WWE Reportedly Signs Former NJPW Main Eventer: Is He NXT Bound?

TL;DR

WWE has signed former NJPW star EVIL, confirmed by multiple sources. He is expected to debut in NXT but will likely change his ring name.

Key points

WWE has signed former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL
His real name is Takaaki Watanabe
He is expected to debut in NXT
He may not keep the EVIL ring name
He had a significant heel turn in NJPW

Mentioned in this story

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IWGP Heavyweight ChampionshipIWGP Intercontinental Championship

WWE Reportedly Signs Former NJPW Main Eventer: Is He NXT Bound?

WWE has signed former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources in Japan. While rumors about his destination had been circulating for months, the signing is now confirmed. The expectation in Japan, per those same sources, is that he will not keep the EVIL ring name upon his WWE debut.

EVIL, whose real name is Takaaki Watanabe, made a name for himself in New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2020 following one of the more talked-about heel turns of that era. Originally a member of the Los Ingobernables de Japón faction, he shocked fans by betraying the group and aligning himself with Bullet Club, adopting a darker, interference-heavy character in the process.

The turn paid off quickly. He defeated Tetsuya Naito to become a double champion, simultaneously holding the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships, a moment that marked a significant shift in NJPW’s storytelling direction during that period.

The 39-year-old made his professional wrestling debut in 2011 and built his reputation primarily in Japan, though he also had an extended run in the United States working for Ring of Honor. He departed NJPW in January, at which point speculation about his next destination began.

On this week’s edition of NXT, during a segment with current NXT champ Tony D’Angelo and Keanu Culver, a mysterious box was given to D’Angelo. The white box also had what looks to be Japanese writing on it. The news of EVIL’s signing will surely make many think the box is connected to him, and he is headed to the black and gold brand.

His connection to WWE extends beyond the contract itself. EVIL is the partner of IYO SKY, the current WWE star and former Women’s Championship holder, giving him an established connection to the company’s roster. What name he will work under and when he is expected to debut have not yet been publicly confirmed.

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