Tony Khan Breaks Silence on Powerhouse Hobbs Leaving AEW for WWE

Powerhouse Hobbs may now be known as Royce Keys in WWE, but AEW President Tony Khan has finally addressed the departure—and he’s keeping it classy despite the sting.

Speaking to Josh Martinez on February 4, 2026, Khan commented on Hobbs leaving AEW for WWE after reportedly turning down one of the biggest financial offers AEW has ever made. He pointed out all of Hobbs’ accomplishments in AEW and wished him all the best.

“Well, I think Powerhouse Hobbs had a great run here in AEW,” Khan said. “He started wrestling here in Jacksonville, where I am now, had some great matches, and became a champion in AEW. We were just talking about the TNT Championship—he’s a former TNT Champion and a former World Trios Champion. I’ll always wish him all the best.”

Khan’s statement comes days after reports surfaced about just how hard AEW tried to keep Hobbs. According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio and in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, AEW’s offer to retain Hobbs was “much higher than I would have expected.” The five-year deal would’ve placed Hobbs’ salary above almost every AEW original from 2019—with the lone exception of Chris Jericho.

“He got a great AEW offer to stay but I don’t know his WWE offer. The AEW offer was much higher than I would have expected. It would have been a number that I believe would have been higher than anyone but Chris Jericho earned in AEW’s first year in 2019.

It would be in line with what Bryan Danielson got to jump from WWE to AEW, maybe slightly less but in line,” Meltzer added.

That kind of money isn’t thrown around lightly. Meltzer noted the deal was more lucrative than what Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were making in WWE just four years ago—and close to what Seth Rollins was earning in the same window.

“It would be more than guys the level Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were making four years ago (less than they are making now) and in the range of what a guy the level of Rollins were making around the same time and nearly triple of what many significantly high WWE stars were making in the first year or so of AEW after the first round of increases had taken place.”

Despite all that, Hobbs walked. WWE had long been circling the powerhouse and officially scooped him up in January 2026. He debuted as entrant #14 in the Royal Rumble under the name Royce Keys—a tribute to his son, Royce—and instantly made a splash. AEW might’ve seen him as a long-term investment, but WWE is now betting big on his next chapter.

With Tony Khan finally speaking out, it’s evident that Hobbs left the company on good terms. But after turning down that kind of money, it’s clear the former TNT Champion had his mind made up.