標籤: Brand

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.

Carmelo Hayes has spoken out about WWE NXT fans, saying that the crowd that helped make him one of the brand’s top stars is ultimately loyal to no one.

Speaking on the Battleground Podcast, Hayes reflected on his time in NXT from 2021 to 2024 and gave an unfiltered perspective on the nature of that audience and what it takes to survive in that environment.

“That crowd is still the same today,” Hayes said. “They’re never yours. They’re hot right now, and I knew it and I understood it and it was one of those things where I even did a promo with Trick Williams where it’s like they love you and then when the next guy’s turn comes, they’ll switch on you, and it’s true. That crowd, they’ll build you up but they’ll also break you down.”

During his NXT run, Hayes built one of the most decorated resumes in the recent history of the brand. He won the NXT Breakout Tournament in 2021, captured the NXT Cruiserweight Championship – becoming the last holder of that title – and held the NXT North American Championship twice before winning the NXT Championship. Despite that level of success, Hayes was clear-eyed about crowd loyalty throughout.

The reference to Trick Williams is particularly notable and will be remembered by longtime NXT fans. Hayes and Williams were closely associated during their NXT run, with their partnership and eventual rivalry becoming one of the brand’s best storylines. Hayes saw firsthand how the NXT crowd changed their love, which gave him an understanding of how quickly audiences can move on.

Hayes has been on the main roster as a member of the SmackDown brand since April 2024. He recently completed a run as United States champion. As for Williams, he has been a bright spot on the SmackDown roster and will challenge Sami Zayn for the US Title at WrestleMania.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren reflected on his first All-Star Game during postgame media availability. Holmgren discussed the competitiveness of the NBA’s new USA vs. World format. Chet played for the USA Stars team, which defeated the USA Stripes 47–21 in the final.

Holmgren talked about his first All-Star Game during media availability after the game.

Holmgren said, “I thought it was good. I thought everybody out there was playing a good brand of basketball.” “It felt like, I guess you would say, a pick-up game, and when there’s that level of talent on the field, it’s always fun, it’s always good.”

He also talked about the ring he received for his All-Star selection, which was unexpected for Holmgren.

Holmgren said, “It was pretty cool. I didn’t know you could get an All-Star ring until I got it.” “So, it was pretty cool. It comes with a little box with a little video in it. It’s too bad, but I think I like our ring from last year a little more.”

The Thunder forward took a moment to appreciate the special career milestone of his first All-Star Game.

“I definitely tried to take a moment during pictures yesterday and then warming up and playing the game today and think what a great opportunity this is,” Holmgren said. “I felt like I was beautiful most of the time. Just taking it all in.”

Chet Holmgren on his All-Star leap with the Thunder

While fourth-year forward Jalen Williams made his All-Star case for the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, most would agree that it was a no-brainer. Ahead of his first All-Star appearance on Sunday, Holmgren discussed the work he’s done leading to arguably the best season of his career.

“I would call that all work that’s not in the game,” Holmgren said. “It’s the preparation before games, the morning shoots, the work over the summer; all the stuff that no one sees – the rehab from injuries. If you didn’t do it, no one would know about it. But at the end of the day, once you get on the court, it’s right there in the air.”

Holmgren is averaging career bests in points per game (17.4), field-goal percentage (56%), and rebounds (8.7).

新奧爾良鵜鶘隊目前以 11 勝 36 負的戰績排名 NBA 西部聯盟墊底，在經歷了過去幾個賽季的失望之後，他們可能正在尋求另一次重建。球隊球星錫安·威廉姆森一直在竭盡全力幫助新奧爾良重新獲得籃球地位，但在宣布他的喬丹品牌簽名系列即將結束後，他的旅程可能會有所不同。

查看我們的運動鞋新聞，了解更多即將發布的產品和重大內容！

鵜鶘隊的錫安·威廉姆森於 2019 年進入 NBA 期間首次與 Jordan Brand 簽署了多年代言協議，包括最終在 2021 年晚些時候發布了他的簽名款 Jordan Zion 1 運動鞋。此後，Jordan Brand 和威廉姆森又發布了四款同名簽名鞋款，加入了湖人隊的盧卡·東契奇和凱爾特人隊的傑森·塔圖姆等現有簽名系列。

然而，威廉姆森在 2024-25 賽季只打了 30 場比賽，這是他職業生涯常規賽打了 30 場或更少的第三個賽季。此外，他在場外也陷入了許多爭議，這可能會對喬丹品牌續約的決定產生影響。

錫安·威廉姆森和喬丹品牌分道揚鑣

突發新聞：據 Sole Retriever 消息人士證實，Zion Williamson 與 Jordan Brand 的簽名系列即將結束。 ✍️✍️ pic.twitter.com/cCFaG4lzqV

— 鰨魚 (@SoleRetriever) 2026 年 1 月 24 日

據報導，錫安·威廉姆森 (Zion Williamson) 與 Jordan Brand 的簽名鞋系列即將結束 @SoleRetriever。

他的合同將於今年晚些時候到期，潛在的運動鞋自由球員？ 👀 pic.twitter.com/FPVV4HB01p

— 軍團籃球 (@LegionHoops) 2026 年 1 月 24 日

在 SoleRetriever 獲得的一份初步報告中，Jordan Brand 在本賽季結束後將不會更新 Zion Williamson 的簽名系列，從而結束他與 Zion 4 的合作。 Williamson 仍將是 Jordan Brand 的運動員，但如果其他選擇出現，他可能會尋求其他選擇。對於可以說是自勒布朗·詹姆斯以來進入 NBA 的最受關注的新秀來說，任何品牌都會認為自己的陣容中擁有這樣的天才是幸運的。然而，許多人擔心威廉姆森的黃金窗口很快就會關閉，因為他的天賦尚未轉化為球隊的成功。

Jordan Brand 將繼續完成最新款 Jordan Zion 4 的發售，但這對 Williamson 來說無疑是一個有趣的休賽期，因為他可能會開始尋找新的鞋履買家。

您認為威廉姆森接下來會與哪個品牌簽約？