Bully Ray Explains Why He Hopes These AEW Stars Are 'Running And Running Fast'

This week marks one week since former TNT and World Trios Champion, Powerhouse Hobbs, ended his contract with the company, with speculation that Hobbs is on his way to join other former AEW talent on the WWE roster. Bully Ray, for one is cheering for Hobbs and another heavyweight brawler to sprint to their next destination, which he believes will carry them toward bigger opportunities than what they've been given in AEW.

"I hope Powerhouse Hobbs is running, and running fast. And I hope Wardlow is right behind him," the WWE Hall of Famer said on "Busted Open Radio." "Powerhouse Hobbs looks the part. There's so much upside to Powerhouse Hobbs, and maybe he can't talk, I don't know. I haven't heard enough from Powerhouse Hobbs. But even if he can't, you put him with a manager. You do something. That guy can be such a player for you."

The conversation about Hobbs followed a segment in which Ray and co-host Dave LaGreca criticized AEW for poor presentation of their product and a fundamentally flawed approach to wrestling, which Ray claims is the promotion's central problem.

"The only thing that matters there are star ratings, Cagematch ratings, and what the internet says. It's an entire culture who has now been brainwashed to wrestle for what most would consider the wrong reasons," Ray said. "If AEW wants to continue doing business the way they're doing business, that's just fine, they will continue to stay where they are. And if everybody is happy and content with that, great ... this is your niche, that's it. Nothing will ever be memorable because you don't make it memorable. Nothing will ever mean more than what it means in a given second, and then they move on."

While the jury is still out on whether Hobbs will make his first WWE appearance at the Royal Rumble next Saturday in Saudi Arabia, Wardlow remains on the injured reserves after tearing his pectoral muscle this past September. Reports before his injury indicated that the former three-time TNT Champion was positioned to become a main event player, with the possibility of becoming a future challenger to the AEW World Championship while "Hangman" Adam Page was in his second reign.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "Busted Open Radio" with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.