Update on Potential Next Destination for Jeff Cobb’s Wrestling Career Post-WWE Release

As noted before, JC Mateo departed from WWE earlier this month as part of a recent larger batch of talent releases and departures.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that Jeff Cobb, former JC Mateo, was in attendance backstage at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestling Dontaku 2026 events earlier this month in Japan.

Meltzer reported that he believes that Cobb still has a place of residency in Japan but unless WWE releases him early from his non-compete clause, he would not be able to return to NJPW in time for this year’s G1 Climax tournament. Cobb’s non-compete reportedly is currently set to expire on July 24th.

Meltzer also reported that it is currently not known if Cobb is currently planning to return to NJPW and the company itself has been dealing with its own financial issues of late.

Meltzer speculated that Cobb could potentially go to AEW but the reality is his chances of going to AEW as a star were much higher one year ago. Meltzer reported that WWE often enhances someone’s value but Cobb would not be one of those people over the way his brief time went in the company.