Former NJPW star EVIL, whose real name is Takaaki Watanabe, officially signed with WWE in April 2026 after leaving New Japan Pro-Wrestling in January, ending months of heavy speculation about his next destination. Much of the buzz stemmed from his longtime relationship with WWE star IYO SKY, with many believing he moved to the United States to be closer to her. And now, during this week’s episode of NXT, it was revealed that, from now on, he will perform under the new ring name “NARAKU,” injecting fresh menace into NXT and sparking excitement over future matchups.
In Japanese, Naraku (奈落) translates to “hell” or “abyss,” directly referencing the deepest realms of suffering in Buddhist cosmology. The chilling name perfectly suits EVIL’s “King of Darkness” persona, establishing him as a ruthless, inescapable force of torment in the ring. Although Fightful previously reported that WWE had planned to use the trademarked name Nox Raijin, it appears the company opted for a last-minute switch to NARAKU, giving the former IWGP champion an even darker and more culturally resonant identity for his WWE run.
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