Morning Daily News Update: January 15, 2026 – Powerhouse Hobbs Set To Leave AEW And Join WWE
By Conor Renshaw on 15 January 2026
Good morning, all!
It’s Thursday, and it’s time for the Morning Daily News Update! We’ve also got a bunch of new blog posts to take a look at, we’ve got:
Jabroniville with a new Dream Matches post
LScisco with a new WTWWW for WWF Monday Night Raw from September 19, 1994
Phrederic with a review of AJPW’s World’s Strongest Tag Determination League from November 30, 2025
Phrederic’s review of the latest WWE Evolve
Current AEW champion’s contract expiring, reportedly leaving for WWE
Powerhouse Hobbs is expected to leave AEW for WWE as his contract reportedly expired at midnight, despite months of negotiations and a substantial offer to stay. He apparently finished up at last night’s post-Dynamite Collision taping and is said to be leaving on good terms to test free agency. Hobbs debuted for AEW in 2020, holding the Trios titles for nearly 300 days and enjoying a brief TNT title run.
Penelope Ford cleared to return from injury, AEW return date set
Penelope Ford is set to return to AEW this weekend after three months out with a UCL tear. She will team with Megan Bayne on Saturday’s Collision after missing the AEW Women’s Tag Team title tournament, where she was replaced by Marina Shafir. Ford last wrestled in October on Dynamite in a multi-team match alongside Bayne.
Jim Cornette has pledged $5,000 to suspended Ford worker TJ Sabula after an interaction with Donald Trump resulted in Sabula being taken off the job. The wrestling veteran shared a screenshot of the news story on Twitter and said he had “a thank you, a handshake and a cheque for $5,000” waiting for Sabula.
CM Punk: ‘I Would Estimate Probably The Big 50 Is When I Should Maybe Gracefully Bow Out’
CM Punk says he expects to retire around age 50 as long as he stays healthy. Speaking to CinemaBlend, the 47-year-old World Heavyweight Champion joked that he once thought 40 was “so old” but now feels good and cited legends who wrestled well into later years. Punk added that while others kept going, he would “gracefully bow out” by the time he hits the big milestone.