Je'Von Evans: Difference between revisions

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|2004|04|29|df=y}}

|height = {{height|ft=56|in=112}}

|weight = {{convert|150170|lb|kg|abbr=on}}

'''Malachi Jeffers''' (born April 29, 2004) is an American [[professional wrestler]] currently signed to [[WWE]], where he performs under the [[ring name]] '''Je'Von Evans''' on the [[NXT (WWE brand)|NXT]] [[WWE brand extension|brand]]. He was previously known under the ring name '''Jay Malachi''' on the independent circuit.

Jeffers began training in 2018 under independent wrestler Labron Kozone in [[North Carolina]] and made his debut on January 26, 2018. Under the ring name '''Jay Malachi''', he achieved his biggest success on the independent circuit in [[Deadlock Pro-Wrestling]] where he was a one time [[DPW Worlds Championship|DPW Worlds Champion]]. Two years prior to winning the championship, he was seen on episode #163 of [[AEW Dark]], where he lost to [[Fuego Del Sol]]. He vacated the title on November 2, 2023 when he signed with [[WWE]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2018 |title=Je'Von Evans Cagematch |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=26930 |access-date=June 22, 2024 |website=Cagematch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 19, 2023 |title=Jay Malachi Relinquishes DPW World Championship |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/jay-malachi-relinquishes-dpw-world-championship |access-date=June 22, 2024 |website=Fightful}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Mike Johnson |date=November 14, 2023 |title=Another New WWE NXT Signing at Performance Center Today |url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/177313/another-new-wwe-nxt-signing-at-performance-center-today.html?p=1 |access-date=June 22, 2024 |website=PWInsider}}</ref>

