On a recent episode of the Notsam Wrestling podcast with Sam Roberts, WWE NXT star Je’Von Evans detailed his journey in professional wrestling, including the crucial role Shawn Michaels played in getting him signed, and the advice he has received from legends like Randy Orton, Triple H, and The Undertaker.
Evans revealed that after his initial WWE tryout, the company was hesitant to sign him due to his age and size. “At first, I originally wasn’t supposed to be signed after my tryout,” Evans said. “They wanted me to get bigger and then grind a little bit more in the indies. But Shawn was the one that was like, ‘Hey, I think Je’Von has something. I think this kid has something. Let’s go with him.'” Evans stated that having the support of Michaels is a great feeling. “It’s great to know that the goat, literally, you know, HBK, Shawn Michaels, Mr. WrestleMania, sees something in me,” he said. “Every time I see him after a match, I ask for advice… because I know he sees something within that match that can be better.”
Since joining NXT, Evans has had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the biggest names in the industry. He recounted his nervousness before his match with Randy Orton. “Sam, I ain’t gonna lie, I was nervous. Shaking in my boots,” Evans admitted. “It was such a great learning experience, a great opportunity. It was something that I wasn’t expecting, at least this early in my career… I still get butterflies about the match… And now that I’m able to connect with Randy and get advice, and text them and call them whenever I want to, is great. It’s a blessing for sure. And I think that match helped me develop who Je’Von Evans is.”
He also shared that he has received game-changing advice from both Triple H and The Undertaker. “I was actually talking to Triple H after my match, and he told me something. And once he told me it was so small and it was so easy… I never thought about it that way,” Evans said. Of The Undertaker, he stated, “He told me one thing that literally was… like he saw something in me. And he was like, ‘Hey, like, if we just do this one little thing, you’ll be untouchable.’ So now I’m working on that one little thing so I can become untouchable.”
At just 21 years old, Evans is currently one of the busiest performers in wrestling, appearing on WWE NXT, SmackDown, and TNA programming as part of the cross-promotional storyline. “I am literally taking every opportunity that I can. I’m grinding,” he said. “My end goal is just trying to be the best ever. So, whatever I can do to accomplish that goal, that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Despite his rapid success, Evans is focused on staying humble. “I feel like any of this can get taken away just like that,” he stated. “I’m always ground level, like where I got to be. Because anybody can overstep me. Everybody can become better than me just because I’m being lazy or just because I’m being comfortable. So that’s always my mindset.”
The full interview with Je’Von Evans is available on the Notsam Wrestling podcast, which airs live on SiriusXM from Monday to Thursday and is available on all major podcast platforms.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit the Notsam Wrestling podcast with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
