Jon Moxley became the new IWGP World Champion at NJPW ‘Windy City Riot’ 2024, and he defended his title for the first time against Powerhouse Hobbs earlier this week on AEW Dynamite.
Hobbs charged into the corner during the match, but Moxley moved away, causing Hobbs to hit his knee against the ring post. Hobbs rolled to the outside, clutching his knee, and was checked on by the referee while the commentary team noted that he was hurt.
As a result, the match ended early, with Moxley retaining his title by choking out Hobbs in the ring.
On Thursday’s edition of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez confirmed that Hobbs’ injury was legitimate, but the severity of the injury is still unknown. He said,
“I want to start by wishing the best to [Powerhouse] Hobbs. If you watched the show last night, that was not a worked knee injury. He went for a high cross or something and smashed into the turnbuckles and injured his knee. He could barely walk, and he hopped his way back into the ring, hopped into like two spots, and got choked out. There was more they were going to do.
So, if you note, there was going to be an overrun…The Hobbs match was obviously supposed to go longer than it did. We don’t know the extent of his knee injury yet, except that it is real. Hopefully, it is not bad. All the best to Hobbs as he figures out this knee injury.”
We here at eWn wish Powerhouse Hobbs a full and speedy recovery.
Jon Moxley Retains IWGP World Championship as Powerhouse Hobbs Suffers Legitimate Knee Injury
In a recent episode of AEW Dynamite, Jon Moxley successfully defended his newly won IWGP World Championship against Powerhouse Hobbs. However, the match ended prematurely due to an unfortunate knee injury sustained by Hobbs.
During the intense bout, Hobbs charged into the corner, aiming to deliver a devastating blow to Moxley. However, Moxley swiftly evaded the attack, causing Hobbs to collide with the ring post and injure his knee. Rolling to the outside, Hobbs clutched his knee in pain while the concerned referee checked on him.
As a result of the legitimate injury, the match was cut short, and Moxley retained his title by choking out Hobbs in the ring. The commentary team acknowledged Hobbs’ injury, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
On Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez confirmed that Hobbs’ knee injury was not part of the planned storyline. Alvarez expressed his concern for Hobbs, stating, “If you watched the show last night, that was not a worked knee injury. He went for a high cross or something and smashed into the turnbuckles and injured his knee.”
Alvarez further explained that Hobbs could barely walk and hopped his way back into the ring to complete a few more spots before ultimately succumbing to Moxley’s submission hold. The match was intended to have an overrun, indicating that there were more planned sequences that could not be executed due to the injury.
The severity of Hobbs’ knee injury is currently unknown, but it is confirmed to be genuine. Wrestling fans and colleagues alike are sending their best wishes to Hobbs for a swift recovery. The eWn team also joins in wishing Powerhouse Hobbs a full and speedy recuperation.
Hobbs’ injury serves as a reminder of the physical toll that professional wrestlers endure in their pursuit of delivering thrilling performances. It highlights the inherent risks involved in the world of wrestling and the importance of proper care and rehabilitation for injured athletes.
As the wrestling community eagerly awaits updates on Hobbs’ condition, fans and fellow wrestlers are hopeful that the injury is not severe and that Hobbs will soon return to the ring at full strength.