will Hobbs". Talk is Jericho. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  11. 1 2 Kreikenbohm, Philip. "APW Gym Wars". Cagematch.net. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  12. 1 2 Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 14, 2012). "APW Worldwide Internet Championship". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  13. 1 2 Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 11, 2016). "APW Tag Team Championship". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  14. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Powerhouse Hobbs - matches - 2014". Cagematch.net. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  15. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Powerhouse Hobbs - matches - 2016". Cagematch.net. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  16. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Powerhouse Hobbs - career". Cagematch.net. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  17. 1 2 Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 6, 2015). "UWN Tag Team Championship". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  18. 1 2 Kreikenbohm, Philip. "GRPW Dynamite Division Championship". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  19. 1 2 Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 2, 2012). "PCW Tag Team Championship". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  20. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Powerhouse Hobbs - matches - WWE". Cagematch.net. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  21. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Powerhouse Hobbs - matches - 2020". Cagematch.net. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  22. ↑ Powell, Jason (September 5, 2020). "AEW All Out results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley vs. MJF for the AEW Championship, Kenny Omega and Hangman Page vs. FTR for the AEW Tag Titles, Hikaru Shida vs. Thunder Rosa for the AEW Women's Title, Chris Jericho vs. Orange Cassidy in a Mimosa Mayhem match". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  23. ↑ Ortega, Héctor (September 17, 2020). "Will Hobbs y su prometedor futuro en AEW". SuperLuchas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  24. ↑ Gagnon, Joshua (September 16, 2020). "Will Hobbs signs with AEW". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  25. ↑ Surrao, Lennard (September 17, 2020). "AEW confirms signing of Will Hobbs, Jim Ross reacts to the big announcement". Sportskeeda. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  26. ↑ Tees, David (September 16, 2020). "AEW Dynamite 9/16/20 results". Fightful. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  27. ↑ Powell, Jason (October 7, 2020). "10/07 Powell's AEW Dynamite audio review: Chris Jericho 30-year celebration, Brodie Lee vs. Cody in a dog collar match for the TNT Championship, Brian Cage vs. Will Hobbs, Chris Jericho and Jake Hager vs. Luther and Serpentico, Serena Deeb vs. Big Swole". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  28. ↑ Thomas, Jeremy (November 18, 2020). "AEW news: Will Hobbs joins Team Taz, Dynamite post-show pnline". 411Mania.com.
  29. ↑ Konuwa, Alfred (December 2, 2020). "AEW Dynamite Results: winners, news and notes on December 2, 2020". Forbes.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  30. 1 2 Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Powerhouse Hobbs - matches - 2021". Cagematch.net. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  31. ↑ Tessier, Colin (July 14, 2021). "Team Taz betrays Brian Cage, Ricky Starks wins FTW Championship at AEW Dynamite: Fyter Fest night 1". Mandatory.com. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  32. ↑ Beaston, Erik (September 2, 2021). "AEW Dynamite results: winners, grades, reaction and highlights from September 1". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  33. ↑ Renner, Ethan (September 15, 2021). "CM Punk set for action on two-hour AEW Rampage Grand Slam". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021. CM Punk will have his first television match in over seven years on next week's two-hour AEW Rampage Grand Slam. Punk will take on Powerhouse Hobbs. The match was announced during this week's Dynamite and was set up when Hobbs and Hook from Team Taz attacked Punk at the commentary table.
  34. ↑ AEW staff (September 16, 2021). "AEW Dynamite Results for September 15, 2021". AllEliteWrestling.com. All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  35. ↑ Collins, Joseph (September 24, 2021). "AEW Rampage Grand Slam live results: lights out tag, Punk in action". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  36. 1 2 3 Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Powerhouse Hobbs - matches - 2022". Cagematch.net. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  37. ↑ Klyn, Parker (July 27, 2022). "AEW Dynamite live results: Fight for the Fallen". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  38. ↑ Klyn, Parker (August 3, 2022). "AEW Dynamite live results: Chris Jericho vs. Wheeler Yuta". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  39. ↑ Keller, Wade (September 4, 2022). "9/4 AEW All Out PPV results: Keller's report on Moxley vs. Punk, Jericho vs. Danielson, Casino Battle Royal, Trio Tournament Final, Starks vs. Hobbs". PWTorch.com. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  40. ↑ Keller, Wade (November 19, 2022). "11/19 AEW Full Gear PPV results: Keller's report with analysis of Moxley vs. MJF, Death Triangle vs. The Elite, Cargill vs. Rose, Storm vs. Hayter, Baker vs. Saraya, more". PWTorch.com. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  41. 1 2 Howard, Ryan (March 1, 2023). "AEW Dynamite live results: Face of the Revolution ladder match". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  42. 1 2 "TNT Championship history". AllEliteWrestling.com. All Elite Wrestling.
