Takaaki Watanabe
Born
26 January 1987 (39)
Place of Birth
Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Also known as
EVIL, Naraku
Biography
Takaaki Watanabe is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Naraku. He is best known for his tenure in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) under the ring name EVIL, where he debuted as a Young Lion in 2011 and later became the leader of House of Torture. During his NJPW run, he captured the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships, won the New Japan Cup in 2020, and claimed back-to-back World Tag League victories in 2017 and 20...
Takaaki Watanabe is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Naraku. He is best known for his tenure in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) under the ring name EVIL, where he debuted as a Young Lion in 2011 and later became the leader of House of Torture. During his NJPW run, he captured the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships, won the New Japan Cup in 2020, and claimed back-to-back World Tag League victories in 2017 and 2018 with SANADA before leaving the promotion in January 2026. Watanabe debuted in WWE on the April 28, 2026 episode of NXT by confronting NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo before officially adopting the name Naraku. He later made his in-ring debut on May 12, defeating Lince Dorado.
Filmography (40)
Jônetsu Tairiku : Iyo Sky
2026
NJPW Road to The New Beginning 2026 - Day 2
2026
NJPW Road to The New Beginning 2026 - Day 1
2026
NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVII ~ Aoyi Transition ~
2026
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2026
2026
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20
2026
NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 3
2025
NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 2
2025
NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 1
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 17 (Final)
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 16
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 15
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 14
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 13
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 12
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 11
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 10
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 9
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 8
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 7
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 6
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 5
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 4
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 3
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 2
2025
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 1
2025
NJPW Purge Night of Torture
2025
NJPW New Japan Road in Anjo 2025
2025
NJPW Hiroshi Tanahashi ~ Final Homecoming
2025
NJPW New Japan Road in Ishikari 2025
2025
NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2025
2025
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 4
2025
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 3
2025
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 2
2025
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 1
2025
NJPW Destruction In Kobe 2025
2025
NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVI
2025
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 19 (Final)
2025
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 18
2025
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 17
2025