Je’Von Evans Admits He Nearly Cried Before His NXT Match With Randy Orton

Je’Von Evans has opened up about one of the most emotionally charged moments of his early WWE career — and the nerves that nearly got the better of him before he ever threw a punch.

Appearing on A Shot of Brandi, Evans reflected on the October 8, 2024 edition of WWE NXT, when Randy Orton made only his second in-ring appearance on the brand. The match was already a massive occasion for the young talent, but the fact that it took place in Orton’s hometown of St. Louis cranked the pressure up another notch.

“I’d probably say Randy Orton [was the most challenging opponent],” Evans said. “I feel like when he came down to NXT, I was grateful for the opportunity, blessed with it. But I think I was just so nervous. You can even tell, usually I’m all excited. If you watch back when I’m doing my entrance, or even before the match, I’m just pacing in the ring. I just remember him coming out and I was talking to the ref, I was like, ‘Bro, like I’m about to cry.’ It was insane.”

The match itself gave Evans plenty to learn from. He managed to connect with a cutter late in the contest and even attempted a second, but Orton countered and put him down with an RKO to take the win. In a gesture that didn’t go unnoticed, Orton helped Evans back to his feet after the match concluded.

For Evans, the experience went beyond just sharing the ring with a legend — it exposed the gap between NXT and the main roster style in a way that he says sharpened him as a competitor.

“I would say it was my most challenging because NXT and main roster are two different flows when it comes to wrestling,” Evans explained. “I feel like I was ready to, of course, go kind of with the main roster flow, but I was also ready to learn, you feel me? He kind of upped my level when it came to in-ring competition, in-ring psychology, all that. So I feel like that was my biggest competition, my biggest challenge, just being able to step in the ring with somebody that’s a future Hall of Famer, a legend, a legend killer.”

For a performer still establishing himself on NXT at the time, going toe-to-toe with one of the most decorated stars in WWE history — and earning that post-match show of respect — speaks to the kind of ceiling Evans believes he can reach.