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Jae'Von Evans has taken his game to the next level. all over WWE in 2025.
He has challenged 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, came close to winning the AAA World Heavyweight Championship, competed in the Last Time Is Now tournament and was selected to compete at same card as John Cena final show.
To top it all off, Evans became the #1 contender for the NXT Championship by winning the Men's Iron Survivor Challenge. Cena chose him to participate in the event.
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Je'Von Evans performs 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 crazy, frankly,” he told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “I didn't expect all this to happen so soon. But I worked hard and tried to prove that I belong here in WWE. And I think that's the reward. So yes, it's a blessing. I’m honored that all this is happening to me.”
“Bouncy” is the catchphrase that comes out of the speakers when Evans' music plays. The tall and lanky 21-year-old has the athleticism of a professional athlete and the cutting-edge wrestling prowess that WWE fans are accustomed to seeing from Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy.
A casual observer or someone who rarely follows what is happening. professional wrestlingone might wonder how a man like Evans ended up in professional wrestling. He could become an Olympic athlete or play any other sport he wanted.
His 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 got the opportunity to train at a very young age,” he recalls. “I started training at the age of 13. So, I got the opportunity to train and I took it and ran with it. And, of course, at school I also played track and field and basketball. But I just knew for sure that I wanted to become a professional wrestler.
“As soon as I had the opportunity, I went to the races.”
Je'Von Evans enters the ring during the main event of Saturday night at Capital One Arena on December 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Rich Frieda/WWE via Getty Images)
A common theme among those who don't have the same respect for professional wrestling as Evans is that it is “fake” and that no one should do it, as well as the potential dangers that come with it.
Evans' passion for this burned deep, and he ignored the naysayers.
“So of course it's normal: 'wrestling is fake.' You know, “you shouldn’t do this” or “this is dangerous.” This was a normal reaction to this. So I either laughed like, “Yes, yes, this is dangerous,” or “Yes, this is fake, whatever, whatever.” I wouldn't pay attention because at the end of the day I knew this was what I wanted to do and that was my main goal. I was going to prove them wrong, get a contract and become the best wrestler of all time,” he said.
Being picked by Cena to compete in one of NXT's most unique matches reinforced all the hard work Evans put into his craft.
“This is crazy. Crazy, bro,” Evans told Fox News Digital. “I grew up watching Cena. So the fact that he handpicked me is crazy. Before his show we got to talk and he included me in the game. It's just crazy that now I have the 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 shaping up to be an incredible year for Evans.
He will have another chance to win the NXT Championship, whether it be against Oba Femi or Slater, who will meet at NXT New Year's Evil in a few weeks. The Royal Rumble is also coming up and fans never know who will show up and show off.
Je'Von Evans in action against Sami Zayn during “SmackDown” at the Kia Center on September 26, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Bradley Rutledge/WWE via Getty Images)
As for Evans, he's just hoping for more blessings next year.
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“I think my 2025 was just full of opportunities and benefits that I want in 2026, not the same, but better,” he said. “I am grateful for what I received in 2025. So I’m just waiting for things to pick up in 2026.”
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