Jeff Cobb discusses why he decided to join New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
In early 2020, Jeff Cobb became a free agent after his contract with Ring of Honor expired. In February of last year, Cobb debuted for All Elite Wrestling and wrestled Jon Moxley on the build-up to Moxley versus Chris Jericho at Revolution.
Cobb remained a free agent until he signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling but while still a free agent, one of the companies that sent an offer his way was WWE. Cobb appeared on the All Real Wrestling Podcast and shared that WWE’s offer came with “great money” but he felt like he needed to work for a company where he could fit in.
I did get contract offers from other places but at the end of the day, it was — you know like — I mean WWE offered me a contract, great money but, at the end of the day, you know, it’s — money is gonna make a lot of your problems go away but at the end of the day, money won’t make you happy so I wanted to work somewhere where I felt like I fit in more and I would’ve been happy. You know, if I went to WWE, I wouldn’t be able to do a random indie booking if I wanted to if I was off that weekend or something. New Japan, I love Japan. The culture is amazing out there and the style of wrestling, like you mentioned, I definitely feel like I fit better in and I felt at the time, you know, New Japan was gonna be my home and it is my home. That’s not to take anything away from other companies that offered me contracts. But because I am with New Japan and with this quote-unquote forbidden door, you know, I’m still able to pop up on like an AEW or a Ring of Honor or MLW or IMPACT if the time’s right so, I felt like I made the right choice.
During the conversation, Cobb reflected on his time in PWG. He spoke about the ‘thumb in the butt train’ at a PWG event. Cobb was not keen on the idea but said if legends such as Jushin Thunder Liger was okay with it, who is he to not be okay with it.
A lot of people think that ten man tag I did on my first BOLA, like that video clip went viral with a thumb in the ass train thing. You know, that’s not my cup of tea but when legends in this business wanna do that, who am I, an unknown commodity to say no, right? I went along for the ride.
Jeff Cobb was in action at NJPW’s ‘Detonation’ STRONG taping and to read the results from that event, click here. Cobb will also be heading to CMLL on November 19th along with TJP for an Arena Mexico show.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit the All Real Wrestling Podcast with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
