Takaaki Watanabe

Person

Takaaki Watanabe

Acting 39 January 26, 1987

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…

IMDb

Known for

Popular titles

WWE NXT

WWE NXT

6.7 2010 TV Show
New Japan Pro Wrestling

New Japan Pro Wrestling

8.0 1972 TV Show
World Wonder Ring Stardom

World Wonder Ring Stardom

8.7 2011 TV Show
Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor Wrestling

6.4 2009 TV Show
NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall 2019

NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall 2019

8.2 2019 Movie
NJPW New Japan Cup

NJPW New Japan Cup

2005 TV Show
NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall 2018

NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall 2018

8.5 2018 Movie
NJPW Dominion 7.12 in Osaka-Jo Hall 2020

NJPW Dominion 7.12 in Osaka-Jo Hall 2020

2020 Movie
NJPW Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall 2017

NJPW Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall 2017

9.7 2017 Movie
NJPW Dominion 6.9 In Osaka-Jo Hall ~ Best of the Super Junior 31 Final ~ 2024

NJPW Dominion 6.9 In Osaka-Jo Hall ~ Best of the Super Junior 31 Final ~ 2024

2024 Movie
NJPW Dominion 6.12 In Osaka-Jo Hall 2022

NJPW Dominion 6.12 In Osaka-Jo Hall 2022

9.0 2022 Movie
NJPW Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall 2021

NJPW Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall 2021

2021 Movie

Photos

More stills of Takaaki Watanabe

Biography

A closer look

Read full biography

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.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2026
    NXT The Great American Bash 2026

    Movie Naraku

  2. 2026
    Jônetsu Tairiku : Iyo Sky

    Movie Self

  3. 2026
    NJPW Road to The New Beginning 2026 - Day 2

    Movie EVIL

  4. 2026
    NJPW Road to The New Beginning 2026 - Day 1

    Movie EVIL

  5. 2026
    NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVII ~ Aoyi Transition ~

    Movie EVIL

  6. 2026
    NJPW New Year Dash !! 2026

    Movie EVIL

  7. 2026
    NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20

    Movie EVIL

  8. 2025
    NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 3

    Movie EVIL

  9. 2025
    NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 2

    Movie EVIL

  10. 2025
    NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome 2025 - Day 1

    Movie EVIL

  11. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 17 (Final)

    Movie EVIL

  12. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 16

    Movie EVIL

  13. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 15

    Movie EVIL

  14. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 14

    Movie EVIL

  15. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 13

    Movie EVIL

  16. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 12

    Movie EVIL

More credits
  1. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 11

    Movie EVIL

  2. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 10

    Movie EVIL

  3. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 9

    Movie EVIL

  4. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 8

    Movie EVIL

  5. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 7

    Movie EVIL

  6. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 6

    Movie EVIL

  7. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 5

    Movie EVIL

  8. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 4

    Movie EVIL

  9. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 3

    Movie EVIL

  10. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 2

    Movie EVIL

  11. 2025
    NJPW World Tag League 2025 - Day 1

    Movie EVIL

  12. 2025
    NJPW Purge Night of Torture

    Movie EVIL

  13. 2025
    NJPW New Japan Road in Anjo 2025

    Movie EVIL

  14. 2025
    NJPW Hiroshi Tanahashi ~ Final Homecoming

    Movie EVIL

  15. 2025
    NJPW New Japan Road in Ishikari 2025

    Movie EVIL

  16. 2025
    NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2025

    Movie EVIL

  17. 2025
    NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 4

    Movie EVIL

  18. 2025
    NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 3

    Movie EVIL

  19. 2025
    NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 2

    Movie EVIL

  20. 2025
    NJPW Road to King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 - Day 1

    Movie EVIL

  21. 2025
    NJPW Destruction In Kobe 2025

    Movie EVIL

  22. 2025
    NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVI

    Movie EVIL

  23. 2025
    NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 19 (Final)

    Movie EVIL

  24. 2025
    NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 18

    Movie EVIL