Hirooki Goto's longtime stablemate in BULLET CLUB's House of Torture faction is headed to WWE, and he will not be bringing his name with him. EVIL, who spent the last six years as one of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's signature heels, has signed with WWE and is set to debut under a rebranded identity. The name change was confirmed ahead of his arrival.
EVIL built his reputation in NJPW through a calculated heel run that leaned on darkness-themed presentation — blackout entrances, faction interference, and a theatrical atmosphere that the House of Torture faction made central to its identity. He held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and was a fixture at the top of NJPW's card through multiple G1 Climax tournaments. He is 41 years old.
The decision to rebrand him strips away the name but leaves open what else survives the transition. His gimmick was built around presentation as much as title reigns — the lighting, the faction dynamic, the theatrical entrance structure. Whether WWE retains any of that infrastructure or introduces him as a rebuilt character is not yet known. WWE has not announced a debut date or placement on its roster.
His path into the company also remains unresolved. A debut on Raw or SmackDown would signal that WWE intends to leverage his existing equity with the hardcore fanbase. A developmental placement would suggest a longer rebuild is planned.
The name change is confirmed. Everything else about how WWE intends to use him is still in front of us.
