Update on WWE’s Nox Raijin name after EVIL revealed as Naraku
An update is available regarding WWE trademarking the name Nox Raijin.
In the days leading up to former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion EVIL debuting in NXT, reports surfaced that he would go by the name Nox Raijin, which WWE filed to trademark on April 28, the same day EVIL debuted on NXT and confronted Tony D’Angelo.
On the May 5, 2026 edition of NXT, it was revealed that EVIL will use the name Naraku.
In his report on Tuesday’s show, our own Bryan Alvarez wrote that EVIL not going by Nox Raijin was not a swerve, and that somebody else will use the Nox Raijin name, just not EVIL.
Alvarez wrote about EVIL being revealed as Naraku instead of Nox Raijin:
“This was weird because I and several others were told he was going to be NOX RAIJIN. Whatever happened, that name wasn’t a swerve, someone is going to be Nox, just not EVIL.”
Alvarez’s full report on Tuesday’s show is available here for subscribers.
Naraku did not appear live on the May 5 episode of NXT, but a vignette aired with him explaining to Tony D’Angelo that he wants a shot at his NXT Championship.
Ian Carey is the editing manager at F4WOnline and a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His work has appeared in award-winning publications including NOW Magazine and The Huffington Post. He joined the F4WOnline team in 2019 and moved into the editing manager role in the summer of 2026. Born in Calgary, Alberta, Ian has covered professional wrestling for more than 15 years.