EVIL to Depart NJPW for WWE

Former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion EVIL has given notice to New Japan Pro-Wrestling and is expected to join WWE, according to multiple reports in the wrestling industry. The 38-year-old wrestler, a longtime fixture in NJPW, appears set to depart the promotion after a career spanning over a decade, with his exit signaling a potential shift in the company's roster.

Reports emerged this week confirming that EVIL formally notified NJPW of his intentions to leave. On Wrestling Observer Live, journalist Bryan Alvarez stated, "EVIL might be on his way out of New Japan, and it is strongly rumored that he is on his way to WWE." Similar confirmation came from the Super J-Cast, which noted the House of Torture leader's decision and anticipated destination. EVIL's tenure with NJPW has been marked by consistent performances as a top heel, but recent developments suggest he is pursuing opportunities abroad.

EVIL's most recent high-profile match came at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4 at the Tokyo Dome, where he lost the NEVER Openweight Championship to Aaron Wolf. Wolf, a 2020 Olympic gold medalist in judo making his professional wrestling debut, defeated EVIL via submission with a...