Takaaki Watanabe, known as EVIL, worked in New Japan Pro-Wrestling from 2011 to 2026. His tenure would see him primarily as a tag team wrestler, capturing the IWGP Tag Team Championships on two occasions before breaking off into singles success and becoming the double IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion.

EVIL left NJPW earlier this year, deciding not to resign his contract back in January, and would go on to sign with WWE and debut on the April 28th episode of NXT , confronting the NXT Champion Tony D'Angelo, placing him near the top of the card for the brand.

EVIL's NXT name

Commentary during EVIL's NXT debut didn't call him by anything, leading fans to wonder what his name might be for his WWE run.

EVIL | NJPW

Around the time EVIL signed with the promotion, there were rumors about what his name could be, as WWE had filed trademarks with one seeming very likely to be a fit for him — Nox Raijin,

Fightful Select has learned that EVIL is currently listed under his real name, Takaaki Watanabe,…