Mark Henry Criticizes AEW’s Booking of Powerhouse Hobbs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry has publicly criticized All Elite Wrestling (AEW) for its handling of wrestler Powerhouse Hobbs, expressing frustration over the company’s booking decisions and the treatment of the rising star.

Speaking on ‘Busted Open Radio,’ Henry, a former AEW broadcaster, voiced his displeasure with how Hobbs was portrayed during recent AEW events. ‘Hobbs — I got interest in him,’ Henry said. ‘He’s like a son to me. He calls me dad. And I’m pissed that my son got treated like s***.’

Henry’s criticism stems from a recent 12-man tag team match on ‘AEW Collision,’ where he believes Adam Copeland (formerly known as Edge in WWE) and FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) took too long to assist Hobbs during the bout. ‘He could’ve came out a lot better and it would’ve been better for them — they would’ve made money,’ Henry added.

Hobbs, 33, returned to AEW in November 2024 after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for much of the year. He re-entered the ring by reigniting a feud with The Don Callis Family, a storyline tied to his previous association with the group. Despite a loss to Jon Moxley in a world title match on ‘AEW Dynamite: Maximum Carnage,’ Hobbs later secured a victory in a Casino Gauntlet match, earning another shot at Moxley.

Henry expressed concern about Hobbs’ future in AEW, particularly after two significant losses in title matches. ‘I hope I never hate somebody so much that I would rather see them fail on my TV than to have them win and be successful on my TV. It’s a damn shame,’ he said.

Hobbs’ recent performances have sparked debate among wrestling fans and analysts, with many echoing Henry’s sentiments about the wrestler’s potential and the need for stronger booking decisions.