Bully Ray Urges TNA to Sign Powerhouse Hobbs

With Powerhouse Hobbs officially a free agent following the expiration of his AEW contract, the wrestling world is watching closely to see where the powerhouse lands.

While WWE is widely seen as the frontrunner—especially with rumors of Hobbs being present for Royal Rumble weekend in Saudi Arabia—Bully Ray believes there’s another company that should step up and make a real move: TNA Wrestling. On Busted Open Radio, Bully made his stance crystal clear.

“If I’m TNA, I’m making a play for Powerhouse Hobbs,” Ray said. “Forget about WWE. TNA should be making a play for Powerhouse Hobbs also. TNA should be making a play for anybody that’s out there.”

Ray backed up his comments by pointing to TNA’s current growth, especially after its return to national cable via AMC.

“They’re in the game now. They got some money from AMC. They need to step up to the plate too.”

According to Ray, Hobbs checks every box as a top-tier recruit—established on national TV, physically dominant, and capable of jumping straight into a major storyline.

“I am high on Will Hobbs,” Ray added. “I think that [WWE] can do a lot with him, but I’m not just sticking to NXT and WWE. TNA should make a play for Will Hobbs.”

And it’s not like Hobbs would be starting from scratch. Through his AEW run, he’s already shared the ring with TNA’s top players—including current World Champion Mike Santana and veteran Frankie Kazarian. Ray believes that existing familiarity makes him a perfect fit in the TNA ecosystem.

But if Ray had the book, Hobbs’ debut wouldn’t be a simple entrance—it would be an event. Drawing from pop culture, Ray compared the ideal Hobbs intro to Mr. T’s Clubber Lang in Rocky III:

“How you always saw T in the audience scouting Rocky. I would see Hobbs in the audience for months… You can’t miss him. He’s always on camera.”

“There is a six-foot-four, 300-pound jacked to the gills Black man sitting in the hard camera shot every freaking show. Then we find out when he jumps the guardrail, he destroys everybody, and he gets arrested and taken out.”

Ray’s point? Hobbs shouldn’t be slotted into a roster—he should disrupt one. Meanwhile, over in WWE, there’s another angle to consider. With former NXT Champion Oba Femi expected to make a full jump to the main roster, there’s a notable vacancy for a dominant big man on the NXT brand. Hobbs could easily slide into that spot without needing a long developmental build.

As of now, Hobbs has not publicly confirmed his next destination. But with WWE reportedly expecting him in Saudi Arabia for Royal Rumble weekend, the window for a surprise play from TNA—or any promotion—is closing fast.

Should TNA get aggressive and go after Hobbs? Or is WWE the right fit for this next chapter? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know where you want to see Powerhouse Hobbs land.