Jeff Cobb Posts Cryptic “Retirement” Message After NJPW Exit

Jeff Cobb is adding more mystery to his next move—this time by claiming he’s retired. Just days after competing in what was billed as his final match for NJPW on April 18, Cobb took to social media on April 30 and dropped a cryptic message that immediately set off speculation.

“16 years is a long time to work, Happy Retirement to me…. I’ll let the waves take me to my next destination,” Cobb wrote, sharing a serene beach photo of himself standing barefoot by the water. He closed the post with a lyric that added even more intrigue: “🎶 Can I wade in your water, until I catch your wave 🎶”

The timing and tone of the post has fans questioning whether this “retirement” is the end—or just the calm before the next chapter. With WWE rumors heating up in recent weeks and Cobb’s NJPW contract officially behind him, many are reading this as a carefully worded teaser rather than a farewell.

Just before WWE SmackDown on April 18, Cobb tweeted “Then, now, forever ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️”—a direct play on WWE’s trademark slogan. That tweet included a photo of Cobb in an NJPW ring, with heart and arrow emojis pointing directly at the New Japan logo. While it seemed like a tribute, the message felt intentionally layered.

He also took a jab at the rumor mill on April 15, joking, “Yes, it is in fact 100% true that the Monster Matanza Cueto, from Lucha Underground fame, was in FACT watching my matches from his cell and stealing them to use on the El Rey Network.”

Despite the “retirement” post, many believe Cobb is simply stepping away from NJPW and preparing for something bigger—possibly in WWE. Dave Meltzer recently reported that WWE wanted Cobb “for Sunday or Monday” around WrestleMania 41, but that never happened.

Jeff Cobb might be done with New Japan, but don’t count him out of pro wrestling just yet. His latest post feels more like a pivot than a goodbye.