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Tag: Je’Von Evans

  • Je’Von Evans Says His Flips Will Get His Foot in Door But His Long-Term WWE Goal Goes Far Beyond That

    Je’Von Evans Says His Flips Will Get His Foot in Door But His Long-Term WWE Goal Goes Far Beyond That

    Je’Von Evans already knows that the flips and high-flying moves getting him over right now are not the long-term foundation of a top-tier WWE career, and he is thinking several steps ahead.

    Speaking on the Club 520 Podcast, Evans described his current in-ring approach as a tool for building a connection with audiences rather than his permanent identity as a performer, and said he is already planning how his style will evolve as he gets older.

    “Honestly, it’s just something that I’m doing right now for real. I want to be a top dog here. I know me doing all these cool moves is going to get my foot in the door, but it’s not going to keep me in the room. I’m doing all this now just to have fun with the crowd and build a connection with the kids and stuff like that. By the time I get older, I’m trying to be one of them dogs, you know? Somebody that don’t gotta do the flips,” Evans said.

    He also opened up about the adjustment of being called up to the main roster before he had finished establishing himself as a top act in NXT, describing the experience of having to essentially restart his connection with audiences in front of much larger and less familiar crowds.

    “I think when I was in NXT I was working my way up to become a top guy there, and right before that happened, main roster snatched me up, and I had to restart. Now I’m wrestling in front of bigger crowds and people that don’t know who I am at all outside of NXT fans.

    I feel like just adjusting to, and learning what different wrestling crowds like, because not every wrestling crowd loves the flips I do, some crowds just love you talking to them during the match and they’re like, ‘oh this is the best match ever.’ So I feel like learning that and developing that, that’s what my biggest challenge is right now.”

    Evans was 19 years old when WWE signed him in 2023 and became a fan favorite through his athletic in-ring style. He officially joined the Raw roster in January. Last weekend, he made his WrestleMania debut in the six-man Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match at WrestleMania 42.

  • Je’Von Evans Names The Legends Mentoring Him Before WrestleMania

    Je’Von Evans Names The Legends Mentoring Him Before WrestleMania

    Je’Von Evans is 21 years old and headed to his first WrestleMania, but the calmest part of the build has been the locker room around him.

    The Young OG appeared on the Battleground Podcast ahead of his Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match and credited a short list of WWE icons with shaping how he approaches the biggest stage of his career so far.

    The first lesson came from Randy Orton, after the two shared a ring.

    “I learned this from Uncle Randy, that it’s okay to be nervous. He was like, ‘Bro, you should look nervous. You’re going against a legend.’ Ever since then, I was like, dang, it makes sense to be nervous in certain situations.”

    From Childhood Hero To Mentor

    Evans grew up watching John Cena and now finds himself in regular conversation with him. The relationship has shifted from poster-on-the-wall fandom into something closer to a working mentorship, which is exactly what he needed in a year that’s pushed him from a fast-tracked NXT call-up straight to the WrestleMania card.

    Shawn Michaels added the simplest piece of advice on the list, and Evans said it’s the one he leans on hardest.

    “Just be yourself.”

    Coming from a Hall of Famer who openly pushed to keep Evans in NXT longer, the line carries weight. Michaels watched Evans build his entire identity in the developmental brand and trusts him to bring that same identity to Raw without re-engineering it for a bigger crowd.

    The Royal Rumble Reality Check

    Evans tries to keep his fan side in check around the people he came up watching, but one entrance theme broke through during the Royal Rumble.

    “I heard Brock Lesnar’s theme song. I was looking, I was like, ‘Dang, I’m really here.’ I was still in the ring to experience all this.”

    Evans steps into the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match at WrestleMania 42 this weekend, with a homecoming Raw scheduled for May 18 at the Greensboro Coliseum waiting on the other side.

  • Je’Von Evans Reacts to Pat McAfee Slamming Modern Wrestling

    Je’Von Evans Reacts to Pat McAfee Slamming Modern Wrestling

    Je’Von Evans has weighed in on Pat McAfee’s recent comments criticizing today’s WWE roster, offering a pointed response to the former commentator’s heel turn rhetoric.

    McAfee made a surprise return at the April 3 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, aligning with Randy Orton as a heel in the build to their WrestleMania 42 title match against Cody Rhodes.

