Takaaki Watanabe
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.
Acting
TV
WWE NXT
as Naraku
2010
TV
WWE NXT
as EVIL
2010
TV
WWE NXT
2010
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 16
as EVIL
2023
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 17
as EVIL
2023
Movie
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12
as EVIL
2018
Movie
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13
as EVIL
2019
TV
New Japan Pro Wrestling
as EVIL
1972
TV
Ring of Honor Wrestling
as Takaaki Watanabe
2009
Movie
NJPW Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall
as EVIL
2017
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 5
as EVIL
2019
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 6
as EVIL
2019
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 7
as EVIL
2019
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 3
as EVIL
2019
Movie
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 1
as EVIL
2020
Movie
NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2025
as EVIL
2025
Movie
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20
as EVIL
2026
Movie
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11
as Evil
2017
Movie
NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall
as Evil
2018
Movie
NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall
as EVIL
2019
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 1
as EVIL
2019
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 4
as EVIL
2019
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 9
as EVIL
2019
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 2
as EVIL
2019