Jeff Cobb made his WWE pay-per-view debut at Backlash 2025 under the name Jeff Cobb, but that wasnt always the plan.
WWE has officially rebranded him as J.C. Mateo, but there was another name in serious discussion behind the scenesone that wouldve been a callback to his early days in Lucha Underground.
According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE internally considered the name J.C. Matanza, which would have served as a nod to Cobbs breakout character Matanza Cueto from Lucha Underground.
While the name might have appealed to longtime fans familiar with his past, there were legal complications tied to Lucha Undergrounds intellectual property. Dave Meltzer explained that WWE couldnt freely use the Matanza nameeven after the recent acquisition of AAA.
On top of that, it seems Cobb himself wasnt a fan of bringing that persona backregardless of WWEs branding goals.
With J.C. Matanza off the table, WWE eventually landed on J.C. Mateo as his official name moving forward. The change allows WWE to retain full control of his branding while distancing the star from character baggage tied to a show they dont own.
What do you think of the name J.C. Mateo? Should WWE have kept Jeff Cobb, or was a complete rebrand the right call? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
What do you think of the name J.C. Mateo? Should WWE have kept Jeff Cobb, or was a complete rebrand the right call? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