In November 2023, it was reported that Jeffers had signed with WWE where he would report to the [[NXT (WWE brand)|NXT]] [[WWE brand extension|brand]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/177313/another-new-wwe-nxt-signing-at-performance-center-today.html?p=1|title=Another New WWE NXT Signing at Performance Center Today|author=Mike Johnson|date=November 14, 2023|access-date=June 22, 2024|website=PWInsider}}</ref> He made his debut under the ring name '''Je'Von Evans''' on the February 16, 2024 episode of [[NXT Level Up|''NXT Level Up'']] losing to [[Brooks Jensen]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxt-level-up/nxt-level-up-feb-16-2024|title=WWE NXT Level Up results: February 16, 2024|date=February 16, 2024|access-date=June 22, 2024|website=WWE.com}}</ref> At [[NXT Stand & Deliver (2024)|NXT Stand & Deliver]], a video package aired hyping up Evans' NXT debut.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxtple/nxt-stand-deliver-2024|title=WWE NXT Stand and Deliver 2024 Results|date=April 6, 2024|access-date=June 22, 2024|website=WWE.com}}</ref> On the April 9 episode of [[WWE NXT|''NXT'']], Evans made his television debut picking up a win against [[Reggie (wrestler)|SCRYPTS]]. The following week on ''NXT'', he fought then-[[NXT Championship|NXT Champion]] [[Ilja Dragunov]] in a losing effort but was endorsed by Dragunov after as the two shook hands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2024-04-09/article/results|title=WWE NXT results: April 9, 2024|date=April 9, 2024|access-date=June 22, 2024|website=WWE.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2024-04-16/article/results|title=WWE NXT Results: April 16, 2024|date=April 16, 2024|access-date=June 22, 2024|website=WWE.com}}</ref> Evans soon developed ana onshort-screenterm friendship with [[Trick Williams]], who had just defeated Dragunov to become the new NXT Champion, after Williams came to his defense against [[Noam Dar]] and [[Oro Mensah]] of [[The Meta-Four]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2024-05-14|title=WWE NXT Results: May 14, 2024|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=June 22, 2024|website=WWE.com}}</ref> Evans and Williams teamed up on the May 28 episode of ''NXT'' against [[Mark Coffey]] and [[Wolfgang (wrestler)|Wolfgang]] of [[Gallus (professional wrestling)|Gallus]] in a winning effort.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2024-05-28/article/results|title=WWE NXT Results: May 28, 2024|date=May 28, 2024|access-date=June 22, 2024|website=WWE.com}}</ref> On the June 18 episode of ''NXT'', Evans won a 25-man [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|battle royal]] to earn an NXT Championship match against Williams at [[NXT Heatwave (2024)|NXT Heatwave]]. HoweverLater that night, Evans was defeated by [[Ethan Page]] later in the night after Page challenged Evans to a match claiming that he was never eliminated from the battle royal after being attacked by Mensah.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2024-06-18/article/results|title=WWE NXT Results: June 18, 2024|date=June 18, 2024|access-date=June 22, 2024|website=WWE.com}}</ref> On the following week, Ava made the NXT Championship match at NXT Heatwave a [[Fatal four way match|fatal four-way match]] after Evans, Page and [[Shawn Spears]], who had earlier defeated Williams in a non-title match, each had a claim to a title match.<ref name="NXT06252024">{{cite web |last=Moore |first=John |date=June 25, 2024 |title=NXT TV results (6/25): Moore's review of Tag Team Turmoil for a shot at the NXT Tag Titles, NXT Champion Trick Williams vs. Shawn Spears in a non-title match, Tony D'Angelo vs. Nathan Frazer for the NXT Heritage Cup |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/06/25/nxt-tv-results-6-25-moores-review-of-tag-team-turmoil-for-a-shot-at-the-nxt-tag-titles-nxt-champion-trick-williams-vs-shawn-spears-in-a-non-title-match-tony-dangelo-vs-nathan-frazer-for-the/ |access-date=June 26, 2024 |work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net}}</ref> At the event on July 7, he was pinned by Page to become the new NXT Champion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Jason |date=July 7, 2024 |title=NXT Heatwave results: Moore's live review of Trick Williams vs. Ethan Page vs. Je'Von Evans vs. Shawn Spears for the NXT Championship, Roxanne Perez vs. Lola Vice for the NXT Women's Championship |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/07/07/nxt-heatwave-results-moores-live-review-of-trick-williams-vs-ethan-page-vs-jevon-evans-vs-shawn-spears-for-the-nxt-championship-roxanne-perez-vs-lola-vice-for-the-nxt-womens-championship/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |language=}}</ref> In August, Evans defeated [[Ashante "Thee" Adonis]] on ''[[WWE Speed|Speed]]'' to advance in the [[WWE Speed Championship|Speed Championship]] [[List of WWE tournaments#WWE Speed Championship #1 Contender's Tournament (July 31–present)|#1 Contender's Tournament]]. He received a [[Bye (sports)|bye]] to the final after [[Street Profits|Montez Ford]] and [[Austin Theory]] fought to a time-limit draw where he lost to [[Pete Dunne]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hetfield |first=James |date=August 4, 2024 |title=Spoilers: WWE Speed Taping Results From 8/2/2024 - PWMania - Wrestling News |url=https://www.pwmania.com/spoilers-wwe-speed-taping-results-from-8-2-2024 |access-date=August 8, 2024 |website=PWMania |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tessier |first=Colin |date=August 28, 2024 |title=Pete Dunne Beats Je'Von Evans, To Challenge Andrade For WWE Speed Championship On 8/30 WWE Speed {{!}} Fightful News |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/pete-dunne-beats-je-von-evans-challenge-andrade-wwe-speed-championship-830-wwe-speed |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=Fightful |language=}}</ref> On the September 10 episode of ''NXT'', Evans lost to [[No Quarter Catch Crew]]'s [[Charlie Dempsey (wrestler)|Charlie Dempsey]] 1–2 in [[NXT Heritage Cup#British Rounds Rules|British Round Rules]] for the [[NXT Heritage Cup]] after outside interference from Dempsey's stablemates [[Wren Sinclair]] and [[G'Angelo Hancock|Tavion Heights]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=John |date=September 10, 2024 |title=NXT TV results (9/10): Moore's review of Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne in a Last Man Standing match for a shot at the NXT Title, Nathan Frazer and Axiom vs. The Street Profits for the NXT Tag Titles, Giulia vs. Chelsea Green |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/09/10/nxt-tv-results-9-10-moores-review-of-trick-williams-vs-pete-dunne-in-a-last-man-standing-match-for-a-shot-at-the-nxt-title-nathan-frazer-and-axiom-vs-the-street-profits-for-the-nxt-tag-ti/ |access-date=September 11, 2024 |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |language=}}</ref>

**DPW Carolina Classic Tournament (2023)