Takaaki Watanabe
Acting
Born: 1987-01-26 in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
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.
Known For
WWE NXT
Naraku
WWE NXT
EVIL
WWE NXT
New Japan Pro Wrestling
EVIL
New Japan Pro Wrestling
Evil
World Wonder Ring Stardom
EVIL
Ring of Honor Wrestling
Takaaki Watanabe
NJPW New Japan Cup
EVIL
NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall 2018
Evil
NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall 2019
EVIL
NJPW Dominion 6.9 In Osaka-Jo Hall ~ Best of the Super Junior 31 Final ~ 2024
EVIL
NJPW Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall 2023
EVIL
NJPW Dominion 6.12 In Osaka-Jo Hall 2022
EVIL
NJPW Dominion 7.12 in Osaka-Jo Hall 2020
EVIL
NJPW Dominion 6.15 In Osaka-Jo Hall 2025
EVIL
NJPW Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall 2017
EVIL
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2026
EVIL
NJPW Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall 2016
EVIL
NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVII ~ Aoyi Transition ~
EVIL
NJPW New Japan Cup 2025 - Day 4
EVIL
NXT The Great American Bash 2026
Naraku
NJPW New Japan Cup 2021 - Day 6
EVIL
NJPW Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall 2021
EVIL
NJPW Best of the Super Junior 23 - Day 14 (Final)
EVIL
NJPW New Japan Cup 2021 - Day 13 (Final)
EVIL
NJPW New Japan Cup 2022 - Day 12
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 26: Day 12
EVIL
NJPW New Japan Cup 2025 - Day 1
EVIL
NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 2
EVIL
NJPW New Japan Cup 2022 - Day 15 (Final)
EVIL
NJPW Battle Autumn 2022 - Day 16
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 12
EVIL
NJPW New Japan Cup 2022 - Day 5
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 26: Day 15
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 26: Day 9
EVIL
NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2016
EVIL
NJPW New Japan Cup 2025 - Day 2
EVIL
NJPW New Years Golden Series 2022 - Day 2
EVIL
ROH & NJPW: War of the Worlds 2017 - Day 3
EVIL
NJPW New Japan Cup 2022 - Day 9
EVIL