Why Jeff Cobb Could Be In WWE Imminently

Jeff Cobb is on his way out of NJPW and now it’s all but confirmed that the former IWGP Tag Team Champion is heading to WWE…and soon.

On March 13, it was reported that WWE is taking a close look at signing Jeff Cobb. The 42-year-old powerhouse has been working with New Japan Pro Wrestling since 2017 but that relationship has now come to an abrupt end despite Cobb holding one of NJPW’s major championships.

NJPW has now released a statement confirming that Jeff Cobb has left the promotion and that the IWGP Tag Team Championship has been vacated although he still has one more match left to compete in on April 19:

New Japan Pro-Wrestling has come to terms with the departure of Jeff Cobb at his request.

With Cobb one half of the IWGP Tag team Champions, those titles have now been vacated.

Cobb’s final match in NJPW will take place in Korakuen Hall on April 19 against Hiroshi Tanahashi.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling profoundly apologises for the sudden nature of this news and joins fans in wishing Cobb the best in all his future endeavours.

Jeff Cobb Heading To WWE

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that Jeff Cobb is heading to WWE and he could be debuting in the company sooner than anyone anticipated:

He is going to WWE. He’s left New Japan, held the tag team titles for like 9 days or something. [When asked why NJPW put the title on Cobb] I don’t think they knew he was going. They didn’t know he was going, it was a booking error, he wasn’t under contract.

I couldn’t say because I can’t get into their heads, I don’t think they knew when he was leaving, I think that’s the issue right there. They didn’t know when he was leaving and they put the belt on him and wanted to use him to elevate Callum Newman, they did that and then he left suddenly. I think that they were not expecting it to be this soon. If they thought he was leaving now, there’s no way in hell they’d [have put the title on him].

[…] My presumption is WWE wanted him for Sunday or Monday and that was that.

The Rock may have teased Jeff Cobb’s arrival with his choice of recent attire, also hinting that Cobb might be under The Final Boss’ spell.

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