Jeff Cobb was backstage at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku earlier this month, suggesting he maintains a strong relationship with the promotion following his WWE release, according to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Cobb was released in WWE's post-WrestleMania 42 roster cuts after a year-long run in which he debuted as "JC Mateo" and was inserted into the Bloodline storyline as one of Solo Sikoa's MFTs. The stint was widely considered underwhelming relative to his previous NJPW run.

Meltzer laid out the options and obstacles facing Cobb going forward.

"Jeff Cobb was backstage at Dontaku. I believe he still has a place in Japan. Unless WWE gives his special dispensation, he would not be able to return in time for G-1 if he does end up here, as the non-compete ends on 7/24. We don't know if that is what he'll do. New Japan has its own financial issues. It wouldn't surprise me if AEW picked up Cobb, but the reality is his chances of going to AEW as a star were much higher one year ago. WWE often enhances someone's value, but Cobb would not be one of those people."

Cobb's 90-day non-compete clause expires July 24, which would rule him out of this year's G-1 Climax unless WWE grants an early release. During his NJPW career, Cobb was one of the promotion's top foreign performers, holding the NEVER Openweight Championship, IWGP Tag Team titles, and NJPW World Television title. He also worked matches for AEW during that period.

Cobb, 43, represented Guam as an amateur wrestler at the 2004 Olympics and has previous experience in ROH, PWG, and Lucha Underground.