In 2008, Evans signed a World Wrestling Entertainment contract and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (Florida Championship Wrestling), a World Wrestling Entertainment developmental territory. In Florida Championship Wrestling, he began wrestling under the ring name Tyrone Jones.[1] In May, he feuded with Atlas DaBone.[17] Throughout June and July, he faced wrestlers including Kevin Kiley, Jr. and TJ Wilson, and on July 21, he lost a dark match to Jamie Noble on July 21 prior to Raw.[1][17] In September he gained Byron Saxton as a manager, and changed his ring name to Tyson Tarver.[17] He became part of The Saxton Conglomerate, a faction composed of Tarver, Black Pain, Stu Sanders and led by Byron Saxton. Tarver had his first match with the Conglomerate on October 30, where he, Pain and Sanders lost to Johnny Prime, Kafu and Sinn Bowdee.[17] Prime soon began feuding with the Conglomerate, and on November 20, Tarver lost to him in a singles match.[17] On December 18, Tarver and Sanders lost to Prime and Kaleb O’Neal.[17]

In 2009, Evans changed his ring name to ‘Michael Tarver’.[18] He continued competing in Florida Championship Wrestling throughout the remainder of 2009, facing wrestlers including Wes Brisco and Skip Sheffield, with whom he feuded in November 2009.[18] In December, Tarver became associated with Heath Slater (Heath Miller), interfering in Slater’s matches and accompanying him to the ring.[18] The following month, Tarver began a feud with Titus O’Neil. After twice interrupting O’Neil, Tarver defeated him in a singles match on February 18.[18]