Author: John Bass

Former NJPW Champion EVIL Set For Name Change Following WWE NXT Debut

Former NJPW star EVIL officially arrived in WWE NXT last week, and a new backstage report may have revealed the identity he’ll be using going forward.

During last Tuesday’s episode of “WWE NXT,” Tony D’Angelo finally came face-to-face with the person behind the mysterious box that had been teasing his arrival. A hooded figure emerged through the smoke and lighting effects before stepping into the ring and confronting the reigning NXT Champion. The man handed D’Angelo a shirt featuring the same Japanese symbol that had appeared on the package before dramatically removing his hood.

The reveal confirmed that the longtime NJPW standout known as EVIL had made his WWE debut.

Commentary quickly acknowledged the significance of the moment, with Vic Joseph referencing EVIL’s past as a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion. However, WWE stopped short of identifying him by a new ring name during the segment, leading to speculation about what he would be called in NXT.

That speculation intensified after a trademark filing surfaced on April 28 for the name “Nox Raijin.” According to a new report from Fightful Select, WWE internally lists the former NJPW star under his real name, Takaaki Watanabe, but the company is expected to use Nox Raijin as his official on-screen name moving forward.

The reported name appears to fit the dark presentation EVIL became known for during his run in Japan. In Japanese mythology, Raijin is recognized as the god of thunder, lightning, and storms, while “Nox” is commonly associated with darkness or night. The combination lines up closely with the ominous character work EVIL used throughout his NJPW career.

Before departing NJPW earlier this year, EVIL spent roughly 14 years with the promotion and built an accomplished résumé. Along with capturing the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, he also held the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, NEVER Openweight Championship, and multiple IWGP Six-Man Tag Team Championships.

He was also the founder and leader of House of Torture, the controversial faction created after his shocking betrayal of Los Ingobernables de Japon several years ago.

With his WWE arrival now official, it appears only a matter of time before Nox Raijin begins making a major impact on the NXT roster.

WWE Raw Preview 5/4/2026

WWE raw live tonight at 8/7c on Netflix from the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska

  • Oba Femi open challenge
  • Je’Von Evans & Penta vs. Rusev & Ethan Page
  • Finn Balor vs. JD McDonagh
  • Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu sign the contract for their World Heavyweight Title match at WWE Backlash
  • Asuka and IYO SKY face to face
  • Sol Ruca signs with Raw

John Cena Announces Major Appearance at WWE Backlash, Teases “History-Making” News

John Cena has officially confirmed that he will be appearing at this Saturday’s WWE Backlash event in Tampa, Florida — and according to the Undisputed WWE Champion, he plans to make a major announcement.

Taking to X on Monday, Cena revealed that he will be live at Backlash inside Benchmark Arena and teased that he’ll be delivering “history-making” news during the show.

While keeping the details under wraps, Cena hinted that whatever is planned could have a significant impact on both WWE talent and fans moving forward.

“I can’t promise it will be perfect,” Cena wrote, “but I can promise it will change the WWE experience for Superstars and fans.”

This latest tease follows a message Cena posted on April 23, where he told fans he was still planning to do “something epic” in Tampa on May 9. At the time, he specifically referenced Club WWE and encouraged fans to stay tuned for further updates.

Speculation surrounding Cena’s involvement grew over the weekend after the venue began advertising him for the premium live event.

WWE Backlash will stream live this Saturday, with the event airing on ESPN Unlimited in the United States and on Netflix internationally. WWE also announced that the first hour of the show will be available free on ESPN 2 for U.S. viewers.

The event is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT.

News on WWE Releases of JC Mateo and Tonga Loa

More details have emerged regarding the WWE departures of JC Mateo and Tonga Loa following reports that both stars are no longer with the company.

According to PWInsider, the exits of Mateo and Loa are officially being handled as roster cuts and releases rather than mutual departures. The report also notes that, as of now, these are expected to be the only WWE roster exits scheduled for today.

Both men had recently been featured as part of Solo Sikoa’s MFT faction on WWE programming. JC Mateo joined WWE last year and quickly became involved in the group alongside Solo, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa. Meanwhile, Loa had returned to WWE in 2024 after previously competing for the company years earlier.

Mateo’s final WWE match came shortly after WrestleMania 42 on an episode of Friday Night SmackDown. Teaming with Tama Tonga, he challenged Damian Priest and R-Truth for the WWE Tag Team Championships but came up short in the title match.

Tonga Loa last competed on the RAW episode leading into WrestleMania 42, where he teamed with Mateo and Solo Sikoa in tag team action.

The two stars also made what now appears to be their final WWE television appearance on the April 24 edition of SmackDown. During the segment, Jacob Fatu attacked both Mateo and Loa after defeating Solo Sikoa, further escalating tensions within the MFT storyline.

There is currently no word on what is next for either performer following their WWE departures.

Backstage Details Emerge on Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods’ Shocking WWE Departures

More information has surfaced regarding the surprising exits of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods from WWE, with a new report shedding light on how the departures came together and the reaction behind the scenes.

According to Fightful, both members of The New Day were released from WWE through a mutual agreement with the company. The report states that the paperwork was finalized last week and that Kingston and Woods are expected to remain under WWE’s standard 90-day non-compete clause before they are able to appear elsewhere.

The news reportedly caught many within WWE completely off guard. Several talents were said to be stunned by the departures, especially in Kingston’s case. Internally, many viewed the former WWE Champion as someone who would spend his entire career with the company, making his exit particularly shocking to those backstage.

The situation has also reportedly sparked concern among WWE talent, with some now believing that no performer is truly safe from roster cuts or releases under the current system.

