Takaaki Watanabe

Takaaki Watanabe

1/26/1987 (39 years old)Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

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 (436 titles)

NXT The Great American Bash 20266.3Movie

NXT The Great American Bash 2026

Naraku · 2026

Jônetsu Tairiku : Iyo SkyMovie

Jônetsu Tairiku : Iyo Sky

Self · 2026

NJPW Road to The New Beginning 2026 - Day 25.0Movie

NJPW Road to The New Beginning 2026 - Day 2

EVIL · 2026

NJPW Road to The New Beginning 2026 - Day 16.0Movie

NJPW Road to The New Beginning 2026 - Day 1

EVIL · 2026

NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVII ~ Aoyi Transition ~4.0Movie

NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVII ~ Aoyi Transition ~

EVIL · 2026

NJPW New Year Dash !! 20267.0Movie

NJPW New Year Dash !! 2026

EVIL · 2026

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 208.0Movie

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20

EVIL · 2026

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 3Movie

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 3

EVIL · 2025

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 2Movie

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 2

EVIL · 2025

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 1Movie

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 1

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 17 (Final)Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 17 (Final)

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 16Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 16

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 15Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 15

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 14Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 14

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 13Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 13

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 12Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 12

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 11Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 11

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 10Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 10

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 9Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 9

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 8Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 8

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 7Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 7

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 6Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 6

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 5Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 5

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 4Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 4

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 3Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 3

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 2Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 2

EVIL · 2025

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 1Movie

NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 1

EVIL · 2025

NJPW Purge Night of TortureMovie

NJPW Purge Night of Torture

EVIL · 2025

NJPW New Japan Road in Anjo 2025Movie

NJPW New Japan Road in Anjo 2025

EVIL · 2025

NJPW Hiroshi Tanahashi ~ Final HomecomingMovie

NJPW Hiroshi Tanahashi ~ Final Homecoming

EVIL · 2025