According to a report from Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Radio, John Cena has taken a significant interest in NXT standout Je’Von Evans. Cena, who has been active on the main roster during his retirement tour, reportedly visited the developmental brand and was impressed by the 21-year-old high-flyer.
“I was also told that John Cena, he went down to developmental and everything,” Alvarez said. “And apparently, he is very, very high on Je’Von, and Sheamus had a match with him at our show, and Sheamus was raving about him. I think they finally figured out, as usual, they’re like the last people on earth to figure this shit out. But I think they finally figured out that they have something special in Je’Von Evans, and so hopefully he is called up sooner rather than later, and they do something with him.”
Alvarez also addressed the internal perception regarding Evans’ age. At just 21 years old, Evans is one of the youngest talents on the roster, but Alvarez argued that his youth should not be a deterrent to a major push on the main roster.
“This bullshit about being too young is, in fact, bullshit, especially when you think about the history of Madison Square Garden and some of the biggest stars in the history of this business,” Alvarez noted. “They were big fucking stars in their 20s. They weren’t 40 when they first got that title.”
Evans, formerly known as Jay Malachi on the independent circuit, signed with WWE in November 2023. He has been a featured player on NXT throughout 2025. He lost to Gunther on Raw this week in a tournament match to determine Cena’s final opponent.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Wrestling Observer Radio with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can subscribe to the Wrestling Observer by visiting F4WOnline.com.
