Takaaki Watanabe
Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Gender
Birthday
Popularity
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.
Movie Credits
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome: Night 2
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2023 - Day 1
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2023 - Day 2
NJPW 51st Anniversary Event & New Japan Cup 2023: Day 2
NJPW The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 - Night 2
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2024 - Day 1
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2024 - Day 2
NJPW Dominion 6.9 In Osaka-Jo Hall ~ Best of the Super Junior 31 Final ~ 2024
NJPW Best of the Super Junior 23 - Day 14 (Final)
NJPW Power Struggle ~ Super Junior Tag League 2019
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2018 - Day 1
NJPW 52nd Anniversary Event & New Japan Cup 2024 - Day 1
NJPW Shingo Takagi's 20th Debut Anniversary Event
NJPW Power Struggle 2018 ~ Super Junior Tag League 2018 Final
NJPW Best of the Super Junior 26 - Day 15 (Final)
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2020 - Day 2
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2020 - Day 1
NJPW The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 - Night 1
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome: Night 1
NJPW Wrestling Life 40th Anniversary Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XIV
NJPW Power Struggle ~ Super Junior Tag League 2024
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2019 - Day 1
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2019 - Day 2
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 1
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 2
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 3
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 4
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2018 - Day 2
ROH & NJPW & RPW & CMLL: War of the Worlds UK - Day 1
ROH & NJPW & RPW & CMLL: War of the Worlds UK - Day 2
ROH & NJPW & RPW & CMLL: War of the Worlds UK - Day 3
NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVII ~ Aoyi Transition ~