    During the segment, McAfee criticized the current product, dismissing today’s talent as soft performers doing acrobatics while positioning Orton’s generation as the legitimate tough guys of the business.

    Evans was asked about McAfee’s remarks during his appearance on the No Contest Wrestling podcast, and didn’t hold back.

    “I feel like there’s just certain things that people that are not familiar or don’t come from the wrestling business don’t understand. And they tend to express that in a certain way. I feel like wrestling isn’t like a regular sport. We take this very serious because our bodies and lives are on the line. There’s legacy behind all this. People feed their families because of this.”

    Evans continued, acknowledging that opinions are inevitable, but drew a clear line.

    “So I feel like there are things that some people do say or have an opinion on, and they tend to express that in a certain way, or just publicly. But bro, why can’t we just have fun? Why can’t we just have fun, make money? It’s a selfish business out here. You’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. But also, you can’t be talking crazy and expect nobody else to talk crazy back. You cannot not expect receipts. Especially from the OGs that’s been doing it for a long time, that’s been through a lot to get to where they’re at. And now you’re dissing them.”

    Evans also acknowledged the wider back-and-forth that McAfee’s return has sparked, referencing CM Punk’s public jab at McAfee on Raw.

    “Hey, Punk was talking. Said what he had to say, but it’s the road to WrestleMania, so we good either way.”

    McAfee’s insertion into the Rhodes vs. Orton storyline has drawn a mixed reaction from both fans and talent, with reports indicating some within WWE were frustrated by the decision. WrestleMania 42 takes place April 18-19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

  • Kevin Nash Defends Comments About Je\’Von Evans

    Kevin Nash has addressed the fallout from his controversial Je\’Von Evans comments on the latest episode of his Kliq This podcast, offering lavish praise for the young WWE star while standing behind the spirit of his original criticism.

    How This Started

    Nash drew widespread backlash several weeks ago after describing Evans on Kliq This as being too \”Mr. Bojangles\” and wishing he was \”a little bit more urban.\”

    The \”Mr. Bojangles\” reference — a racially charged term rooted in minstrel-era stereotypes — prompted Nash to issue a Twitter apology, though he later deleted the post.

    Kevin Nash wants to settle this

    On his follow-up episode, Nash was effusive in his praise for the 21-year-old Raw standout.

    \”I really want to bury this because — let me say this first,\” Nash said. \”This Je\’Von, if he was a f***ing wide receiver, he is basically a rookie Randy Moss. Like, this kid could be a generational f***ing talent.\”

    However, Nash also used WWE\’s decision to bring Atlanta-based rapper Offset to ringside for Evans\’ win over Kofi Kingston on the February 23 episode of Raw — which took place in Offset\’s hometown of Atlanta — as validation of his earlier point.

    \”I guess the thing that pisses me off is like, all I want for the guy is for him to be used in a way, like — how off was I if when they really want to showcase him, they put him with Offset?\” Nash said. \”I mean, they could have put him with f***ing Reba McEntire. She\’s got a name.\”

    Je\’Von Evans\’ Reaction

    Evans has yet to formally address Nash\’s comments beyond an indirect Instagram response on February 18, where he set his post to SpaceGhostBLK\’s nWo Wolfpac theme — a clear nod to Nash\’s most famous WCW faction.

    Evans\’ caption read, \”Just Wanna Apologize Real Quick….Im Sorry For Being The Best In Da Game Right Now!!\”

    Despite the controversy, Evans continued his momentum heading into Elimination Chamber, where Randy Orton ultimately won the men\’s match to earn a WWE Championship shot against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 42.

  • Seth Rollins Confirms Je\’Von Evans Concussion on WWE Raw

    Former WWE World Champion Seth Rollins has revealed that Je\’Von Evans suffered a concussion on the January 19th episode of WWE Raw. The injury occurred during Evans\’ match against El Grande Americano in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The match was stopped by referee Jessika Carr due to a medical concern.

    \’The Visionary\’ discussed WWE\’s concussion protocols during an appearance on the Club Shay Shay podcast with Shannon Sharpe.

