According to a report from PWInsider, per confirmation from numerous sources, former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL has signed a contract with WWE. He revealed back on January 25 that he was not renewing his deal with NJPW.
The 39-year Japanese star made his debut with NJPW back in 2011. He has been part of the Los Ingobernables de Japón and Bullet Club factions. In the United States, he has wrestled for Ring of Honor and Jeff Jarrett’s defunct Global Force Wrestling. It was reported that at one point EVIL was engaged to WWE Superstar IYO SKY. However, it is unclear if the two are still together.
The report also notes the expectation is that EVIL (real name Takaaki Watanabe), will not keep his in-ring name in WWE.
In addition to the IWGP World Championship, EVIL is also a former IWGP Intercontinental Champion, a multi-time IWGP NEVER Openweight Champion, a multiple IWGP World Tag Team Champion and has held the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Titles six times.