12-Time Champion Expected To Join WWE; Potential New Name Revealed
After the recent mass release, WWE is reportedly set to sign a major name from Japan.
WWE recently released more than 20 names from the company – a TKO-driven payroll cut that wiped out names like Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, Kairi Sane, The Wyatt Sicks, and others. Following this, many NXT stars, including Sol Ruca, Fatal Influence, and Ethan Page, made their way to the main roster. Now, the developmental brand has started to see new talents make their debuts, including names like EVIL, Lizzy Rain, and Mason Rook.
It has now been noted that the sports entertainment juggernaut is looking to sign a 12-time champion, Hiromu Takahashi.
WWE reportedly close to signing the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion to NXT
Hiromu Takahashi departed NJPW on February 11, 2026, following a 16-year tenure. His final match at The New Beginning in Osaka, where he teamed with Taiji Ishimori against Francesco Akira and Jakob Austin Young, marked the end of a run that included five IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship reigns, a NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship reign, and one IWGP Tag Team Championship alongside Tetsuya Naito.
According to Bodyslam, word circulating inside the WWE Performance Center is that Takahashi is expected to sign with the company. A separate source added that some within WWE believe he will be assigned the Nox Raijin name that went unused for Naraku.
The word going around the Performance Center is Hiromu Takahashi is expected to end up in WWE.
Another source indicated that some believe that Takahashi will be using the Nox Raijin name.
– @BodyslamNetpic.twitter.com/y5fOu4ATrU
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) May 6, 2026
Takahashi remains a major name to watch for a potential WWE signing in the near future. NXT has already signed EVIL, who departed NJPW in January 2026 after more than a decade with the promotion, and his WWE signing was confirmed by PWInsider in late April. EVIL debuted on the April 28 episode of NXT by confronting NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo.
WWE filed a trademark for the name “Nox Raijin” on the same day as EVIL’s debut, but Fightful Select confirmed that internal materials had listed EVIL under that name as recently as that Sunday – meaning the switch to his confirmed identity of Naraku was a last-minute decision made ahead of the May 5 NXT reveal.
A possible NXT reunion of former Los Ingobernables de Japón members Takahashi and Naraku would bring historic significance to any program WWE develops featuring them.
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