Andrew Ravens
One week after his NXT debut, the ring name that former NJPW star EVIL will use in WWE has been revealed. According to Fightful Select, the expectation is that he will be going by the name Nox Raijin in NXT. WWE filed a trademark for the name on April 28, the same day as his debut on the brand.
The “Raijin” portion of the name carries a specific meaning, referring to a Japanese god of thunder and lightning. It appears WWE is building a character around both his Japanese origins and the heel persona he developed during his NJPW run. EVIL is currently listed internally under his real name, Takaaki Watanabe, while the branding is finalized.
His debut on the April 28 episode of NXT saw him confront NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo without being referred to by name. Commentator Vic Joseph identified him as a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion and deliberately used the phrase “pure evil” during the segment.
The debut came after weeks of buildup in which D’Angelo received a mysterious gift bearing the Japanese symbol for war, a piece of foreshadowing that pointed directly to EVIL’s arrival.
EVIL departed NJPW in January after more than a decade with the promotion, during which he had served as the leader of the House of Torture stable and had previously been a member of Los Ingobernables de Japón. His signing was confirmed by PWInsider in late April.
Fightful Select’s report also noted that Hiromu Takahashi, another former LIJ member who finished up with NJPW in February, remains a name to watch in terms of a potential WWE signing down the line.
