Locker Room Reaction to AEW Talents Jumping Ship to WWE

The tension between WWE and AEW has cooled in recent months, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s rolling out the red carpet. As former AEW talent like Powerhouse Hobbs prepare to walk through WWE’s doors, questions are flying about how the current locker room actually feels.

During a recent Fightful Select Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp addressed whether WWE stars were concerned about losing their spots to former AEW names. While the volume of AEW-to-WWE jumpers hasn’t matched the 2021–2022 flood of ex-WWE talent into AEW, the mood behind the scenes is still worth watching.

According to Sapp, there’s been no direct complaining from WWE talent—yet. But that could shift depending on how the company handles debuts like Hobbs.

“Well, it's not with the same frequency as the former WWE wrestlers coming into AEW in 2021 and 2022. But I can tell you back then, AEW talent were happy to have people in there but also wanted to make sure that their spots were secured—and for many of them, they weren't, as we've seen in recent years.”

AEW eventually learned that not every new signing is a fit—especially when certain wrestlers “didn’t want to do jobs” or “wanted to go back to WWE” under the new regime. But in WWE’s case, the integration of new talent hasn’t caused much internal friction—at least not yet.

“I haven’t heard of any direct complaints from WWE talent as of now. But Hobbs hasn’t debuted, so it’s tough to say what his situation will be. I expect him to go to the main roster. If he hops the line, I’m sure some people will be jealous, but that isn’t exclusive to any company. Really.”

In other words—no one’s throwing punches, but don’t expect open arms if someone skips ahead in line.

WWE’s history with incoming talent from rival promotions has always been a mixed bag, and Powerhouse Hobbs could be the next big test. If the company gives him a rocket push out of the gate, expect some heat to bubble up behind the curtain.

Do you think Powerhouse Hobbs deserves a fast track to WWE’s main roster spotlight? Or should he have to earn his stripes all over again? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—we want to hear from you.

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