    Rollins on WWE\’s Concussion Protocol

    Rollins referenced Evans\’ injury when speaking about WWE\’s concussion protocols, stating:

    \”There are sometimes where you’ll get a concussion, or you’ll see somebody get a concussion. I’ve fortunately not been in this position, but you get a concussion, the ref sees that happen, and that’s it, it’s done. They call the match off. Young fella named Je’Von Evans just had this happen to him maybe two weeks ago on Monday Night Raw. He butted heads with his opponent, he got concussed, there was a little, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ They kind of let him walk through a little of the rest of the match while he was out there, and then it became apparent that he wasn’t himself, so that was it. It’s just communication.\”

    Evans, a recent call-up from NXT, had been feuding with members of the Americano family since his main roster debut in December 2025, defeating Rayo Americano and Bravo Americano before the injury. On the latest edition of the flagship show, Evans defeated Dominik Mysterio and Gunther to qualify for this year\’s Men\’s Elimination Chamber match.

  • Je\’Von Evans Won\’t Retire Until WrestleMania Dream Match

    Je\’Von Evans has revealed his ultimate WWE dream: a WrestleMania match against his best friend and lifelong training partner Jackson Drake.

    Speaking on the Cheap Heat podcast, Evans made a bold declaration about the match he considers essential to his career legacy.

    \”One day Javon Evans, Jackson Drake, WrestleMania. Like, do you see this happen? It\’s happening for sure. I\’m not going to retire until that happens,\” Evans stated emphatically. \”It\’s gonna happen, bro. It\’s gonna happen. I have full faith in it.\”

    Evans and Drake\’s friendship dates back to when they were both 13-year-olds training at the same wrestling school. The bond they\’ve built through years of working together makes Evans believe their story has the potential to rival one of wrestling\’s most beloved rivalries.

    \”The only thing I can think of is like Hardy Boys,\” Evans said when describing the package that could accompany their eventual WrestleMania clash, referencing Matt and Jeff Hardy\’s legendary brother vs. brother storyline.

    Throughout their journey, Evans credits Drake for shaping his high-flying wrestling style.

    \”Jack man he can do—he actually got me into like the highflying game. He\’s told us he\’s down to do basically anything. Yeah, he\’s crazy,\” Evans explained. \”Like I\’m okay. You know, Austin be like, I don\’t know about that, bro. Jackson would do whatever, bro.\”

    The two have competed together and against each other countless times since their teenage years.

    \”We used to be a tag team when we were younger. So, you know, we had a lot of tag team matches. We\’ve had a lot of singles matches. Way more singles matches, honestly,\”

    Evans recalled when asked if their matches together were even countable. \”Probably not. Probably not.\”

    With Evans now on WWE\’s main roster and Drake developing in the WWE Evolve system, the WrestleMania dream that once seemed impossible is closer than ever to becoming reality.

  • Je’Von Evans Explains Not Doing The Kofi Kingston Spot In Royal Rumble

    Je’Von Evans has explained why he didn\’t do a Kofi Kingston-style spot at Royal Rumble.

    The New Day star had become a highlight of the Rumble for many years with fans anticipating his unique saves every time the match came around. After couple of years of back-to-back failures, however, Kingston stopped doing these spots and he has not even been featured in the battle royal for the past couple years.

    Many had expected Je’Von Evans to do something similar upon his Royal Rumble debut this year. During a recent Busted Open appearance, the 21-year-old revealed that he had actually practiced a spot for the match:

    \”Going back to the Rumble, everybody was kind of expecting me to do the Kofi Kingston save like, ‘Oh, is he going to jump from the table to the apron or whatever?’ I tried it. I tried it and it worked but I’m glad we didn’t do it.\”

    That Was His Thing: Je’Von Evans

    Je’Von Evans however, is glad that the spot was ultimately not included in the bout because he wants to do something of his own instead of interfering with the former WWE Champion\’s legacy:

    \”Because I feel like Kofi, he made that so memorable and his. I don’t want to continue something that he already made legendary, you know? That was his thing so I want to create something that everyone looks at and goes, ‘Oh, that’s Je’Von Evans.’ I always want to be myself for sure.\”

    The former NXT star entered the Rumble at #8, and he lasted over 40 minutes in the match, longer than any other participant. He was eventually eliminated by Randy Orton.

