Powerhouse Hobbs Bio
William Hobson, known professionally as Powerhouse Hobbs, is an American professional wrestler born on January 23, 1991, in East Palo Alto, California. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and competing at around 269 pounds, he has built a reputation as one of the most physically imposing performers in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He is signed to AEW, where he performs under the ring name Powerhouse Hobbs and is a member of the faction known as The Opps. In addition to his in-ring work, Hobbs is one-third of the current AEW World Trios Champions, holding the titles alongside stablemates Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata. He is also a former AEW TNT Champion, having captured the title in 2023.
Across his career, Hobbs has performed under several ring names, including Will Hobbs, Will.I.IS, and Will Rood, while developing a powerhouse wrestling style built on strength, impact moves, and dominant strikes. His career has spanned promotions across the American independent circuit and the national stage of AEW, where he has competed against some of the top names in the industry.
Early Life and Background
William Hobson was born and raised in East Palo Alto, California, where he grew up surrounded by a family that nurtured his early love of sports and entertainment. He attended Sequoia High School in nearby Redwood City, California, where he played football and participated in several other sports, building the athletic foundation that would later shape his wrestling career. His physical presence and competitive nature stood out even at a young age, and he developed the strength and conditioning habits that would eventually define his professional identity.
Hobson was raised by his grandparents, and his passion for professional wrestling was sparked through their influence. His grandparents regularly watched wrestling on television and attended live events at the historic Cow Palace in San Francisco, taking young William along to experience the spectacle in person. One of his earliest live wrestling memories was attending SuperBrawl VIII at the Cow Palace, an event that left a lasting impression on him and helped solidify his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. He has often credited his grandparents with introducing him to the world of sports entertainment.
Path to Professional Wrestling
After graduating from high school, Hobson took the next formal step toward a wrestling career by enrolling at the All Pro Wrestling (APW) professional wrestling school in Hayward, California. The school, which had produced several notable wrestlers over the years, gave him a structured environment in which to learn the technical and performance aspects of the craft. Training at APW allowed him to refine his natural athleticism and translate his football background into the foundation of a wrestling style built on power and physicality.
Hobson made his professional wrestling debut on July 18, 2009, at an APW event titled “Gym Wars,” performing under the ring name Will Rood. Over the following decade, he became a regular on the APW roster, eventually capturing the APW Worldwide Internet Championship three times. He also teamed with Marcus Lewis to form “Lion Power,” a tag team that held the APW Tag Team Championship three times. In 2014, he briefly performed as Will.I.IS, before settling on the ring name Will Hobbs in 2016.
Powerhouse Hobbs Career
Early Career (2009–2020)
Between 2011 and 2020, Powerhouse Hobbs expanded his reach across the West Coast independent wrestling scene, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area. He appeared for several regional promotions, including Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, where he held the UWN Tag Team Championship with Damien Grundy as part of the team “Cold Cold War.” He also competed for Gold Rush Pro Wrestling, where he captured the GRPW Dynamite Division Championship, and Pro Championship Wrestling, where he and Mitch Valentine teamed up as “The Dream Team” to win the PCW Tag Team Championship. These runs helped him develop versatility as both a singles competitor and a tag team specialist.
In 2016, Hobbs made a one-off appearance for WWE, losing to Baron Corbin in a dark match at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Though brief, the experience gave him a glimpse of the national stage and reinforced his ambition to reach a larger audience.
All Elite Wrestling Breakthrough (2020–2022)
In July 2020, Hobbs began working for All Elite Wrestling as Will Hobbs, appearing on the promotion’s YouTube series AEW Dark. His big break came on September 5, 2020, when he competed in a 21-man Casino Battle Royale at the All Out pay-per-view, an event ultimately won by Lance Archer. Hobbs’ performance in the match impressed AEW president Tony Khan, and he was subsequently signed to a contract. On the September 16, 2020, episode of Dynamite, he made an immediate impact by saving AEW World Champion Jon Moxley from an attack by Brian Cage and Ricky Starks.
By November 2020, Hobbs turned heel by aligning with Team Taz alongside Taz, Brian Cage, and Ricky Starks, and his ring name was officially changed to Powerhouse Hobbs. Throughout 2021, he built momentum with victories on AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation, and he played a key role in helping Ricky Starks capture the FTW Championship. He also faced major stars like CM Punk in a televised match at AEW Grand Slam. In 2022, Hobbs turned on Starks following a loss for the FTW Championship, leading to a breakup of Team Taz, and engaged in a heated rivalry with his former ally.
Championship Success and the Don Callis Family (2023–2024)
In March 2023, Hobbs won the Face of the Revolution ladder match, earning a shot at the AEW TNT Championship. On the following episode of Dynamite, he defeated Wardlow in a falls count anywhere match, with assistance from Q. T. Marshall, to capture the TNT title. He subsequently joined Marshall’s QTV stable but dropped the championship back to Wardlow in April 2023. Later in 2023, he competed in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, defeating Dustin Rhodes in the quarter-finals before losing to Ricky Starks in the semi-finals. In October 2023, Hobbs joined the Don Callis Family, attacking Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega in a high-profile turn.
