WWE Nearing Deal to Officially Sign Major International Star
NJPW confirms Jeff Cobb’s departure at his own request. WWE reportedly interested as IWGP Tag Team Championship now vacated.
Jeff Cobb has officially parted ways with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, fueling widespread speculation about an imminent move to WWE. The talented performer’s departure marks a significant shift in NJPW’s tag team division just weeks after capturing championship gold.
NJPW confirmed the exit through an official announcement, revealing that Cobb requested his release from the company. As a direct result, the IWGP Tag Team Championship that Cobb recently won alongside Callum Newman has been declared vacant, impacting the promotion’s tag team landscape.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling reached an agreement on Jeff Cobb’s departure at his request. With Cobb being one of the IWGP Tag Team Championship holders, those titles have now been declared vacant. Cobb’s final NJPW match will take place at Korakuen Hall on April 19 against Hiroshi Tanahashi. New Japan Pro-Wrestling deeply regrets the sudden nature of this news and joins fans in wishing Cobb the best in all his future endeavors.
Reports of WWE’s interest in Cobb have circulated since mid-March. Fightful reported on March 13 that WWE was targeting the wrestler, with one source claiming Cobb already appeared on WWE’s internal roster – though this remains unconfirmed. Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer also noted ongoing contract discussions between Cobb and WWE, but no finalized agreement has been publicly acknowledged.
Cobb’s departure comes shortly after winning the IWGP Tag Team Championship with Newman at the Sakura Genesis event on April 5. His farewell match against Hiroshi Tanahashi is scheduled for April 19 at Korakuen Hall.
