Jeff Cobb has arrived in WWE after a shock debut at Backlash in St Louis.
The 42-year-old wrestler, who sensationally quit rivals New Japan Pro Wrestling final month, was closely rumoured to be making the bounce and he made his presence felt on Saturday evening.
Cobb appeared at the finish of the United States Title match between defending champ Jacob Fatu and challengers Drew McIntyre, LA Knight and Damian Priest.
Hailed by commentator Michael Cole as the ‘biggest free agent on the planet’, he appeared at ringside and attacked Knight, serving to Fatu to a tainted victory and seemingly aligning himself with Solo Sikoa.
In an announcement on their official web site days earlier than WrestleMania, NJPW – who’ve a working settlement with WWE rivals All Elite Wrestling – confirmed Cobb’s exit.
‘New Japan Pro-Wrestling has come to terms with the departure of Jeff Cobb at his request,’ the promotion stated at the time.
They added: ‘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.’
Cobb was stripped of his IWGP Tag Team Championship, which he held with Callum Newman, and he had his farewell in Korakuen Hall on April 19.
He later teased ‘retirement’ in a collection of X publish making an attempt to throw followers off the scent.
’16 years is a very long time to work, Happy Retirement to me…. I’ll let the waves take me to my subsequent vacation spot,’ he wrote alongside a seashore photograph. ‘🎶 Can I wade in your water, until I catch your wave 🎶’
And hours earlier than Backlash, he tweeted: ‘Just finished a sweet workout and I can’t imagine after so a few years of going to LA, this was my first time going right here! If you might be in the space I counsel checking it out! Gym, free tanning and whenever you’re executed, a seashore to leap into!’
Earlier in the week, Cobb additionally appeared at the pink carpet for the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 and 4 remake launch get together, once more referencing retirement as he continued to joke about stepping away from wrestling.
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