  • Je\’Von Evans Says Randy Orton Match Changed Everything for His WWE Career

    Je\’Von Evans credits his breakthrough match with Randy Orton as the moment that transformed his confidence on WWE\’s main roster.

    Speaking with Peter Rosenberg on the Cheap Heat podcast from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ahead of the Royal Rumble, the 21-year-old \”Young OG\” reflected on how facing \”The Viper\” became a career-defining moment.

    \”I know when I had the match with Randy, I was nervous all day. But then since then probably I haven\’t been so nervous because of that moment,\” Evans explained. \”So I think this is like another achievement for me. And I feel confident right now, but then you know before I go out and the countdown starts, then I\’m like, \’Oh, all right. It just got real.\’\”

    Evans shared a humorous story about his first encounter with Orton, describing how he initially didn\’t recognize the WWE legend due to his imposing size.

    \”He just came back recently prior to that. So he was, you know, 290, you know what I mean? Big muscles already,\” Evans recalled. \”So we\’re like me and Terry Taylor, we\’re walking and Terry\’s like, \’Yeah, I think Randy should be here by now.\’ We\’re like on the ramp and it\’s a dude in front of us that has like a hoodie on but he\’s just big, bro. We\’re like trying to walk past him and come to find out that was Randy.\”

    The young star described Orton as \”alarmingly big\” and noted that the veteran was supportive throughout their encounter, watching his work and giving off \”cool, chill vibes.\”

    Je\’Von Evans defeated El Grande Americano this week on WWE Raw.

  • Je’Von Evans Comments On Potential Chris Jericho Royal Rumble Return

    Je’Von Evans says coming face-to-face with Chris Jericho at Royal Rumble would be insane.

    The former AEW World Champion has been rumored to make his WWE return for a while but there is no confirmation on when it will actually happen. With Royal Rumble being the PPV of surprise appearances and debuts, Y2J\’s name has obviously been thrown around.

    During a recent interview with the Cheap Heat podcast, Je’Von Evans, who would be entering the battle royal for the first time in his career this Saturday, was asked how he would react if Jericho showed up at the Rumble. The 21-year-old mentioned that he grew up watching the wrestling veteran so sharing the ring with him would be insane:

    “Probably, honestly, I don’t know. So honestly, I’m either gonna hear it (the theme) and just be in the middle of the ring and just see if I go to blows with him. Bro, it would be insane. Insane. So I’ve never met him, but, like I said, growing up watching him, it would be insane.”

    Je’Von Evans also talked about wrestling some matches on AEW Dark before being signed by WWE. The high flyer mentioned that he didn\’t think WWE would sign him at a young age and he accepted the opportunity to wrestle for AEW as a way to get his name out there.

    While Jericho\’s wrestling future remains uncertain, there is another former AEW Champion who is believed to be set for a Royal Rumble debut. You can check out more about it here.

  • Je’Von Evans Appears to Be Okay Following WWE Raw Injury Scare

    Je’Von Evans is reportedly okay following an injury scare that stopped his match on Monday’s WWE Raw in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

    The 21-year-old’s bout against El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) came to an abrupt halt during a commercial break. When Raw returned, Evans was being evaluated at ringside by WWE’s medical team while visibly favoring his right shoulder area. Referee Jessika Carr called for the bell, and ring announcer Mark Nash confirmed Evans was unable to continue. El Grande Americano was declared the winner via referee stoppage.

    However, according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, the medical staff’s primary concern was a possible concussion rather than a shoulder or upper body injury. Evans was further evaluated backstage and left the venue traveling with the rest of the roster.

    Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select also reported that Evans appeared to be okay after his match. While a concussion has not been 100% ruled out, early indications are positive.

    The timing of the scare was particularly nerve-wracking for fans of “The Young OG.” Evans officially signed with the Raw brand just two weeks ago at the Raw on Netflix Anniversary Show on January 5, and this was only his second official match on the main roster. He had been riding a winning streak with victories over The Miz, Pete Dunne (Rayo Americano), and Tyler Bate (Bravo Americano).

    WWE had reportedly planned for Evans to compete in the 2026 Royal Rumble match on January 31. Just days ago, Logan Paul called him “the future of WWE.”

    WWE has not released an official statement on Evans’ status.

