WWE Rumor Opens Door to Debut of Former NJPW Main Eventer on NXT TONIGHT

Former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL could be making his WWE debut very soon.

Sources have indicated to Bodyslam that EVIL is expected to debut imminently following his recent signing with the company, with tonight’s NXT emerging as a possibility, given the ongoing mystery storyline currently playing out on the brand.

PWInsider first confirmed the signing last week, noting that WWE had not yet publicly acknowledged the deal. A follow-up report from PWInsider also revealed that EVIL is currently listed internally on WWE’s miscellaneous roster — the same category used for legends and injured talent — suggesting the company had not yet finalized which brand he would be assigned to. That picture may be about to change.

So where could EVIL fit in? The NXT connection stems from last week’s episode of the brand, during which Tony D’Angelo was presented with a box bearing the Japanese kanji for “war.” The delivery immediately sparked speculation that EVIL could be behind it, with many fans and observers pointing to the obvious parallels between the cryptic package and his arrival in WWE.

Others have suggested the sender could be Ulka Sasaki of Pro Wrestling NOAH, who is currently on excursion in NXT. No confirmation of either theory has been provided, but the timing of Bodyslam’s imminent debut report adds fuel to the EVIL speculation heading into tonight’s show.

EVIL had a breakout moment in his career after betraying Los Ingobernables de Japón to align with Bullet Club in 2020. He went on to defeat Tetsuya Naito, simultaneously holding both the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships, a moment that marked a significant shift in NJPW’s storytelling at the time.

His overall resume includes one IWGP Heavyweight Championship reign, one IWGP Intercontinental Championship reign, four NEVER Openweight Championship reigns, two IWGP Tag Team Championship reigns, and six NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship reigns. He departed NJPW in January before his WWE signing was confirmed in late April. Japanese sources expect him to drop the EVIL ring name going forward, though WWE has not publicly confirmed a new one.