5 Best NJPW Wrestlers Who Won’t Be At Wrestle Kingdom 12
Credit: NJPW1972 Instagram
5. Jeff Cobb
There was a familiar international feel to this year’s World Tag League, with multiple foreign wrestlers joining the tour. Chuck Taylor and Sami Callihan used a degree of humour to try and gain traction with the fans, but the language barrier is hard to breach.
What a debut! @RealJeffCobb is on a rampage, taking out #CHAOS with a moonsault to top it all off! Replay #NJWTL Night01 on https://t.co/cEFFsYKcrQ pic.twitter.com/Vvcjop2XRm
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) November 18, 2017
As it turns out, manhandling people can be understood in any language. This is what put Jeff Cobb on the map during the tournament. From his opening performance, the former Olympic wrestler caught fire with the Japanese audience.
While New Japan’s plans for Cobb clearly didn’t go beyond the World Tag League, they ought to have capitalised on the momentum he had built. His run may have been a one-time deal, but with War Machine headed off soon, Cobb is someone the company should keep on their books. A Tokyo Dome appearance would have indicated their long-term interest in the young star, but he may yet get a rumble spot.