  • Big NXT Name Discussed For Main Roster Move

    A big NXT call-up is in the works.

    WWE has been slowly introducing the new crop of talent on the main roster in recent weeks. The latest episode of Raw saw Je\’Von Evans making his call-up official, while both Trick Williams and Oba Femi have been teased for a career move as well.

    Now, Fightful Select is reporting that this is not the only call-up expected in the coming time, and potentially the biggest name discussed for a brand change comes from the female roster.

    According to the site, Blake Monroe has been discussed for the WWE main roster recently, and some people within the company believe that she will end up on the Raw brand.

    Monroe was recently involved in an awkward situation in NXT. She ended up losing the North American Championship to Thea Hail in a botched finish, and the report notes that there have been discussions about the immediate plans for Monroe being changed.

    Having joined WWE under the new ring name in June last year, Monroe had a successful AEW career as Mariah May. She had a memorable feud with Toni Storm in the Tony Khan promotion and also had a run with the Women\’s World Championship.

    Many expected her to debut on the main roster directly upon signing with WWE, and it\’s no surprise if the officials are looking to fast-track her call-up.

  • Je\’Von Evans Signs WWE Raw Contract, Officially Joins Main Roster

    Je\’Von Evans is now officially a WWE Raw Superstar.

    During a commercial break on the January 6, 2026 episode of Monday Night Raw from Brooklyn, New York, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce signed Evans to a main roster contract, confirming him as a full-time member of the red brand.

    The signing concludes weeks of storyline positioning that saw the 21-year-old portrayed as a \”soon to be free agent\” fielding interest from both Raw and SmackDown. Evans defeated Rayo Americano on Raw in December and was scheduled to meet with Pearce afterward to discuss his future.

    Evans has been one of NXT\’s hottest prospects since his television debut in April 2024. The Greensboro, North Carolina native won the 2024 Iron Survivor Challenge and was named NXT Male Superstar of the Year for 2025. His triple threat match against Oba Femi and Trick Williams at NXT Stand & Deliver also won Match of the Year honors.

    \”The Young OG\” received significant main roster exposure in recent months, including a featured spot at Saturday Night\’s Main Event XLII, where John Cena selected him to team with Leon Slater.

  • Je\’Von Evans Teases Main Roster Call-Up, Reveals Dream Hell in a Cell Match

    NXT\’s rising star Je\’Von Evans is setting his sights high for 2026, hinting at a potential main roster call-up while revealing his ultimate career goal in a recent interview with Going Ringside.

    When asked about a possible promotion to WWE\’s main roster, Evans acknowledged that discussions may already be underway.

    \”I think that it could be in the works,\” Evans said. \”But that\’s up to them. That\’s up to them whenever they feel like I\’m ready. I\’m just there whenever they need me. You know what I mean?\”

    The young superstar\’s approach to achieving bigger opportunities reflects a strong work ethic that has defined his rapid ascent in NXT.

    \”I just want bigger and better opportunities, but the only way for that to happen is to work harder,\” Evans explained. \”So that\’s what I\’m going to do. I\’m going to work my ass off until these bigger and better opportunities happen for me. For sure.\”

    Je\’Von Evans Planning for Longevity

    Despite his youth, Evans is already taking proactive steps to ensure longevity in the demanding world of professional wrestling. He revealed that he\’s incorporated yoga and stretching into his routine as a preventative measure.

    \”I haven\’t really felt any effects yet, but from what everybody\’s telling me, like, hey, it\’s going to catch up,\” Evans said. \”So, I\’m trying to get a little head start. I\’m trying to go ahead and start making my body feel good because I don\’t want to get to the point where I have to.\”

    Hell in a Cell Aspirations

    When the conversation turned to dream matches, Evans didn\’t hesitate to name his ultimate goal before retirement. \”Dream match. I want to do a Hell in a Cell,\” he declared. \”I would love to do one. Because it\’s great. I grew up watching them and I was like, \’Oh, I have to do it now.\’ So I have to do a Hell in a Cell before I retire. I have to do a Hell in the Cell.\”

    With his combination of athleticism, dedication, and clear vision for his future, Evans appears poised to make the jump to WWE\’s main roster sooner rather than later. Whether 2026 becomes his breakout year on Raw or SmackDown remains to be seen, but the 23-year-old is clearly preparing for whatever comes next.

