Known For
Acting
Born
Jan 26, 1987
Place of Birth
Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Credits
436 titles
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.
Known For
Filmography
NXT The Great American Bash 2026
Naraku
Jônetsu Tairiku : Iyo Sky
Self
NJPW Road to The New Beginning 2026 - Day 2
EVIL
NJPW Road to The New Beginning 2026 - Day 1
EVIL
NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVII ~ Aoyi Transition ~
EVIL
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2026
EVIL
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20
EVIL
NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 3
EVIL
NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 2
EVIL
NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 1
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 17 (Final)
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 16
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 15
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 14
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 13
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 12
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 11
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 10
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 9
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 8
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 7
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 6
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 5
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 4
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 3
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 2
EVIL
NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 1
EVIL
NJPW Purge Night of Torture
EVIL
NJPW New Japan Road in Anjo 2025
EVIL
NJPW Hiroshi Tanahashi ~ Final Homecoming
EVIL
NJPW New Japan Road in Ishikari 2025
EVIL
NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2025
EVIL
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 4
EVIL
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 3
EVIL
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 2
EVIL
NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 1
EVIL
NJPW Destruction In Kobe 2025
EVIL
NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVI
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 19 (Final)
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 18
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 17
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 16
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 15
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 14
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 13
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 12
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 11
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 10
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 9
EVIL
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 8
EVIL