JC Mateo, widely known to wrestling fans as Jeff Cobb, made his WWE debut at the 2025 Backlash Premium Live Event by aligning with Solo Sikoa. In a recent interview with KUAM News, Mateo shared insights into his journey to WWE, revealing it was always his ultimate goal after a 2014 tryout and a declined offer in 2020 because he “wanted everything to be right.”
Talks with WWE resumed in November 2024, and this time, the company met his terms. Mateo recalled WWE officials saying, “Okay. Whatever you want, let’s do it…’ and lo and behold, here I am a few months later.” He also revealed he continued with New Japan Pro-Wrestling for two months on a handshake agreement while his WWE contract (effective April 21, 2025) was being finalized, with his last NJPW match occurring on April 19.
Reflecting on his Backlash debut, Mateo admitted to the nerves: “It’s always scary when you’re gonna debut on WWE and you’re kind of like, ‘Oh man, I hope the people know who I am.’ Hearing that reaction firsthand was like, very — thank goodness their camera didn’t zoom in on my arms but the goosebumps, it was there for sure.”
He also noted that, despite any name change, since announcers called him “Jeff Cobb” on debut, “people would know that, oh yeah, that’s Jeff Cobb.”
Mateo later made his in-ring debut last week on an episode of Friday Night SmackDown.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit KUAM News with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