  • 5 Male Superstars WWE Should Push In 2026

    As 2025 draws to a close there are a number of stars in WWE who are poised for a breakout year. To be clear, this does not include names like Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, or Gunther who stand atop the business already and will likely as not continue their winning ways in 2026. Rather, it’s time to consider talents WWE or at least NXT fans already know who stands to graduate to a new level in 2026. Who are the men to watch for in the new year?

    Oba Femi

    For NXT fans, Oba Femi isn’t just a hot prospect. He’s the present and he’s an inevitability. Nonetheless, The Ruler is still mostly unknown to main-roster-only fans aside from a lowkey coming-out party opposite Cody Rhodes at the final Saturday Night’s Main Event of 2025.

    Femi has so many tools, from size and strength to athleticism to having quite quickly picked up on in-ring performance. He’s even reasonably solid on the microphone, especially by the standards of someone who was competing in shot put for the University of Alabama as recently as 2022.

    Specifically in an era when WWE has taken some heat for not featuring a lot of Black men on top, Femi may well be a main roster main event attraction in 2026.

    Austin Theory

    No one’s career trajectory was more tumultuous than Austin Theory’s when Vince McMahon fell under scandal and wound up in and out of the company before seemingly being exiled for good. Indeed, few and far between are the men who’ve held the United States Championship and a Money in the Bank briefcase, besides having beaten John Cena one-on-one at WrestleMania. Combine that with a fall from grace, spending much of the last two years in a semi-comedic tag team with Grayson Waller.

    The prevailing wisdom was that McMahon arbitrarily tried to shove Theory down fans’ throats too soon in the dying days of his reign over WWE. Just the same, with his great look, his deceptive athleticism, and his charisma coming along, the late stages of A-Town Down Under made clear fans were ready to take him a lot more seriously.

    The reveal of Theory as The Vison’s masked man has potential to elevate him. While he also runs the risk of playing a Buddy Roberts style bump machine for Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Logan Paul, a lot of interesting possibilities await as Theory will be positioned to engage with top babyfaces, including plenty of intrigue about what will await him when Seth Rollins returns to the WWE landscape.

    Joe Hendry

    One could readily argue Joe Hendry had his breakout year already as 2025 saw him win the TNA Championship, work his first Royal Rumble, and wrestle Randy Orton at WrestleMania. Hendry did all of this while existing within a strange purgatory—an explosive star by TNA standards, but the writing was on the wall that he was WWE-bound (though he wasn’t signed to WWE yet).

    Despite becoming an NXT mainstay over the year, Hendry has only relatively recently officially signed with WWE. The jury’s out as to his ceiling—if going viral on the Internet and becoming TNA’s hottest attraction actually were his peak or if he had a ways to go. Nonetheless, given Hendry’s popularity, there’s every reason for optimism that at least a rock solid mid-card run on the main roster is imminent for him.

    Je’Von Evans

    With the exception of Oba Femi, there may be no surer thing on the NXT roster than Je’Von Evans. He may have caught fans’ eyes via sheer athleticism, but performances over the course of 2025 demonstrated he’s much more than just a high-spot guy. Rather, he’s more than capable of holding his own in big match scenarios—not least of all the main event of Stand & Deliver over WrestleMania 41 weekend.

    The biggest question for Evans in 2026 may well come down to whether he’ll finally win the NXT Championship and become “the guy” in developmental, move up to the main roster, or do both. The choice to feature The Young OG on John Cena’s farewell Saturday Night’s Main Event seemed to affirm WWE sees him as a main roster attraction imminently.

    Dominik Mysterio

    Dominik Mysterio has enjoyed major progress every year since turning heel in 2022, overachieving as a villain and becoming one of WWE’s biggest heat seekers. 2025 saw some of his most appreciable growth. He won the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania and enjoyed an over-half-year reign. He won the AAA Mega Championship. When he lost the IC title, it was in front of a raucous crowd for John Cena’s last match in Boston, and Dirty Dom won it back in front of a stadium crowd in San Diego at Survivor Series.

