Takaaki Watanabe
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 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.
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Full filmography
- WWE NXT (2010) as Naraku
- WWE NXT (2010) as EVIL
- WWE NXT (2010)
- New Japan Pro Wrestling (1972) as EVIL
- Ring of Honor Wrestling (2009) as Takaaki Watanabe
- NJPW New Japan Cup (2005) as EVIL
- NJPW Best of the Super Junior 23 - Day 14 (Final) (2016) as EVIL
- NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 17 (Final) (2025) as EVIL
- NJPW New Years Golden Series 2022 - Day 14 (2022) as EVIL
- NJPW Best of the Super Junior 23 - Day 6 (2016) as EVIL
- NJPW Road To The New Beginning 2020 - Night 5 (2020) as EVIL
- NJPW Castle Attack 2021 - Day 2 (2021) as EVIL
- NJPW New Year Dash !! 2026 (2026) as EVIL
- NJPW Power Struggle 2016 (2016) as EVIL
- NJPW New Years Golden Series 2022 - Day 2 (2022) as EVIL
- NJPW New Year Dash !! 2016 (2016) as EVIL
- NJPW New Year Dash!! 2024 (2024) as EVIL
- NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 (2019) as EVIL
- NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2016 (2016) as EVIL
- NJPW Best of the Super Junior 26 - Day 15 (Final) (2019) as EVIL
- NJPW Destruction In Ryogoku 2023 (2023) as EVIL
- NJPW Battle Autumn 2022 - Day 16 (2022) as EVIL
- NJPW Destruction in Hiroshima 2017 (2017) as EVIL
- NJPW New Japan Cup 2021 - Day 5 (2021) as EVIL