  43. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "QTV". Cagematch.net. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  44. ↑ Renner, Ethan (April 19, 2023). "Wardlow regains TNT Championship on AEW Dynamite". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  45. ↑ Bryant, David (July 17, 2023). "AEW Collision hits & misses (7/15): FTR vs. Juice & Jay, Soho vs. Willow, Q.T. Marshall-Hobbs segment, Starks-Punk, Starks cheating". PWTorch.com. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  46. ↑ Rose, Bryan (July 1, 2023). "Semifinals set for men's AEW Owen Hart Foundation tournament". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  47. ↑ Lewis, Gino (July 9, 2023). "AEW Collision review – July 8, 2023". TJR Wrestling. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  48. ↑ Powell, Jason (September 3, 2023). "AEW All Out results: Powell's live review of Orange Cassidy vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW International Title, Luchasaurus vs. Darby Allin for the TNT Title, Bryan Danielson vs. Ricky Starks in a strap match, Kenny Omega vs. Konosuke Takeshita". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  49. ↑ Renner, Ethan (October 4, 2023). "Powerhouse Hobbs joins The Don Callis Family at AEW Dynamite Anniversary". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  50. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Powerhouse Hobbs - matches - 2023". Cagematch.net. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  51. ↑ Collins, Joseph (January 12, 2021). "AEW Dark results: Top Flight vs. Chaos Project". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021. Back in the ring, Hobbs finished Valle with the world's strongest slam.
  52. ↑ Klyn, Parker (May 18, 2021). "AEW Dynamite live results: Women's Title match, Moxley-Omega build". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021. Back in the ring, Hobbs hit a falling powerslam for the squash victory.
  53. ↑ Laiman, Ris (November 15, 2023). "In Laiman's Terms #456 - thoughts on AEW: Dynamite – November 15th, 2023". WrestlingHeadlines.com. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  54. ↑ Collins, Joseph (May 18, 2021). "AEW Dark results: Pillman Jr. vs. Luther, Diamante vs. Statlander". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021. Hobbs won quickly with a spinebuster...
  55. ↑ Klyn, Parker (September 22, 2020). "AEW Dark results: Kingston vs. Pillman Jr., Carter vs. Johnson". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021. Hobbs then hit a simple spinebuster for the quick win.
  56. ↑ Klyn, Parker (September 8, 2021). "AEW Dynamite live results: All Out fallout, Moxley vs Suzuki". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021. Dante hit a running kick before Hobbs turned the running offense into a spinebuster for the win.
  57. ↑ Klyn, Parker (September 15, 2020). "AEW Dark results: Dark Order vs. Private Party & Gunn Club". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021. ...Hobbs hit a spinebuster and the Oklahoma Stampede for the squash victory that went about a minute.
  58. ↑ Klyn, Parker (September 1, 2021). "AEW Dynamite live results: 100th episode". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021. Hobbs then hit the Oklahoma Stampede for the win.
  59. ↑ Klyn, Parker (October 27, 2020). "AEW Dark results: Cutler vs. Avalon III, Hikaru Shida vs. Leyla Hirsch". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021. They traded power moves, but Hobbs hit a spinebuster and a frog splash for the win in under three minutes.
  60. ↑ Collins, Joseph (November 8, 2021). "AEW Dark Elevation results: Dark Order vs. 2Point0 & The Acclaimed". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved November 22, 2021. Hobbs then put Adams up in the torture rack to get the submission.
  61. ↑ Collins, Joseph (November 16, 2021). "AEW Dark results: The Acclaimed vs. Dark Order". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved November 22, 2021. Hobbs pulled up Strife at two after a spinebuster and got the submission with the torture rack backbreaker.
  62. ↑ Collins, Joseph (February 20, 2023). "AEW Dark Elevation results: Lucha Brothers vs. Nese & Daivari". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved March 9, 2023. Hobbs hit his version of the burning hammer for the pinfall.
  63. ↑ Collins, Joseph (January 6, 2021). "AEW Dark results: Rey Fenix vs. Baron Black, -1 on commentary". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021. Hobbs hit a spinebuster and avalanche and debuted a new finisher: an inverted pump handle slam called the Town Business for the pin.
  64. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "GRPW Reach For The Gold 2". Cagematch.net. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  65. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2021". ProFightDB.com. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
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