Jeff Cobb despises negativity.
The optimistic top prospect in pro wrestling has been surging in recent years, and after his deal with Ring of Honor expired, he became pro wrestling’s most-sought-after free agents prior to the onset of COVID-19. One of the countless events to be cancelled by the global pandemic was Josh Barnett’s hyper-niche and critically acclaimed Bloodsport 3. Promoted by the always innovative Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), Bloodsport—which debuted in 2018 as Matt Riddle’s Bloodsport—pitted pro wrestlers against one another with no ropes in a worked-shoot setting.
Sound familiar?
Cobb was set to wrestle AEW world heavyweight champion Jon Moxley at the event, which was previously scheduled to occur during WrestleMania weekend. WWE tried its own version of Bloodsport this past Monday, in the form of Raw Underground, and has been subject to large amounts of ridicule—ridicule from everybody except Jeff Cobb, of course, who chooses to see the glass as half-full.
“I’m not so critical like Internet Wrestling Fans, man,” said Cobb during our Zoom interview.
“I’m just happy that [WWE] is putting out content, they’re getting people work, they’re utilizing something that’s popular—UFC is huge right now. Case in point, Bloodsport. It was huge, it was going to be even bigger this year, then all this craziness happened. WWE is trying something new—and granted they’re not turning their whole show into that—I don’t think it’s that bad.”
Cobb admitted he had only seen snippets of Raw Underground, though he feels some fans will never be happy with the current product.
“You can never make internet fans happy, man. They want something different, you give them something different and they complain about that.”
Cobb’s diplomatic approach to pro wrestling makes it even more difficult to predict the next move for the top prospect. Amid a loaded free-agent class that features former world champion Tessa Blanchard, and eternal free-agent Heath Slater, Jeff Cobb noted he is no longer a free agent, reiterating he signed with an unnamed promotion months ago.
“I signed something a while ago, but I didn’t want to make the announcement,” said Cobb.
“I was waiting for the company to do it. And it just so happens this pandemic broke out, and they have bigger things on their plate. So I’m going to let the company—whichever company that is—I’ll let them announce it. I want them to announce it, I want them to have all the glory. I’d rather have the spotlight on the company that I sign with.”
Cobb recently competed for AEW, whom he only had great things to say about, including its added opportunities for wrestlers and their insistence on paying him despite not flying him out during the pandemic.
Cobb will be featured in the New Japan Cup USA tournament on the debut episode of NJPW Strong. His first opponent is Tanga Loa. NJPW Strong will be streaming on NJPW World beginning August 7 at 10 PM ET.
All comments were retrieved first hand unless otherwise noted.
I’ve been a pro wrestling columnist and video blogger for a leading national sports website since 2010, and formerly of Bleacher Report, where I was a WWE columnist an
I’ve been a pro wrestling columnist and video blogger for a leading national sports website since 2010, and formerly of Bleacher Report, where I was a WWE columnist an host of the nearly 100-episode digital series WWE WTF. In 2012, I was featured in Bleacher Report’s “Why We Watch” documentary discussing the career of Kurt Angle. I graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a major in business economics, an emphasis in accounting and a minor in sports management.
I’ve been featured multiple times on NPR in addition to appearances on BBC and ESPN Radio. My expertise in pro wrestling includes covering countless WWE and independent wrestling events live, including six WrestleManias.
I created the Pro Wrestling Bits YouTube channel. Subscribe at bit.ly/deezbits
Follow me on Twitter @ThisIsNasty