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Taking a knife edge to the chest is one of the most damaging moves in professional wrestling.
Ric Flair made the move well known at the height of his career. WWE stars today like Gunther, Oba Femi and Ilja Dragunov have carried the torch.
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Oba Femi looks on during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on December 9, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Andrea Kellaway/WWE)
Je’Von Evans has been in the ring with Gunther, Femi, and Dragunov at various points in his career, and it’s not easy to take a shot from either competitor.
“It’s probably one of the worst feelings you’ll ever experience,” Evans said of getting a chop from NXT Champion Oba Femi.
But Evans made it clear it’s not the worst he’s received.
“Honestly, it’s not the worst,” he said. “I think the worst I ever received was probably either Gunther or Ilya Dragunov.
“Ilya’s chops are like they stab and they hit the same spot. Same with Gunter. I think that’s why they’re such good wrestlers and good friends because they hit hard and they hit the same spot.”
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Je’Von Evans in action against Gunther during “Monday Night RAW” at Madison Square Garden on November 17, 2025 in New York City. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images)
Anyone who watches weekly WWE programming or the monthly premium live events knows that the chops of superstars like Gunther or Dragunov echo throughout the arena they perform in and through the speakers fans listen to through the television.
While the criticism is that pro wrestling is “fake” or not taken seriously because the outcome of the matches is predetermined, the chops are definitely real and they leave a mark.
“Honestly, it hurts, but once you realize you have to keep going, it kind of goes away. You know what I mean? But that also comes with practice,” Evans said. “You have to get your body used to the impact, falling in the ring, getting hit. Just like your body has to get used to that type of feeling.
“When you’ve been doing it for years, the chops start to hurt less, and when you fall, it stops hurting less. It still hurts. You just don’t feel it as much.”
Je’Von Evans in the ring during “Monday Night RAW” at Madison Square Garden on November 17, 2025 in New York City. (Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images)
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For now, Evans has to take the damage from his NXT colleagues. It might be worth it, as he’s primed for another shot at the NXT Championship after winning the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge.
