A NJPW star who was previously reigning as one of the company’s champions has now left the promotion and their title has been vacated.
As announced on April 14th by New Japan, Jeff Cobb has left the company at his own request. Cobb was reigning as one half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions alongside Callum Newman but these titles have since been vacated. The announcement also adds that Cobb’s final match will take place on April 19th against Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Appearing at an impromptu press conference to address the departure and what’s next for him, Newman stated that while he is looking to get the titles back, he also called out IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto:
“That was a fun two weeks. That’s the United Empire’s reign with the IWGP Tag titles over. Jeff is leaving, so I don’t know what Jeff Cobb’s future is, but for me, there’s a spot now where Jeff left off. So let me get this out the way.
I want the opportunity that Jeff was screaming about when he took over our backstage comments after the IWGP Tag Team title match. I want a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Saying it now, maybe I don’t believe it myself, but I don’t think anyone has believed in me since I got here. Nobody ever believed in me when I was getting my head caved in with a kendo stick to get in the G1. I made history by being the youngest to be in that tournament, made history by being the youngest ever IWGP Tag team Champion, and I’ll make history by being the youngest ever IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.”
Newman has since been granted his shot at the title at Wrestling Dontaku on May 4th.
Signing with New Japan back in 2017, Cobb captured the IWGP Tag Titles 3 times along with reigns as NEVER Openweight Champion and NJPW World Television Champion. Cobb has also made multiple appearances for AEW while a part of the New Japan as part of the ongoing relationship between the two promotions.
What’s Next For Jeff Cobb Following NJPW Exit?
Back in March, news broke that WWE were interested in signing Cobb, who had been working as a free agent as his contract had expired earlier in the year. There were rumours that the former IWGP Tag Team Champion was already on the WWE internal roster, but these were not confirmed.
A couple of days later, 2 more NJPW departures were confirmed.