On May 10, 2025, Jeff Cobb, a powerful wrestler from Hawaii, made a splash in WWE at the Backlash event in St. Louis, Missouri. He helped Jacob Fatu retain the WWE United States Championship in a wild Fatal Four-Way match. This exciting debut got fans excited about what Cobb would do next in WWE.
The night started with a big match for the U.S. Championship. Jacob Fatu was defending his title against LA Knight, Damian Priest, and Drew McIntyre. The match was exciting and it looked like LA Knight might win. But then Solo Sequoia got involved and suddenly Jeff Cobb ran into the ring. He attacked Knight, giving Fatu a chance to win and retain his title. The crowd of 15,000 fans went crazy and the announcers, including Big E, shouted that Jeff Cobb had come to WWE.
Cobb’s surprise entrance shocked everyone, as no one saw it coming. At a press conference, Fatu commented, “You saw my reaction. We’re still sorting it out.” This sparked speculation among fans about possible tension in The Bloodline 2.0, a faction aiming to dominate WWE after recent shifts involving stars like Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. Prior to WWE, Cobb was a major name in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
He won major titles there, such as the NEVER Openweight Championship and three IWGP Tag Team Championships with his group, United Empire. In April 2025, he left NJPW after his last match against Hiroshi Tanahashi. Rumors began that WWE wanted him back, and Cobb teased fans on social media. He posted about “retirement” and even shared a video from a gym in Los Angeles, saying he wasn’t in St. Louis. But fans knew something was coming, and his Backlash debut proved them right.
After the event, Cobb posted on X, saying, “I beat retirement and made it from Muscle Beach to St. Louis just in time!” He seemed excited, but his actions in the ring were serious. To keep his debut a secret, Cobb took multiple flights from Japan to St. Louis and stayed hidden until the match. Other wrestlers were impressed with how hard he worked to surprise everyone.
Cobb is a great fit for WWE with his strength, speed, and deep experience. He represented Guam as an amateur wrestler at the 2004 Olympics and started his professional wrestling career in 2009.He has been in major promotions such as Lucha Underground, Ring of Honor, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, where he has won major tournaments and titles. Weighing in at 262 pounds, he can easily grab opponents and move like a much younger wrestler. Even at 42, he’s ready to shine.
Fans have mixed feelings about Cobb’s debut. Many like his skills and think he will become a big star, with some saying he’s “super athletic” compared to other bigger wrestlers like Bronson Reed. Others were surprised he joined The Bloodline instead of starting out alone or in WWE’s NXT brand. Some fans mentioned his age, but most agree that WWE has confidence in him to make a big impact right away. There’s also some drama from his NJPW days – one wrestler, TJP, said that Cobb hurt their group before leaving, which has people discussing it.
The group has been quiet lately, and adding Cobb could start new rivalries with stars like LA Knight or even cause problems within the team. WWE is using Cobb to bring new energy after WrestleMania, and fans are excited to see what happens next. Will he help The Bloodline dominate, or will he take on Fatu and Sequoia? Whatever the case, Jeff Cobb’s arrival is a big moment for WWE.