    As recently as a year ago, Mysterio was performing well, but it still felt like a stretch to imagine he’d ever win a proper world title in WWE. Now? The idea of him winning Money in the Bank and successfully converting the briefcase into a top title reign feels feasible. Heck, even him more organically continuing to scale the ladder to become a bona fide main event level threat without cash-in shenanigans feels much more than abstractly possible. 2026 may well be Mysterio’s biggest year yet.

  • Je’Von Evans Discusses Being Part of John Cena\’s Retirement Show

    Je’Von Evans has talked about being part of John Cena\’s final show.

    The Cenation Leader had decided that his retirement show would also serve as a showcase for the next generation of talents. This led to the NXT upstart competing in the biggest match of his career at Saturday Night\’s Main Event. He teamed up with TNA X-Division champion Leon Slater to face Dragon Lee and AJ Styles.

    The 21-year-old opened up about this opportunity during a recent interview with Fox News. Je’Von Evans mentioned how he grew up watching Cena. So for the 17-time world champion to handpick him for the event was insane:

    \”It’s insane. Insane, bro, I grew up watching Cena. So, for him to handpick me is crazy. Before his show, we got to talk and he was putting me onto the game. It’s just wild that now I have an opportunity and now I’ll have a connection with Cena and we can talk whenever we want to. It’s insane, insane for sure.\”

    Evans also discussed the recent growth in his popularity and the praise he has received for his work. The 2004-born mentioned that he always wanted to be a wrestler, but he wasn\’t expecting to get this much recognition this early in his career.

    WWE had recently provided an update on Je’Von\’s status, confirming that he was still an NXT star despite recent main roster appearances. Though they announced that the high flyer was not going to be a part of the development brand for very long. You can check out the full story here.

  • Je\’Von Evans Asked About His Main Roster Status

    Even Je\’Von Evans doesn\’t know which WWE brand he officially belongs to at the moment.

    The Young High Flyer has been on a tour of WWE properties recently. Apart from competing at John Cena\’s final show, he has picked up singles victories on both Raw and SmackDown and competed under the AAA banner, all in the past couple of weeks.

    During a recent interview with the Battleground podcast, Evans was asked the question a lot of people have on their mind, if he is officially a main roster star now. The 21-year-old, however, proclaimed that he himself is unaware of his official status and he is just ready to do whatever the officials need him to:

    \”So me, personally, I don\’t know. I\’m just wherever they need me to be, you know. I mean, look, wherever they need me, whenever it happens, I\’m gonna be ready, you know. They need me on SmackDown. They need me on Raw. They need me to stay in NXT; they need me to go to AAA. Hey, wherever you need me, young OG will do what he do.\”

    WWE did provide an update on the official status of Je\’Von Evans this past Monday on Raw. Commentary confirmed that he was still signed to the NXT brand but set to become a free agent soon.

    Recent reports suggest that Evans is not the only NXT star set to make official Raw or SmackDown debut soon. Other development names who competed at Saturday Night\’s Main Event are also expected to be fast-tracked to the main roster. You can check out more details here.

  • NXT Stars From John Cena Retirement Show Heading to Main Roster

    WWE is preparing to graduate multiple NXT stars to the main roster following their appearances at John Cena’s retirement show, according to PWInsider’s Mike Johnson.

    “Basically, you can expect all the NXT talents that were spotlighted at the John Cena retirement show to be main roster bound sooner than later,” Johnson reported.

    The comment comes after WWE announced Je’Von Evans as a “soon to be free agent” during the December 22 episode of Raw. Michael Cole made the announcement as the 21-year-old entered the arena, with Raw General Manager Adam Pearce expressing interest in signing him. Evans defeated Rayo Americano and is expected to join the main roster in 2026.

    Trick Williams has already begun his transition, appearing on the December 19 SmackDown as a free agent seeking to sign with a brand. Despite debuting on SmackDown, Williams is not yet officially assigned internally to either brand.

    Other NXT stars featured prominently at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 include Oba Femi, Sol Ruca, Joe Hendry, and TNA’s Leon Slater. WWE officials were reportedly “very impressed” with their performances, viewing Femi, Ruca, and Evans as potential future superstars.

    The “free agent” strategy allows WWE to showcase these talents on both Raw and SmackDown before making final roster assignments, creating a bidding war storyline between the brands heading into 2026.

