WWE may not have said his name on TV yet — but behind the scenes, there’s finally movement on what EVIL will be called.
After debuting on the April 28 episode of WWE NXT, the former NJPW star was kept intentionally vague on commentary and digital content, with WWE avoiding calling him “EVIL” outright. That led to questions about what his new identity would be. Now there’s an update.
According to Fightful Select, EVIL is currently listed internally under his real name, Takaaki Watanabe. That’s not expected to stick.
The bigger detail is that WWE filed a trademark on April 28 for the name “Nox Raijin,” and that name is reportedly intended for him moving forward. That lines up with how WWE handled his debut — no clear name, just a “mysterious” presence tied to Tony D’Angelo and the ongoing storyline. It also confirms what was already being discussed: a full repackaging.
EVIL spent 14 years in New Japan Pro-Wrestling before wrapping up with the company in January 2026. Now in WWE, it looks like the company is moving away from that identity entirely.
They just haven’t said it on TV yet. For now, internally he’s Takaaki Watanabe — but if the trademark holds, “Nox Raijin” could be the name fans hear very soon.
Do you think WWE should keep the EVIL name, or is “Nox Raijin” a better fit for a fresh start? Let us know your thoughts.