His run with the Don Callis Family produced several major matches, including an unsuccessful challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Jon Moxley in April 2024, during which he suffered a knee injury that required surgery. After months of recovery, Hobbs returned on November 6, 2024, aligning with Ricochet and turning face, effectively ending his association with the Don Callis Family. At Worlds End in December 2024, he unsuccessfully challenged Konosuke Takeshita for the AEW International Championship.
The Opps Era (2025–Present)
In January 2025, Hobbs won a Casino Gauntlet match to earn a shot at Jon Moxley and the AEW World Championship, though he came up short the following week at Dynamite: Maximum Carnage. He then began a feud with Big Bill of The Learning Tree, defeating him in a Street Fight on the February 19 episode of Dynamite. In April 2025, at Dynamite: Spring BreakThru, Hobbs stepped in for the injured Hook and teamed with Katsuyori Shibata and Samoa Joe to defeat the Death Riders for the AEW World Trios Championship, forming the new faction known as The Opps.
At Double or Nothing in May 2025, The Opps joined forces with Kenny Omega, Swerve Strickland, and Willow Nightingale to defeat the Death Riders and The Young Bucks in an Anarchy in the Arena match. The trio went on to defend their Trios Championships against the Death Riders and Gabe Kidd at All In: Texas in July 2025, and against Bullet Club War Dogs at Forbidden Door Zero Hour in August 2025. In October 2025, at WrestleDream, The Opps turned heel after attacking “Hangman” Adam Page following Samoa Joe’s loss to Page in a match for the AEW World Championship.
Style and Strengths
Powerhouse Hobbs wrestles in a traditional powerhouse style, using his size, strength, and physical presence to overwhelm opponents. His finishing moves have included the “World’s Most Dangerous Slam,” a falling powerslam, a spinebuster, an Oklahoma Stampede, a frog splash, a torture rack, a burning hammer, and an emerald flowsion known as the “Town Business.” He is known for his explosive strikes, dominant nearfalls, and his ability to control the pace of a match through raw power.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Hobbs’ most memorable career moments are his Casino Battle Royale performance at AEW All Out 2020 that earned him his AEW contract, his AEW TNT Championship victory in 2023, and his AEW World Trios Championship win with The Opps in 2025. He has competed in high-profile matches against stars like Jon Moxley, CM Punk, Samoa Joe, and Wardlow, and has been part of multiple faction-driven storylines that have shaped AEW programming.
Powerhouse Hobbs Career Wins
Across his career, Powerhouse Hobbs has captured championships on the independent circuit and in All Elite Wrestling, building a resume that reflects both longevity and consistent performance. His title victories span regional promotions, tag team competitions, and major singles championships at the national level.
AEW Highlights
Hobbs is a former AEW TNT Champion, having won the title in March 2023 by defeating Wardlow in a falls count anywhere match. He is also a current one-third of the AEW World Trios Champions, holding the titles alongside Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata as part of The Opps. The trio has defended the championships multiple times since capturing them in April 2025, including successful defenses at All In: Texas and Forbidden Door Zero Hour.
Other Wins and Performances
On the independent circuit, Hobbs held the APW Worldwide Internet Championship three times and the APW Tag Team Championship three times alongside Marcus Lewis. He also captured the UWN Tag Team Championship with Damien Grundy in Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, the GRPW Dynamite Division Championship in Gold Rush Pro Wrestling, and the PCW Tag Team Championship with Mitch Valentine.
Powerhouse Hobbs Family
Family Background and Wrestling Lineage
Powerhouse Hobbs was raised by his grandparents, who played a central role in shaping his love for professional wrestling. His grandparents regularly watched wrestling on television and attended live events at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, taking young William along to experience the shows firsthand. He has spoken about his grandparents’ influence as a key reason he pursued a career in the ring.
Personal Life
When Hobbs was 21 years old, his older brother was killed by gunfire, and Hobbs himself was injured in the shooting, taking a bullet in his forearm. He and his brother had shared aspirations of forming a manager-wrestler duo in professional wrestling. Hobbs is the father of two sons and one daughter.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has marked a defining chapter in Powerhouse Hobbs’ career, beginning with his AEW World Championship opportunity against Jon Moxley in January. Though he came up short in that match, he quickly rebounded with a Street Fight victory over Big Bill in February, reestablishing his momentum on Dynamite. The high point of his year came in April 2025, when he joined forces with Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata to capture the AEW World Trios Championship, forming The Opps.
Since winning the titles, The Opps have positioned themselves as a dominant force in AEW’s trios division, defending the championships on multiple pay-per-view events. At Double or Nothing, Hobbs and his allies helped lead a major team victory over the Death Riders and The Young Bucks, and the faction has continued to feature prominently on both Dynamite and Collision programming. The trio’s post-match attack on “Hangman” Adam Page at WrestleDream signaled a new direction for the group.
Looking ahead, Hobbs remains one of AEW’s most prominent physical forces, with The Opps firmly established as a top-tier faction. His combination of singles credibility, tag team success, and main-event experience makes him a central figure in AEW’s ongoing storylines heading into the remainder of 2025.
