Jeff Cobb leaving NJPW, IWGP Tag Team titles vacated

Jeff Cobb is leaving NJPW.

New Japan has announced that Cobb will be leaving the promotion, and as a result the IWGP Tag Team titles he currently holds with Callum Newman have been vacated. His final match will be on April 19 at Korakuen Hall when he faces Hiroshi Tanahashi in a singles match.

The company wrote the following on their website: “New Japan Pro-Wrestling has come to terms with the departure of Jeff Cobb at his request. With Cobb one half of the IWGP Tag team Champions, those titles have now been vacated. Cobb’s final match in NJPW will take place in Korakuen Hall on April 19 against Hiroshi Tanahashi. New Japan Pro-Wrestling profoundly apologises for the sudden nature of this news and joins fans in wishing Cobb the best in all his future endeavours.”

Last month it was reported by Fightful that WWE was interested in signing Cobb, with one source indicating he was already on the internal roster. Dave Meltzer reported that while there had been talks, there was no confirmation of a deal. Cobb’s contract with NJPW expired earlier this year, but continued working for the company as a free agent.

In a press conference on Monday, Newman was seen with both belts and mentioned recent backstage comments made by Cobb about wanting to face IWGP World Champion Hirooki Goto, saying now he’s the one issuing the challenge to the champion. The duo had only held the titles for nine days, defeating Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi at Sakura Genesis.