Hiromu Takahashi’s name has begun circulating within WWE circles following the debut of his former Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemate Naraku, formerly known as EVIL, on NXT this week.
According to Bodyslam, word going around the WWE Performance Center is that Takahashi is expected to end up in WWE. A separate source added that some within the company believe Takahashi could use the name Nox Raijin, a trademark that was originally filed with the USPTO on April 28 and was initially intended as EVIL’s ring name before WWE made a last-minute switch to Naraku ahead of his NXT debut on Tuesday night.
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp previously reported that WWE internal materials still referred to the performer as Nox Raijin as recently as May 3, confirming the name change was a late decision. The existence of the Nox Raijin trademark now raises the possibility that it was always intended for a different performer entirely, with Takahashi being the most obvious candidate given his connection to Naraku and his expected WWE arrival.
Takahashi spent 16 years with NJPW after debuting in August 2010. He became a five-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a record four-time Best of Super Juniors tournament winner, claiming the prestigious tournament in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022. During a CMLL excursion, he competed under the name Kamaitachi and captured the CMLL World Lightweight Championship, adding an international dimension to a career that also included stints in Ring of Honor, AEW, and Pro Wrestling Noah before his 2026 departure from NJPW.
No official confirmation from WWE or Takahashi’s representatives has been issued at this time.