Takaaki Watanabe
Multiple people share this name — showing the most well-known match (Acting).
Acting · Born 1987-01-26 · age 39 · Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
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.
Titles
WWE NXT
NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 16
NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 17
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13
New Japan Pro Wrestling
Ring of Honor Wrestling
NXT The Great American Bash 2026
NJPW Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 5
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 6
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 7
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 3
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 1
NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2025
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11
NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall
NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 1
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 4
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 9
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 2
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 11
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 13
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 15
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2026
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 8
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 12
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 18
NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 2
NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 13
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2022
ROH & NJPW: War of The Worlds - Toronto
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18
NJPW Sakura Genesis 2024
NJPW Tag League Finals 2015
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2016
NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2016
NJPW G1 Special in USA 2017 - Night 2
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2018
ROH: Best In The World
NJPW G1 Special In San Francisco
NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2017
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2019
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2017
RevPro & NJPW: Global Wars UK 2016 - Night 1
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2017
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 8
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 10
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 12
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 14
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 19 (Final)
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 17
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 18
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 16
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 2
NJPW Road To The New Beginning 2020 - Night 5
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15: Night 2
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19