Tag: jc mateo

Update on Jeff Cobb following WWE release | Exclusive 

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It sounds like Jeff Cobb, newly a free agent following his release from WWE, still has a strong relationship with NJPW.

Dave Meltzer reports in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Cobb was backstage at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku at the start of May. It’s believed that Cobb still has a residence in Japan, though it’s unconfirmed if he’ll be returning to NJPW once his 90-day non-compete clause is up.

Meltzer wrote:

  • 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 had a year-long run with WWE after debuting for the company in May 2025. He was given the name “JC Mateo” and inserted into the Bloodline story as one of Solo Sikoa’s MFTs. But Cobb’s WWE stint was widely considered to be underwhelming, never living up to the time he spent in NJPW. He was released in WWE’s post-WrestleMania 42 roster cuts.

In NJPW, Cobb was one of the promotion’s top foreign wrestlers. He held the NEVER Openweight Championship, IWGP Tag Team titles, and NJPW World Television title.

The 43-year-old Cobb did work some matches for AEW during his NJPW career. He has previous experience in Lucha Underground, ROH, PWG, and represented Guam as an amateur wrestler in the 2004 Olympics.

JC Mateo, Tonga Loa exit WWE amid roster cuts

Posted on by Ian Carey

JC Mateo and Tonga Loa have departed WWE.

As of Saturday, both Mateo and Loa are listed in the Alumni section of WWE’s website and do not appear in the current Superstars section.

Bryan Alvarez wrote to his subscribers on X that both are now gone from the company. Alvarez also confirmed the departures of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, writing:

“New Day, Jeff Cobb and Tonga Loa among the confirmed cuts this morning. Last week one person told me New Day was cut but it didn’t happen. Turns out there were cuts made over a week ago but due to things that had to be worked out the names didn’t come out until today. Based on names I was given but could not confirm last night, I believe a few more have yet to be announced, one for sure.”

Several names revealed to be part of WWE’s post-WrestleMania 42 roster cuts have been moved to the Alumni section of WWE’s website. It was revealed earlier in the day that Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of The New Day had been moved to the section.

JC Mateo (Jeff Cobb), Tonga Loa in WWE

Having previously wrestled under the name Camacho in WWE, this was Loa’s second stint with the company. He returned at Backlash 2024. Loa’s last match was on the April 13 edition of Raw teaming with Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga in a loss to LA Knight and The Usos.

Mateo, formerly Jeff Cobb, debuted with WWE at Backlash 2025 after having been with NJPW since 2017. His last match was on the April 24 SmackDown where he teamed with Tama Tonga in a loss to Damian Priest and R-Truth.

Neither Cobb nor Loa appeared on Friday’s episode of SmackDown, although Talla Tonga and Solo Sikoa wrestled on the show.

Report: Contract length on one of WWE’s signings in 2025

Posted on by Bryan Rose

More details are out regarding one of WWE’s signings this year.

Jeff Cobb left NJPW earlier this year and signed with WWE, quickly associating himself with Solo Sikoa. According to a new Fightful report, Cobb signed a three-year deal, which will take him through the spring of 2028. 

Cobb’s NJPW departure caused controversy at the time as he was one half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions. As a result, the company announced that those titles would be vacated. Cobb went on to have his final match in NJPW on April 19 against Hiroshi Tanahashi.

At Backlash, Cobb made his debut by helping Jacob Fatu retain the United States Championship against LA Knight. Cobb’s name was quickly changed to JC Mateo, and over the course of the year became part of Solo Sikoa’s MFT group with Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Talla Tonga.

On the most recent episode of SmackDown, the MFTs confronted The Wyatt Sicks. The confrontation ended up becoming a brawl, with everyone being thrown out of the ring except for Erik Rowan and Talla Tonga. The two traded blows until Rowan booted Talla out of the ring.

Fight Game: Hulk Hogan’s complicated legacy

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I, Garrett Gonzales, are back to discuss the latest happenings in the world of pro wrestling.

We skipped the Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week segment so we could get right into the meat of the show which was a discussion on the life, times, and complicated legacy of Hulk Hogan.

We went over his early career through the lens of our childhood from the time we saw him in Rocky III and then through our adult eyes until his passing on Thursday, July 24.

We also talked about the following:

  • AEW Dynamite angles
  • The newest matches for SummerSlam
  • JC Mateo’s acting

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Fight Game: AEW Double or Nothing & WWE Saturday Night Main Event previews

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I, Garrett Gonzales, are back to talk about the major topics in the world of wrestling on this week’s Fight Game Podcast.

We kicked off this show by giving out our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week before hitting the major AEW and WWE topics of the week.

Here are some of the things we talked about:

  • Dark Side of the Ring’s great episode on Daffney
  • AEW All Out heading to Toronto
  • The Will Ospreay and Hangman Page promo that started AEW Dynamite
  • WWE WrestleMania 42 no longer being in New Orleans next year
  • Jeff Cobb as JC Mateo
  • Jeremy Finestone’s minute update on the Best of Super Juniors
  • Previews for AEW Double or Nothing, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, and WWE NXT Battleground

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WOL: It’s always ‘because of the fans’

Posted on by Jim Valley

Image: WWE

It’s Saturday and that means it’s time for Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley.

Jeff Cobb impressed in his WWE SmackDown in-ring debut as JC Mateo Friday, but the Greensboro crowd also thought most everything on the show was awesome even when some things weren’t.

On Monday, Becky Lynch turned heel BECAUSE OF THE FANS. Charlotte is upset BECAUSE OF THE FANS. John Cena turned heel BECAUSE OF THE FANS. The Rock is a heel BECAUSE OF THE FANS. Literally, FOUR top stars are mad BECAUSE OF THE FANS ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

Plus, Jim talks AEW Collision Beach Break from Chicago, NWA Crockett Cup from the 2300 Arena, Best of the Super Juniors, and more.

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New name revealed for Jeff Cobb on WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Jeff Cobb has a new name.

During the opening segment of WWE SmackDown, Solo Sikoa was talking about the events of Backlash when he brought up Cobb’s debut, referring to him as “JC.” Later, when Sikoa made his way to the ring for his Money in the Bank qualifying match, Cobb was introduced under his new name: JC Mateo. WWE filed a trademark for that name back on May 10.

Sikoa emerged victorious, earning a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match that will take place next month. However LA Knight, who was attacked Sikoa’s group earlier in the night, came out with a steel chair. Nick Alids came out and made a match between Knight and Mateo, the latter of whom picked up the win with the tour of the islands.

At Backlash last weekend, Mateo made his WWE debut attacking Knight during the United States title fatal four-way match. At the time, he was identified as Jeff Cobb. The distraction allowed Fatu to retain the United States title, though he appeared puzzled by Mateo’s help.