Powerhouse Hobbs Bio
William Hobson (born January 23, 1991), known professionally as Powerhouse Hobbs, is an American professional wrestler signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He performs under the ring name Powerhouse Hobbs and is a member of The Opps; he is one-third of the AEW World Trios Champions and is a former AEW TNT Champion.
Early Life and Background
Hobson was born on January 23, 1991, in East Palo Alto, California, and was raised by his grandparents. He attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California, where he played football and participated in other sports; his grandparents regularly watched and attended wrestling events, which influenced his early interest in professional wrestling.
As a youth, Hobson attended local wrestling shows, including events at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. His early exposure to live wrestling helped shape his aspiration to pursue a career in the sport following high school and formal training at a regional wrestling school.
Path to NASCAR
Hobson trained at the All Pro Wrestling (APW) school in Hayward, California, and made his professional debut on July 18, 2009, wrestling under the ring name Will Rood. Over the next decade he worked the independent circuit in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere, developing his in-ring style and building a regional reputation.
During his independent run Hobson used a variety of ring names and gained experience in singles and tag-team competition, which prepared him for a national opportunity with All Elite Wrestling beginning in 2020.
Powerhouse Hobbs Career
Early Career (2009–2020)
Hobson debuted at an APW Gym Wars event on July 18, 2009, after training under a number of coaches including Donovan Morgan, Frank Murdoch, Michael Modest, Roland Alexander, and Ezekiel Jackson. He spent the following years primarily on the independent circuit, notably with All Pro Wrestling, where he captured the APW Worldwide Internet Championship three times and held the APW Tag Team Championship on three occasions as part of the team Lion Power.
Beyond APW, Hobson worked for several regional promotions across California, winning tag team gold and mid-card titles in promotions such as Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, Gold Rush Pro Wrestling, and Pro Championship Wrestling. He also made a one-off appearance for WWE in 2016, losing a dark match to Baron Corbin in San Jose.
AEW Breakthrough (2020–2023)
Hobson began appearing for All Elite Wrestling in July 2020 on AEW Dark under the name Will Hobbs and entered the spotlight after competing in the 21-man Casino Battle Royale at All Out in September 2020. His performance led to a contract with AEW, and he made immediate impact television appearances, including saving AEW World Champion Jon Moxley from an attack on Dynamite.
In late 2020 Hobson turned heel and aligned with Team Taz, adopting the ring name Powerhouse Hobbs. He worked a mix of televised Dynamite matches and Dark appearances through 2021, engaging in notable programs with Brian Cage, Ricky Starks, CM Punk, and others while establishing a reputation as a hard-hitting, physical performer.
AEW Singles and Stable Work (2022–2024)
Throughout 2022 and into 2023 Hobbs oscillated between singles pushes and stable alignments. He feuded with former teammates and opponents such as Ricky Starks and Wardlow, and competed in multi-man matches for the TNT Championship. In March 2023 Hobbs won a Face of the Revolution ladder match to earn a TNT Championship opportunity, then captured the AEW TNT Championship shortly after with assistance from Q. T. Marshall, before dropping the title back to Wardlow in April 2023.
Hobbs later joined then departed Marshall’s QTV stable and continued to feature on AEW pay-per-views and television, including participation in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament and matches at All Out, Full Gear, and other major events. A match with Jon Moxley for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on April 24, 2024, resulted in a knee injury that required surgery.
All Elite Wrestling Era (2024–Present)
Following recovery from knee surgery, Hobbs returned to AEW television and in October 2024 aligned with the Don Callis Family, working in prominent multi-man programs through late 2024 and early 2025. In April 2025, Hobbs substituted for the injured Hook and teamed with The Opps (Katsuyori Shibata and Samoa Joe) to win the AEW World Trios Championship; he was officially inducted as a member of The Opps shortly thereafter.
As a member of The Opps Hobbs participated in several title defenses through the summer of 2025, including multi-team matches at Double or Nothing and All In: Texas, and retained the trios gold at Forbidden Door. Storyline developments later in 2025 included a turn of The Opps following an attack on Adam Page.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hobbs wrestles in a true powerhouse style characterized by impactful strikes, power slams, and heavy spinebusters. His finishing moves have included a falling powerslam known as the “World’s Most Dangerous Slam,” a spinebuster and multiple hard-hitting power maneuvers, which he uses to control opponents and change match tempo.
Notable Races and Milestones
Key milestones in Hobbs’s career include multiple APW title reigns, his 2020 signing with AEW, winning the AEW TNT Championship in 2023, and capturing the AEW World Trios Championship in April 2025 as part of The Opps. He has featured on major AEW pay-per-views and been involved in high-profile programs against established names in the company.
Powerhouse Hobbs Career Wins
Across the independent scene and AEW, Hobbs has held multiple championships at the regional level and captured significant gold on national television. His verified accomplishments include multiple APW titles, tag team championships in several regional promotions, an AEW TNT Championship reign, and the AEW World Trios Championship.
Cup Series Highlights
While not applicable to motorsport, Hobbs’s major televised singles highlight was winning the AEW TNT Championship in 2023 and competing for secondary and world titles on AEW programming. These moments marked his transition from a developmental attraction to a regularly featured roster member on television and pay-per-views.
Xfinity Series Achievements
On the independent circuit Hobbs captured multiple tag team and mid-card singles titles, including the APW Worldwide Internet Championship (three reigns) and APW Tag Team Championship (three reigns). He also held championships in Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, Gold Rush Pro Wrestling, and Pro Championship Wrestling.
Truck Series and Other Wins
Hobbs’s early career is notable for his decade of work with APW and various West Coast promotions, where he built a foundation of championship wins and tag-team partnerships that led to national exposure and his eventual AEW contract.
Powerhouse Hobbs Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hobson was raised by his grandparents, who introduced him to professional wrestling through regular attendance at regional events. The family influence and local wrestling culture in the Bay Area played a central role in his decision to pursue wrestling professionally.
Personal Life
Hobson has three children. When he was 21 he and his family experienced a traumatic event in which his older brother was killed by gunfire; Hobson was also injured in that incident. These personal experiences have been part of his public narrative and have informed his personal outlook and professional drive.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a high point in Hobbs’s AEW career. In April 2025 he substituted for an injured teammate and, alongside Katsuyori Shibata and Samoa Joe, won the AEW World Trios Championship. The victory led to an official induction into The Opps and multiple title defenses across major AEW events through the summer, including a multi-team Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing and a successful defense at All In: Texas.
Following the summer defenses, The Opps continued to be featured in prominent trios programs and cross-promotional matches. Creative developments later in 2025 turned the stable heel after an attack on Adam Page, setting up new rivalries and storyline directions for Hobbs and his partners. As of mid-2025 Hobbs remained a central figure in AEW trios competition, combining physical in-ring style with stable-based storytelling.
