Jeff Cobb: I Could Have Gone To AEW, I Chose Not To Because I Chose To Represent NJPW

Jeff Cobb discusses his title win and sends a message to AEW wrestlers.

Jeff Cobb discusses his title win and sends a message to AEW wrestlers.

At NJPW Wrestling Dontaku on May 3, Jeff Cobb beat Zack Sabre Jr. to win the NJPW World Television Championship. This marked his first singles title win in NJPW in over five years.

In his post-match comments, Jeff Cobb discussed his win.

“First and foremost, the guys that aren’t with us right now, the guys that were [with] us before we were this amazing, united unit, Will Ospreay, Kyle [Fletcher], Mark [Davis], hell, even Gideon [Grey], also, the current members, HENARE, TJP, now this isn’t a knock to anybody. Because I could give two shits about the social media, the interwebs, and all that, saying, ‘Oh, Jeff, why is TJP the captain? Why is TJP blah blah blah?’ Bottom line is, he said it best. We were lost for a little bit, and now we’re on the right path. Again, this is not a knock to TJP or Will Ospreay, or anybody that had that leadership role in the United Empire. The bottom line is I don’t need a ‘C’ by Jeff Cobb. The only ‘C’ that I need is ‘Champion.’ Now, moving on, five long years, 2019, Madison Square Garden. Myself and Will Ospreay, the first championship match in Madison Square Garden that wasn’t the WWE, and I walked out with two belts, the Ring of Honor Television Championship, and the New Japan NEVER Openweight Championship. That was five years ago, and I lost it in this very building, this very arena. Since then, what? Nothing. Because New Japan has been scared. They’ve been afraid to let the monster out. You know who wasn’t afraid to let the monster out? United Empire. United Empire believes in each and every individual that is overlooked, that is overseen, that people don’t care about, but we do. We see something in them. So New Japan Pro-Wrestling, better yet, TV Asahi, because this is a television championship, and people say I have a face for TV. So with this championship, you have made a very, very grave error. Because at the end of the day, who on God’s green earth, or whatever god you pray to, who is gonna beat me? Who is gonna tap me in 15 minutes? Huh? Nobody. So, sorry New Japan. I plan to hold this for a very, very long time. Now, moving on to bigger and better things, New Japan has an amazing show in America [on] May 11. I am a champion for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. I am a USA citizen, so I can go in and out without visa restrictions,” Cobb said.

Cobb went on to issue an open challenge for NJPW Resurgence on May 11. He then switched gears and agreed with Shota Umino’s comments that the world champion should be on every show. Cobb targeted AEW wrestlers and said that he could have gone to AEW, but he chose not to.

“So let me tell you this. May 11, you will get your ass handed to you because this is a Jeff Cobb open invitation to come get 15 minutes of fame. I dare you. I dare anybody to step up. The way things are going, our ‘sister’, our ‘partner’ company just gets handed championship opportunities, and they’re not even in Japan. Yeah, I hate Shota [Umino], but what he said was right. If you’re a champion for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, show your ass up to the tours. Don’t just come for the big shows. Be there for the little shows. Be there for the people at the small towns, who spend all their hard-earned money to come watch New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Why can’t you come, huh? Because you’re sitting on fat contracts in America. Well, fuck you. Fuck all of you. I could have gone to AEW. I chose not to because I chose to represent this company. So at the end of the day, if you want to send one of your guys to get sacrificed to the New Japan monster, to the Kaiju monster, so be it. But until then, I am gonna celebrate,” Cobb said.

Cobb has made a few appearances in AEW, dating back to 2020. In 2020, Cody Rhodes said that a deal for Jeff Cobb in AEW was still in gestation. 

Jeff Cobb previously said he was close to signing with WWE in 2021. Check out his comments here.

Catch up on our coverage of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku here.

Fightful will have coverage of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku as it airs on May 4.

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