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Je’Von Evans has taken his game to the next level through WWE in 2025.
He competed for the NXT Championship several times, challenged Sami Zayn for the United States Championship on “Friday Night SmackDown”, nearly defeated Leon Slater for the Total Nonstop Action (TNA) X Division Championship, nearly won the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship, participated in the Last Time Is Now tournament, and was selected to appear on the same card as John Cena’s final show.
To top it all off, Evans became the #1 contender for the NXT Championship by winning the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge. He was handpicked by Cena to participate in the event.
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Je’Von Evans speaks during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on December 9, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/WWE)
How would Evans describe his year?
“It’s insane, honestly,” he told PK Press Club Digital in a recent interview. “I didn’t expect this to happen so soon. But I worked hard and tried to prove that I belong here in WWE. And I guess that’s the reward. So, yeah, it’s a blessing. I’m honored that this is happening for me.”
“Bouncy” is the slogan that blares through the speakers when Evans’ music hits. The tall and lanky 21-year-old possesses the athleticism of a professional athlete with the cutting-edge wrestling prowess that WWE fans are used to seeing from the likes of Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy.
A casual observer, or someone who rarely keeps their eyes on professional wrestling, may wonder how someone like Evans got involved in professional wrestling. He could be an Olympic athlete or play any other sport he wanted.
Interest in professional wrestling began when he was a child growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“I always watched wrestling when I was younger. And I had the opportunity to train at a very young age,” he recalls. “I started training when I was 13. So I had the opportunity to train, I took it and I ran with it. And, of course, I was still doing track and field and basketball at school. But I knew for a fact that I wanted to be a professional wrestler.
“Once I got the opportunity, it was off to the races.
Je’Von Evans enters the ring during Saturday Night’s Main Event at Capital One Arena on December 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images)
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The common theme of those who don’t have the same respect for professional wrestling as Evans is that it’s “wrong” and no one should pursue it, as well as the potential dangers that come with it.
Evans’ passion for it ran deep, and he ignored the naysayers.
“So, of course, it’s completely normal, ‘wrestling is fake.’ You know, “you shouldn’t do it” or “it’s dangerous.” It felt like the normal response. So I was either laughing and saying, “Yeah, yeah, that’s dangerous,” or “Yeah, that’s wrong, whatever, whatever.” I didn’t pay attention to it because I knew that ultimately, that’s what I wanted to do and that was my main goal. I was going to prove them wrong, sign and become the best wrestler ever,” he said.
Being selected by Cena to compete in one of NXT’s most unique matches solidified all the hard work Evans had put into his craft.
“It’s crazy. Crazy, bro,” Evans told PK Press Club Digital. “I grew up watching Cena. So it’s crazy that he selected me. Before his show we were talking and he was putting me in the game. It’s just crazy that now I have an opportunity and now I’ll have a connection with Cena and we can talk whenever we want. It’s crazy, crazy of course.”
Next year is going to be incredible for Evans.
He’ll get another chance at the NXT Championship – whether it’s against Oba Femi or Slater who will meet at NXT New Year’s Evil in a few weeks. There’s also the Royal Rumble coming up and fans never really know who is going to show up and show off.
Je’Von Evans in action against Sami Zayn during SmackDown at Kia Center on September 26, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Bradlee Rutledge/WWE via Getty Images)
For Evans, he just hopes to have more blessings next year.
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“I think my year 2025 has been full of opportunities and blessings that in 2026 I wish for, not the same, but better,” he said. “I am grateful for what I received in 2025. So I am waiting for everything to fall into place in 2026.”
