Jeff Cobb (JC Mateo): MFTs Was A Good Concept On Paper, What Was Pitched To Me Didn’t Play Out

Jeff Cobb (JC Mateo in WWE) made his WWE debut at WWE Backlash 2025, helping Jacob Fatu retain the WWE United States Championship.

Cobb was immediately aligned with the new Bloodline, which later became the MFTs, consisting of Solo Sikoa, Fatu, Cobb, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Talla Tonga.

Cobb and Tonga Loa were released by WWE in April.

Speaking to Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture, Cobb was asked about his time in the MFTs.

“On paper, it was a good concept. The family has a rich history, although I’m not technically part of the family. I guess I’m an adopted son from Hawaii, but I thought I was Tongan. The Rock was born there, so technically Hawaii is lumped in with the Samoan dynasty. I’m in there. I was fine with that. I get it. Is it stereotype-casting? I don’t care. That was their vision; I’ll run with it and do my best with it. When they said, ‘switch to face paint,’ I said, ‘Did you guys watch the product? I didn’t paint my face in New Japan, but I’ll try.’ I tried to make chicken salad out of chicken poop. I did my best with it, and it’s very uncomfortable when you’ve never wrestled (in face paint). It hurt taking it off. I tried to make the best of what I was given,” he said.

Later in the conversation, Cobb noted that he spoke directly to Triple H before signing with WWE, and he liked what was pitched.

Asked if what was pitched played out, Cobb said, “What was pitched kind of didn’t play out, a little bit. I would say 50% of what was pitched was actually….I get it, plans change.”

Elsewhere during the interview, Cobb revealed he pitched to wrestle more in WWE. You can find his full comments here.

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