  • Update On Je\’Von Evans WWE Future

    Je\’Von Evans is getting the free agent treatment.

    The 21-year-old is seen as a future star by WWE, and the officials have been doing everything they can to familiarise the casual audience with his abilities in recent times.

    Just in the past 10 days, Evans has picked up a victory over former World Champion The Miz on SmackDown and competed on both AAA Guerra De Titanes and Saturday Night\’s Main Event.

    The high-flying star continued this tour with an appearance on the latest episode of WWE Raw, though this time with a twist. Evans was shown entering the arena during the opening of Raw, and Michael Cole announced during this segment that the NXT star was set to become a free agent soon.

    Not only that, but General Manager Adam Pearce also spoke with the young star before his match on the show, asking Je\’Von Evans for a sit-down to discuss his future after his bout.

    The development star went on to defeat Rayo Americano in his in-ring debut for the Red Branded show, once again showing his incredible capabilities in the squared circle.

    It\’s unknown which of the two brands Je\’Von is expected to end up on. The latest segment does confirm that his days in NXT are numbered, and he is set to become one of the youngest names to join the main roster very soon.

  • Je\’Von Evans and Kendal Grey Are Your 2025 NXT Iron Survivors

    WWE NXT Deadline delivered two thrilling Iron Survivor Challenge matches on Saturday night, with Je\’Von Evans and Kendal Grey emerging victorious in their respective matches to earn future NXT Championship opportunities.

    The fourth annual NXT Deadline event took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas, streaming live on Peacock in the United States and Netflix internationally.

    Je\’Von Evans Wins Men\’s Iron Survivor Challenge

    In the main event of the evening, Je\’Von Evans outlasted Joe Hendry, Leon Slater, Dion Lennox, and Myles Borne to win the 2025 Men\’s Iron Survivor Challenge.

    Evans and his tag team partner Leon Slater started the match, exchanging high-flying offense from the opening bell. The 25-minute contest saw all five competitors battle for supremacy, with Evans ultimately scoring enough falls to secure the victory.

    With the win, Evans earns an NXT Championship match at New Year\’s Evil on January 6, 2026, where he will challenge newly crowned champion Oba Femi.

    Following the match, Femi came out to confront his future challenger. In a shocking twist, Tony D\’Angelo made his return to NXT, attacking Evans from behind and staring down Femi, potentially reviving their old rivalry.

    Kendal Grey Wins Women\’s Iron Survivor Challenge in Dramatic Fashion

    Earlier in the night, EVOLVE Women\’s Champion Kendal Grey pulled off an incredible comeback victory in the Women\’s Iron Survivor Challenge, defeating Jordynne Grace, Sol Ruca, Kelani Jordan, and Lola Vice.

    Grey secured the winning fall with just two seconds remaining on the clock, hitting Lola Vice with a leaping flatliner off the top rope to score her third point and steal the victory.

    The match featured major drama when Sol Ruca was attacked by Kelani Jordan during her entrance, injuring her knee. Ruca was helped to the back but bravely returned to compete, scoring two points despite the injury.

    As the 2025 Women\’s Iron Survivor, Grey will challenge NXT Women\’s Champion Jacy Jayne at New Year\’s Evil. Following the match, Fatal Influence appeared on the entrance ramp, with Jayne holding up her championship as she stared down her future challenger.

    What the Winners Receive

    The Iron Survivor Challenge is NXT\’s signature December match format, introduced in 2022. The 25-minute contest features five competitors who earn points by scoring pinfalls or submissions. If a wrestler is pinned or submits, they must spend 90 seconds in a penalty box before re-entering. The competitor with the most points when time expires is declared the winner.

    Both Iron Survivor winners receive guaranteed championship matches at NXT New Year\’s Evil on January 6, 2026:

    • Je\’Von Evans will challenge Oba Femi for the NXT Championship
    • Kendal Grey will challenge Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women\’s Championship

    Other NXT Deadline Results

    The event also saw Oba Femi defeat Ricky Saints to capture the NXT Championship for the second time. Femi will face Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night\’s Main Event on December 13.

    Additionally, Ethan Page retained the NXT North American Championship against Mr. Iguana, and Izzi Dame defeated her former Culling stablemate Tatum Paxley.