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United States Jeff Cobb has seamlessly transitioned from an Olympic wrestler representing Guam to a celebrated professional wrestling star, known for his powerful in-ring style and diverse championship reigns.
Jeff Cobb was a prominent figure in NJPW for almost eight years, from 2017 to 2025, where he was a member of the United Empire stable. He held the NEVER Openweight Championship, NJPW World Television Championship, and was a three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion. His departure from NJPW in April 2025, with the vacating of the IWGP Tag Team Championship, signaled a new chapter in his career.
Jeff Cobb signed with WWE in May 2025, marking a significant transition from NJPW. He debuted at Backlash, assisting Jacob Fatu and establishing himself as a heel member of The Bloodline, later rebranded as The MFT. He now performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name JC Mateo.
Cobb was signed to Lucha Underground in 2015, where he became known as the masked wrestler 'The Monster' Matanza Cueto. In his debut match, he won the Lucha Underground Championship. His character storyline ended in the fourth season, and he was released from his contract in 2019 after legal proceedings.
Cobb made his PWG debut in 2016 and quickly became a key figure. He teamed with Matt Riddle as 'The Chosen Bros' to win the PWG World Tag Team Championship. He also won the 2018 Battle of Los Angeles and later captured the PWG World Championship, defending it for 421 days.
Cobb debuted for ROH in 2018, where he defeated Punishment Martinez to win the ROH World Television Championship in his first official match. He participated in several ROH events, but his appearances became less frequent after his contract expired in 2020. He made a return to ROH in 2022.
Cobb had intermittent appearances with AEW, debuting in February 2020 by attacking Jon Moxley alongside The Inner Circle. He also made appearances in 2022, interrupting a match for the ROH World Tag Team Championships and facing Kenny Omega for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship in 2023.
Jeffrey Cobb was born on July 11, 1982, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Filipino immigrant parents. At the age of 11, his family relocated to Guam. His athletic foundation was built in amateur wrestling, where he trained under Neil Krantz for the Guam Amateur Wrestling Federation. His dedication led him to represent Guam at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, competing in the men’s light heavyweight freestyle category. During the opening ceremony, Cobb proudly served as the nation’s flag bearer, a significant milestone in his early career. After receiving two straight losses in a preliminary pool, he concluded his Olympic run finishing 21st among 22 wrestlers. This early experience in elite sports provided a strong, verifiable background in competitive athletics before his pivot to professional wrestling.
Cobb’s professional wrestling career commenced in 2009, training with Action Zone Wrestling (AZW) in Hawaii, where he adopted the ring name “Mr. Athletic.” He quickly made an impact, securing the AZW Heavyweight Title three times. His talent extended to various independent promotions across Northern California, including All Pro Wrestling, Supreme Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Bushido, Fighting Spirit Pro, Phoenix Pro Wrestling, and PREMIER Wrestling, where he held their heavyweight championship for 427 days. In September 2014, Cobb’s consistent performance earned him a tryout at the WWE Performance Center, signaling early recognition from a major promotion. In 2015, he joined Lucha Underground, debuting as the masked character “The Monster” Matanza Cueto. In his inaugural match, he won the Lucha Underground Championship, holding it until April 2016. After legal actions in April 2019, he was released from his Lucha Underground contract.
His career gained further momentum with Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), where he debuted in 2016. Teaming with Matt Riddle as “The Chosen Bros,” they captured the PWG World Tag Team Championship in October 2017. Cobb’s individual prowess was highlighted when he won the 2018 Battle of Los Angeles. In October 2018, he defeated Walter to become the PWG World Champion, defending it against notable opponents like Trevor Lee, Jonathan Gresham, and Bandido over 421 days. He also competed in Progress Wrestling from 2017 to 2018. From 2017 to 2025, Cobb was a prominent figure in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he joined the United Empire stable in late 2020. During his tenure, he secured the NEVER Openweight Championship once, the NJPW World Television Championship once, and the IWGP Tag Team Championship three times. His final NJPW match was in April 2025, marking the end of an eight-year run. He also had stints with Ring of Honor (ROH) and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) before making his WWE debut in May 2025, rebranding as JC Mateo and joining The MFT stable on SmackDown.
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