Fightful further noted that the departures are connected to larger financial directives from TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company. Sources claim WWE has been instructed to reduce payroll expenses by millions of dollars, leading to difficult roster decisions involving high-earning talent.

Kingston and Woods reportedly signed lucrative new contracts in 2025 that paid both stars in the seven-figure range. Those deals were believed to run through 2030, which made the decision to part ways with the duo even more unexpected.

With their WWE exits now official, interest in the pair is already said to be strong across the wrestling industry. AEW is reportedly expected to pursue both talents once their non-compete periods expire.

The report also indicates that Kingston is likely to continue using the name “Kofi” moving forward. Woods, however, will not be able to use the “Xavier Woods” ring name since it is trademarked by WWE. Instead, he is expected to revert to “Austin Creed,” the name he previously used during his run in TNA Wrestling.

Additionally, WWE owns the rights to “The New Day” name and presentation, meaning the popular faction branding cannot follow the duo to another promotion.

AEW’s Rebel Shares Heartbreaking Terminal ALS Diagnosis After Lengthy Health Battle

AEW personality Rebel has shared a devastating update regarding her health, revealing that she has been diagnosed with terminal ALS following a difficult two-year medical journey.

The former on-screen manager, whose real name is Tanea Brooks, posted an emotional video to social media on Friday where she opened up about the struggles she has faced while searching for answers about her declining condition. In the video, Rebel spoke candidly about the uncertainty surrounding her health issues and the emotional impact of finally receiving a diagnosis.

According to Rebel, her medical problems began in 2024 after doctors discovered a mass in her lung. Since then, she has undergone extensive testing and treatment, including surgery in 2025, while physicians attempted to determine the cause of symptoms that progressively affected her ability to walk and speak.

Addressing fans directly, Rebel thanked supporters for standing by her throughout the ordeal.

“First, I want to say thank you for all your prayers, because for those who know, I spent a two-year medical journey trying to find out what is wrong,” Rebel said in the video. “And finally, our prayers have been answered. The thing is, sometimes we don’t want to hear the answer to our prayers.”

She explained that the diagnosis came while she was preparing for lung surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Doctors ultimately informed her that she is battling ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurological disease that impacts nerve cells controlling muscle movement.

“The doctors have diagnosed me with terminal ALS,” Rebel revealed. “There is not a lot of research behind ALS, and we don’t know how long I have, but it explains why I have trouble walking and talking, and all my functions will soon decline.”

Even while sharing the difficult news, Rebel made sure to acknowledge the support she has received from AEW throughout the process. She specifically praised AEW President Tony Khan and the company for helping her during her ongoing medical care.

“I wanna say thank you to Tony Khan and AEW for supporting me on this medical journey,” she said. “It has been a blessing that is unheard of.”

Rebel has been part of AEW programming since the company’s early years and became well known to fans through her association with Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. Her announcement quickly led to an outpouring of support from fans and members of the wrestling industry across social media.

WrestlingNewsBlog.com sends their thoughts and support to Rebel and her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

AEW Collision Preview 5/2/2026

AEW Collision live tonight at 8/7c on TNT and HBO Max in Peoria, IL.

  • 10-Man Tag: Death Riders & The Dogs vs. Top Flight & The Rascalz
  • TNT Championship: Kevin Knight (c) vs. Hook
  • AEW National Championship: Jungle Jack Perry (c) vs. Mascara Dorada
  • TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Anna Jay
  • Bang Bang Gang vs. Death Riders

WWE SmackDown Preview 5/1/2026

WWE SmackDown live tonight on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix international from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will open the show
  • Ricky Saints main roster debut
  • Jayce Jayne vs. Charlotte Flair

Backstage Talk Emerges About WWE’s Reported Shift Away From Supernatural Characters

WWE’s recent wave of roster cuts has sparked plenty of discussion among fans, but one particular backstage rumor is now gaining attention regarding the company’s creative direction under TKO Group Holdings.

According to a report from PWInsider, there has been internal speculation within WWE that certain decision-makers connected to TKO may not be especially interested in darker or supernatural-style wrestling characters. While nothing has been officially confirmed, that belief has reportedly become a talking point backstage following several surprising departures.

Among the names being linked to that theory are The Wyatt Sicks, Aleister Black, and Zelina Vega. Fans immediately questioned the release of The Wyatt Sicks due to the group’s strong connection to Bray Wyatt’s legacy and WWE’s continued emphasis on cinematic storytelling in recent years.

Aleister Black has also long been associated with darker presentation and occult-inspired character work, making his release another example some within the company are pointing toward when discussing the rumored shift in philosophy.

The report further notes that one person even referenced The Undertaker’s recent WWE appearances, suggesting that his increased use of the “American Badass” persona instead of the supernatural “Deadman” character may align with this broader creative preference.

Of course, it’s important to note that these discussions are currently speculation and have not been publicly addressed by WWE or TKO executives. WWE roster decisions are typically influenced by multiple factors, including creative plans, budget considerations, and long-term branding strategies.

Still, the conversation has fueled debate among wrestling fans about whether WWE could be moving away from some of the supernatural elements that have been part of the company’s identity for decades.

For now, the reported backstage chatter remains just that — internal speculation — but it has certainly added another layer to the discussion surrounding WWE’s latest releases.

TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! Preview 4/30/2026

TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! tonight at 9/8c on AMC.

  • Walk With Elijah Match: Elijah vs. Frankie Kazarian
  • TNA International Championship: Mustafa Ali (c) vs. Adam Brooks
  • Allie, Rosemary, and Mara Sadé vs. Tessa Blanchard, Victoria Crawford, and Mila Moore
  • Jeff Hardy vs. Vincent
  • Mr. Elegance vs. The Home Town Man
  • We’ll hear from Leon Slater