Je’Von Evans Says Harlem Lewis Spoiled Randy Orton Match Announcement For Him

On the September 17 episode of WWE NXT, Je’Von Evans learned live on the show that he would be facing Randy Orton on an upcoming episode of the program.

Except he didn’t learn on the air.

“So honestly, they tried to surprise me, but I knew before it was gonna happen, and I’ll tell you why. So before the match, and not before the match announcement, maybe like a couple days, we had like promo class at NXT, and I’m talking to the writer, and I’m like, ‘Hey, do I get new gear for this show?’ He was like, ‘Yeah, we’re working on something…’ Whatever, whatever. All right, cool. Say less. Then it was me and Cedric versus No Quarter Catch Crew, I believe, and before the match, Randy Orton follows me on IG. All right, that’s cool, that’s cool. Then I’m about to go out, and I’m not gonna say their name. Actually it already happened, right? I think it was just Harlem Lewis. Maybe it was just him. But he’s like, ‘Yo, did you see this post?’ And I’m like, ‘What post?’ ‘You going against Randy Orton?’ This was before the match. I’m like, ‘I am?’ He shows me the post, and I’m like, ‘Okay, that’s fire, whatever.’ Then I go have the match, and then the ref is like, ‘Hey, stay here, just react to whatever’s on the screen.’ I was like, all right, cool, and then I look at the screen. It’s the post that I saw before the match, and I was like, Yeah! So, Harlem Lewis it’s your fault, and you’re probably gonna get hit for it,” recalled Evans while speaking to Chris Van Vliet on Insight. 

Evans and Orton faced on the October 8 episode of NXT, with Orton picking up the victory.

Orton and Evans would battle again at WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 with both men competing inside the Elimination Chamber.