WWE had a pretty awkward slip-up ahead of the May 15, 2026 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, as they used JC Mateo’s graphic to promote a match.
While promoting Damian Priest and R-Truth vs. Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga, WWE accidentally used JC Mateo’s graphic instead of Talla Tonga’s. That’s a rough mistake, especially since Mateo was released from WWE two weeks ago.
The error immediately stood out because JC Mateo is no longer with the company, yet his image was still used to promote a match involving the MFTs. Talla Tonga was supposed to be featured in the graphic, but WWE ended up putting Mateo in his spot instead.
That makes the timing even worse. Mateo’s WWE run ended after plans for a bigger singles push were dropped, with Dave Meltzer previously noting that he was originally expected to work with key names before becoming more of a background figure in Solo Sikoa’s group.
Now, after his release, WWE accidentally using his graphic only adds another strange chapter to his short-lived run with the company. For now, it appears to be a simple production mistake, but it’s still a major blunder considering Mateo is no longer part of WWE’s active roster.
What do you think about WWE accidentally using JC Mateo’s graphic after his release? Let us know your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments.
