Former WWE star JC Mateo, also known as Jeff Cobb, established his reputation through his time in NJPW and ROH. During his tenure outside of WWE, he won several titles, including the NEVER Openweight Championship and the ROH World Television Championship.
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE initially viewed Mateo as a potential singles competitor who could engage with several prominent names on their roster. However, plans reportedly changed following internal evaluations after his tryouts. The report indicated that the creative direction eventually placed him in a supporting role within the MFTs faction alongside Solo Sikoa. While Mateo became just another face in the MFTs, the spotlight shifted to Tama Tonga, with Talla Tonga taking on the role of the monster.
As a result, Mateo appeared less frequently in major storylines and did not receive the singles push that had initially been discussed. Over time, his role on television became increasingly limited. Ultimately, Mateo was included in WWE’s post-WrestleMania 42 roster cuts announced on April 24.
JC Mateo and Tonga Loa have been moved to the alumni section of WWE’s official roster site. pic.twitter.com/5rWrTokAPa
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) May 2, 2026
