Jeff Cobb's Departure from NJPW—What Really Happened?

In a stunning turn of events, Jeff Cobb is officially out of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and is set to make his mark in WWE. The buzz around his departure has sparked varied reports, highlighting different timelines of awareness among NJPW officials.

According to an exclusive update from Fightful Select, NJPW was aware of Cobb's decision to leave for approximately a month, contradicting earlier claims from The Wrestling Observer that the company was caught "blindsided" by WWE's early recruitment of Cobb.

Champions to Contenders: The Tag Team Title Transition

Cobb and his partner Callum Newman captured the IWGP Tag Team Titles during the NJPW Sakura Genesis event on April 4. Originally, there were ambitious plans for Cobb to face Hirooki Goto for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title at the upcoming Wrestling Dontaku event on May 4. However, WWE's interference appears to have derailed those aspirations before NJPW began publicizing the match.

What's Next for Cobb in WWE?

As reported earlier, Cobb's NJPW career is winding down, with his final match scheduled for this Saturday. Speculations abound regarding his potential debut in WWE, possibly around the time of Wrestlemania or the subsequent episode of RAW. However, fans should note that Cobb will not be Randy Orton's mystery opponent at Wrestlemania 41.

Cobb's Future: Interests and Opportunities

Interestingly, Cobb reportedly has shown little enthusiasm about pursuing opportunities in AEW, despite having made appearances there in the past. This raises questions about where his WWE journey will lead next and what roles he might embrace.

As the wrestling world watches closely, the ramifications of Cobb's move to WWE are sure to unfold in dramatic fashion. Stay tuned as this saga continues!