EVIL has signed with WWE but has yet to be assigned to any of the company’s brands, according to a follow-up report from PWInsider.
PWInsider reports that the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion is currently listed internally on WWE’s miscellaneous roster, the same category used for legends and injured talent. WWE has not publicly acknowledged his signing at this time.
EVIL, whose real name is Takaaki Watanabe, departed NJPW in January before PWInsider confirmed his WWE signing on April 24. Japanese sources expect him not to retain the EVIL name going forward, though no new ring name has been publicly confirmed.
His arrival has already generated speculation about the storyline. Last week’s episode of NXT saw Tony D’Angelo presented with a box bearing the Japanese kanji for “war,” prompting many fans and observers to speculate that EVIL could be behind the mystery delivery. However, others have suggested the sender could be Ulka Sasaki of Pro Wrestling Noah, who is currently on excursion in NXT. No confirmation of either theory has been provided.
EVIL became a big star after betraying Los Ingobernables de Japón to join Bullet Club in 2020, going on to defeat Tetsuya Naito to become a double champion holding both the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships simultaneously. He is the partner of WWE’s IYO SKY.
