Recently Released Star Spotted Backstage In WWE’s Rival Promotion

WWE’s latest list of releases took wrestling fans by surprise.

Not only did the promotion release more than 20 wrestlers in one go on April 24, but one week later, it parted ways with four more talents.

The four wrestlers were The New Day’s Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods and MFT’s JC Mateo and Tonga Loa.

Of late, there has been a tremendous buzz about Kingston and Woods joining AEW following the completion of their 90-day no-compete clause. In the interim, both superstars have allegedly dropped their WWE names, now going by Kofi and Austin Creed, respectively.

They have been advertised for a GalaxyCon event in Oklahoma City on May 22-24. Despite being upset about their release, the fans are excited about their next destination.

Meanwhile, another former WWE talent seems to have made up their mind about their future in the wrestling business.

Ex-WWE Star JC Mateo/Jeff Cobb Spotted Backstage In NJPW

Jeff Cobb was first seen in last year’s Backlash PLE, where he helped Jacob Fatu retain his United States Championship in a four-way match.

He was later repackaged as JC Mateo and added to Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline, which came to be known as My Family Tree (MFT).

Cobb’s jump was from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he served as a one-time NEVER Openweight Champion and NJPW World Television Champion, and a 3-time IWGP Tag Team Champion.

While he did not win any titles in the Stamford promotion, he defended the tag team titles under the freebird rule while replacing Sikoa. Unfortunately, he was pinned by R-Truth, which cost the faction the tag belts.

Cobb, along with his MFT stablemate, Tonga Loga, was released on May 2, 2026.

According to a report by Dave Meltzer in Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the 43-year-old wrestler was spotted backstage during Wrestling Dontaku 2026, an annual NJPW event that took place on May 3 & 4.

His report also claimed that Cobb might not participate in the G-1 Climax because his non-compete clause ends on July 24, unless his previous employer nullifies it for some reason.

Jeff Cobb was backstage at Dontaku. I believe he still has a place in Japan. Unless WWE gives his special dispensation, he would not be able to return in time for G-1 if he does end up here, as the non-compete ends on 7/24. We don’t know if that is what he’ll do.

New Japan has its own financial issues. It wouldn’t surprise me if AEW picked up Cobb, but the reality is his chances of going to AEW as a star were much higher one year ago. WWE often enhances someone’s value, but Cobb would not be one of those people. [H/T: SESCOOPS]

It remains to be seen if All Elite Wrestling snags Cobb, considering it has a professional working relationship with NJPW.

Also read: Tony Khan On Former WWE Stars: “I Don’t Believe I’m Allowed To Talk To Them”