While WWE has signed former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL, the company has yet to determine where he fits into its programming. According to PWInsider, EVIL is currently listed internally on the company's diverse roster rather than being associated with Raw, SmackDown or NXT, placing him in the same internal category as veterans and injured talent while WWE figures out its plans for him.
PWInsider reported: "Former IWGP Champion EVIL is not officially assigned to any WWE brand and is listed internally on the company's 'Miscellaneous' roster, where legends and injured talent reside internally.
The Miscellaneous listing reveals that, despite the signing being confirmed, creative plans to introduce EVIL to WWE audiences have not yet been finalized. Adding to the uncertainty, WWE has not publicly acknowledged the signing at all, keeping his arrival a secret, while reports from sources in Japan have confirmed that the deal has been completed.
The signing was first confirmed after months of speculation following EVIL's departure from NJPW in January. PWInsider confirmed at the time: "World Wrestling Entertainment has signed former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources in Japan. While rumors have been circulating about his appointment for months, PWInsider.com can confirm that he has signed and sealed a contract with WWE."
The mystery surrounding his debut is further heightened as the expectation in Japan is that he will not use the EVIL ring name once he appears on WWE programming. A name change of that nature usually signals a character repackage, which may be part of why WWE is taking its time before assigning him to a specific show. Whether that debut comes as a way to relaunch his character in NXT, or directly under a new identity on Raw or SmackDown, remains to be seen.
EVIL, whose real name is Takaaki Watanabe, became a top star in NJPW in 2020 when he betrayed Los Ingobernables de Japon to team up with Bullet Club and defeated Tetsuya Naito to simultaneously hold both the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships. He is the partner of WWE's IYO SKY.
