Jeff Cobb Enjoys Being Himself in ROH More than Playing Matanza

Show: Interactive Wrestling Radio
Guest: Jeff Cobb
Date: 01/22/19
Your Hosts: James Walsh

Jeff Cobb made a huge impact on Ring of Honor in his debut match taking the TV title in a dominant victory over a previously dominant champion. Since then, he has hit his impressive finish on huge competitors such as Shane Taylor, Beer City Bruiser, and Hangman Page. Now, after a few months in to his reign, we sit down with the TV Champion and discuss his run in ROH, his prior role as Matanza Cueto on Lucha Underground, and his emotional hopes for the ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard of Honor at Madison Square Garden!

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JEFF COBB:

On his time thus far in Ring of Honor:
‘I’m having a blast! I have no complaints! (laughs) Yeah, no real complaints. Just the normal bumps and bruises of wrestling. But, other than that, everything has been great. I’m having a blast! Kicking butt and taking names!”

On winning the ROH TV Title in his In-Ring Debut for the Company:
“It was great, man! I wasn’t expecting that right off the bat. I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’m definitely going to do my best and try to elevate it, get my name out there, get the company’s name out there, and hopefully put some prestige back into that TV championship.”

On being “The Monster” Matanza Cueto in Lucha Underground:
“I had a fun playing that character. It was something different from what I’m used to. I still get, to this day, that don’t know that’s me. It has taken a while, you know, because of the mask. But, if you follow my move set, it is pretty much the same. (laughs)”

On Ring of Honor not citing his Matanza run when discussing his history:
“I just think the focus should be on Ring of Honor. Unless we work with those other companies, I don’t see why we need to mention it.”

On enjoying being himself now in Ring of Honor:
“Yeah. I think throughout history, it shows that wrestlers do better when they are themselves. I just feel more comfortable being myself and being able to use my facial expressions to tell a story. It is harder under a mask. I don’t not like what I did. but, I feel like it is better as myself.”

on his incredible match at Final Battle with Hangman Page:
“For me, that match was so much fun just because it is the Hammerstein Ballroom. There are a few venues out there that have that marquee feel. So, having that match, a championship match, at the Hammerstein was special. Getting to wrestle Hangman Page was so much fun. He’s super talented. I’m happy for all his success and where he’s going. Going into that match, we had a bone to pick. We wanted to prove ourselves. I am happy we had a match but I feel like the TV championship match was kind of underlooked on that card, I guess? That card, from top to bottom, was stacked! We just felt that our match, hey, don’t sleep on us! Coming out of that weekend, I think the reaction was ‘We shouldn’t have slept on that match.” And, I think it was a great time to be had by all!”

On the loss of the Elite and the opportunities it opens up in Ring of Honor:
“It is always a blow to any company when an athlete leaves. You can relate that to pretty much any sport. I’m a basketball fan. When Michael Jordan left to go play baseball, the Chicago Bulls were still good. They refilled the talent pool. I feel that is the same with Ring of Honor. Ring of Honor didn’t shut down when guys like Genericho, Kevin Steen, or Daniel Bryan left. They just found the next crop of guys who were ready to step up and take the reigns of Ring of Honor and take it into the future. Don’t get me wrong, The Young Bucks are huge stars. Cody is great big star. SCU, Page, and all that. But, at the same rate, we’re bringing in great talent. Villain Enterprises, Juice Robinson, Bandito. There’s going to be voids to fill and I feel like our new signings are going to step up and take the company into the future.”

On his Ring Warriors run and if he can work with them if they do start up again:
“I’m exclusive to Ring of Honor as of today. My time at Ring Warriors was short but it was fun while it lasted. I do kind of like that old school vibe they had going. I feel they could have put a little more focus on the belt. But, that is just my opinion. It was fun while it lasted. If they come back, great. That is another place for guys to wrestle and get used to wrestling on a bigger scale.”

On possibly challenging for either Matt Taven or Jay Lethal’s ROH World Titles:
“You know, in a perfect world, to relive the Ultimate Warrior Hulk Hogan Intercontinental versus World Title… I feel the TV title versus the Heavyweight Title. I think that would be something cool if it were ever to happen. If you’re not shooting for the championship, something is wrong with you. I’ll never say never. I’d love to tangle with Taven or Lethal or whoever, for that matter, the Ring of Honor champion is.”

On who in the ROH locker room he’s eager to face:
“Honestly, Ring of Honor’s locker room is so great, I would love the opportunity to wrestle everyone that I haven’t had the opportunity to wrestle with yet. Off the top of my head, and not in any particular order, I’d be stupid not to want to wrestle Jay Lethal because he is the franchise, he is the gate keeper, he’s the guy that Ring of Honor is on the back of. He’s carrying it, you know? I would love to wrestle Dalton Castle. We both have amateur backgrounds. And, I could beat up one of The Boys. (laughs)”

On possibly wrestling at MSG for ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard of Honor:
“Going back to earlier, some venues have history. I feel like the Garden is the mecca of professional wrestling! I amateur wrestled there in 2003… It would be awesome to pro wrestle there. If I can do it, I hope Ring of Honor doesn’t zoom in on my face because I might be crying on my way down to the ring. (laughs) We’ll leave it at that. If that were to happen, I would have the time of my life. Probably take like 30,000 pictures! I don’t post much on social media, I’m bad at it. But, I’m going to post so many pictures if I’m on that card. People are probably going to get sick of me. But, it is the Garden!”

On who he hopes to face at G1 Supercard of Honor:
“It is a joint production so I don’t know if they are going to do cross-promotional matches. If they do, Okada would be a good one. If they would put their title on the line against mine and Naito is still Intercontinental Champion, I think that is the secondary belt in New Japan. Why wouldn’t the secondary belt go against the secondary belt?

On Ring of Honor going forward:
“We’re a great company, we definitely have a great locker room. We’re on par with all the other wrestling companies out there – Hint hint, New York!”