Takaaki Watanabe
Acting
Biography
Takaaki Watanabe, better known by his ring name EVIL, is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for his long tenure in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he debuted as a Young Lion in 2011 and later became the leader of House of Torture. During his run, he captured multiple titles including 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.
Born: January 26, 1987
Place of Birth: Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Known For
NJPW Tag League Finals 2015
The World Tag League is a professional wrestling round-robin tag team tournament held by New Japan Pro Wrestling as a spin-off of the popular singles tournament, the G1 Climax. It was created in 1991 as the Super Grade Tag League, as a continuation of a regular tag team tournament held since 1980, gaining the name G1 Tag League in 1999. In 2012, New Japan's new owners, the Bushiroad company, renamed the tournament to its current form. The winners of the tournament, assuming they do not already hold the belts, obtain #1 contendership to the IWGP Tag Team Championship. The World Tag League is held under a points system, with 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. The current format, introduced in 2006, is essentially identical to that of the G1 Climax, with the top two scoring teams from two blocks of five or six advancing to the semifinals, and the winners of those matches battling in the final.
ROH: Best In The World
Ring of Honor’s Best in the World pay-per-view last night was from just outside Baltimore in the UMBC Event Center.
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 19 (Final)
The nineteenth and final night of the tournament took place on August 12, 2019 at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, and featured the match to crown the winner of G1 Climax 29.
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 17
The seventeenth night of the 29th edition of the G1 Climax featuring the final A Block matches. Taking place at the Nippon Budokan arena in Tokyo, the show is headlined by Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi.
NJPW Sakura Genesis 2017
Sakura Genesis 2017 was a New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) event held on April 9, 2017, at Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan, headlined by Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
NJPW New Japan Soul 2025 - Day 8
The eighth night of New Japan Soul 2025 took place July 4, 2025 at Tokyo Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.
NJPW G1 Climax 35: Day 13
The thirteenth night of the tournament took place on August 7, 2025 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVI
Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVI was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and organized by Yuji Nagata. Held on September 7, 2025, at Togane Arena in Togane, Chiba, Japan, the annual Blue Justice show served as Nagata’s hometown charity event. The main event featured Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yuji Nagata in what was billed as Tanahashi’s “Final Road” match—Tanahashi’s mentor versus his longtime protégé. The match carried added significance as the 18th and final singles encounter between the two, closing the book on one of NJPW’s defining rivalries that began with their first clash on January 24, 2002, when a young Tanahashi challenged Nagata in a bout that helped launch his rise to stardom.
NJPW Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall
NJPW Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jō Hall was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) that took place on June 11, 2017, at Osaka-jō Hall in Osaka, Japan, and was headlined by Kenny Omega (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 7
The seventh night of G1 Climax 29 took place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, on July 20, 2019, and was headlined by Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay.
Filmography
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