Jeff Cobb is enjoying a successful run in the NJPW G1 Climax 31 tournament, and he continues to thrive in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. That being said, he isn’t ruling out a return to AEW.
In an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Cobb reflected on his remarkable opening stretch in the tournament before he made it clear that winning the IWGP World Championship is his ultimate goal. But later on, he teased that he could make another appearance in AEW if the situation calls for it.
“The most memorable part of my first seven matches is winning my first seven matches,” Cobb said . “Going undefeated this far is rare, but not something I doubted I could do. My goal is to go undefeated the entire tournament. That’s the point I am going to prove, that no one is more dominant than I am.”
Cobb also explained that he wants to prove that he’s the best in the world by winning the IWGP World Championship, and he called his success in this quest “only a matter of time.
“The G1 is the most grueling tournament,” Cobb said. “Everyone involved wants to win, and the prize is main-eventing the Tokyo Dome. It’s stupid to not aspire to be the top dog of this promotion. Being the IWGP world champion means you are the best in the world, period. It’s only a matter of time for me.”
The United Empire powerhouse then described how he’s far from finished in NJPW, but he admitted that he could be convinced to pop up in AEW if he feels compelled to do so, either for his own interests or those of the stable.
“New Japan is the right decision for me,” said Cobb, who is not closing the door on a return to AEW. “I have a lot of unfinished business here in New Japan—tons of guys I have yet to suplex and tons of championships to win. I also respect what Tony Khan is doing, especially the level of excitement he has brought into the pro wrestling community and all the amazing crossovers going on.
“Having said that, will I show up in AEW? Right now, I have my sights set on the G1 and the IWGP world heavyweight championship. But if there’s something that interests me or the United Empire, you never know.”
Cobb had a brief run in AEW in February 202; Chris Jericho brought him in as a mercenary to weaken Jon Moxley ahead of their AEW World Championship Match at the Revolution pay-per-view. In his first and only AEW match, Cobb lost to Moxley on the February 19 episode of AEW Dynamit. Whether the former olympian returns to the company remains to be seen, but it seems like he’d be open to it.
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