The former NJPW star EVIL has officially been rebranded as Naraku and is set to make his in‑ring debut on WWE NXT next Tuesday.
From Japan to WWE
EVIL wrapped up his NJPW run in January after dropping the NEVER Openweight Championship to Aaron Wolf at Wrestle Kingdom. His final match came the following night at New Year’s Dash in trios action, before NJPW confirmed he would not renew his contract — sparking speculation about his next move.
Confronting the Champion
That speculation ended last week when EVIL appeared on NXT to confront reigning champion Tony D’Angelo. At the time, he wasn’t introduced by name, leaving fans guessing. This week, WWE aired a vignette confirming his new identity as Naraku and making it clear he’s targeting D’Angelo’s title.
The Meaning of Naraku
The name “Naraku” translates to “Abyss” in Japanese. It’s also the name of a character from the Inuyasha manga series, though it’s unclear if WWE intended either reference. Some fans have speculated it could nod to Joseph Park — the TNA Hall of Famer once known as Abyss — who now works as a WWE producer.
Final Thought
EVIL’s transformation into Naraku signals WWE’s intent to give him a fresh identity as he steps into NXT. With his eyes already locked on Tony D’Angelo, fans can expect fireworks when Naraku makes his official debut next week.