THOUGHTS | WHY JEFF COBB TO JC MATEO WORKS

WWE.COM

On the May 16, 2025 episode of SmackDown, WWE officially introduced Jeff Cobb under his new ring name: JC Mateo. And while he’s built a strong enough reputation globally to keep his name, I understand why WWE made the change.

First off, Cobb doesn’t look like your typical “Jeff Cobb.” As a Filipino myself, I can tell you—he resembles more of a Filipino, Hawaiian, Guamanian, or Samoan than someone you'd associate with a traditionally American surname. That’s not a knock on his heritage, but if WWE is embracing and promoting his Filipino and Guamanian roots, it makes sense to give him a name that reflects that background.

And JC Mateo works.

Mateo is a surname you’d hear in the Philippines, Guam, and even Mexico—places with shared colonial ties through Spain. In fact, the Philippines and Guam were packaged together in the Treaty of Paris in 1898, which eventually triggered the Philippine-American War. And here's something timely: June is Filipino Guamanian Heritage Month. Even Jericho Cruz—currently with the San Miguel Beermen—represents Guam in international basketball. Sure, it stings that Gilas has to beat Guam to survive the FIBA Asia qualifiers, but it’s a similar dynamic to Australia and New Zealand: different islands, same group.

As it stands, WWE’s main roster has just one Filipino wrestler—Joaquin Wilde—after the release of Kayden Carter. There was a time Batista repped the Filipino community, but WWE never really acknowledged it on-screen. TJP had some visibility, but Cobb stands out. He actually looks like an islander, which sets him apart from Wilde, Carter, and even Batista. So whether the “Mateo” surname is a tribute to his Filipino and Guamanian heritage or just a fitting rebrand, I’m here for it.

The second reason for the name change?

The Bloodline.

Yes, WWE once let Sami Zayn and Paul Heyman into the group as honorary members, but this new Bloodline era looks to be a tighter, more heritage-driven faction. Roman Reigns’ real last name is Anoa’i. Having someone named “Cobb” next to him just doesn’t flow the same, even if Cobb is known worldwide. In WWE’s world, presentation matters. JC Mateo blends in far more naturally than Jeff Cobb would.

Now, you could argue, “Well, Bronson Reed also has an American-sounding last name.” Fair—but Reed is from New Zealand and speaks with an Aussie accent, which explains the disconnect. His addition to the Bloodline’s WarGames squad felt odd for just that reason. Mateo, on the other hand, not only looks the part, but now sounds like he belongs.

And maybe this is also a glimpse of things to come. Cobb turns 43 this year. He’s slightly older than Tama Tonga and nearly a year older than Tanga Loa. The Guerrillas of Destiny were hyped upon arrival, but so far they’ve been underwhelming. No Royal Rumble spotlight, no WrestleMania match. Tanga Loa hasn’t just missed PLEs—he’s become a borderline comedy act. Between botched spots and wearing an eyepatch, he’s become more of a fall guy than a finisher.

Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa, despite being booked as enforcers, still feel essential to The Bloodline’s narrative. But WWE has a history of underutilizing New Japan tag teams—look at how they handled Gallows and Anderson. After a solid run in NJPW with The Bullet Club, they came back to WWE only to become AJ Styles’ sidekicks again.

So maybe JC Mateo is WWE’s way of giving Cobb a fighting chance. Sure, the name doesn’t hit as hard as Jeff Cobb. But then again, neither did LA Knight, Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, Iyo Sky, or Dolph Ziggler when those names were first announced.

If Cobb is as good as we know he is, then JC Mateo can have a solid run in WWE.

If not? Well, he can always go back to being Jeff Cobb.