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Taking a stab to the chest is one of the most damaging moves in professional wrestling.
Ric Flair made this decision known at the height of his career. Today’s WWE stars like Gunther, Oba Femi and Ilja Dragunov have carried the torch.
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Oba Femi attends NXT at WWE Performance Center on December 9, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Andréa Kellaway/WWE)
Je’Von Evans has been in the ring with Gunther, Femi and Dragunov at different points in his career and getting the better of one of the competitors is no easy feat.
“It’s probably one of the worst feelings you can feel,” Evans said of cutting NXT Champion Oba Femi.
But Evans made it clear it wasn’t the worst he’s received.
“Honestly, it’s not the worst,” he said. “I think the worst I ever got was probably Gunther or Ilya Dragunov.
“Ilya’s chops are like stinging chops and they hit just in the same place. Same thing with Gunter. I think that’s why they’re such great wrestlers and great friends because they cut hard and they cut in the same place.”
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Je’Von Evans in action against Gunther on “Monday Night RAW” at Madison Square Garden on November 17, 2025 in New York. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images)
Anyone who watches WWE’s weekly programming or monthly premium live events knows that the tracks of superstars like Gunther or Dragunov resonate throughout the arena in which they perform and through the speakers, fans listen through the television.
Although the criticism is that professional wrestling is “fake” or that it’s not taken seriously because match outcomes are predetermined, the chops are definitely real and they leave a mark.
“Honestly, it hurts, but once you realize you have to keep going, it kind of goes away. You know what I mean? But that also comes with training,” Evans said. “You have to get your body used to the impact, falling in the ring, getting hit. Your body has to get used to that type of feeling.
“Once you’ve done it for a certain number of years, the chops start to hurt less and when you fall, it stops hurting less. It still hurts. You just don’t feel it as much.”
Je’Von Evans in the ring during “Monday Night RAW” at Madison Square Garden on November 17, 2025 in New York. (Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images)
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For now, Evans will have to take the damage from his NXT colleagues. It might be worth it because he’s ready for another shot at the NXT Championship after winning the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge.
