EVIL’s Internal WWE Status Revealed
EVIL has signed with WWE, but the company has not yet figured out what to do with him.
Following confirmation that the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion had signed with WWE after his January departure from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, a new update from PWInsider reveals that EVIL has not been assigned to any brand and is currently sitting in an unusual internal category.
"Former IWGP Champion EVIL has not been officially assigned to any WWE brand and is listed internally on the company's 'Misc.' roster, which is also where legends and injured talents reside internally," PWInsider reports.
The holding category suggests WWE has not yet finalized creative plans for introducing him, even though the signing itself has already been confirmed by multiple overseas sources. PWInsider also notes that WWE has not publicly acknowledged his arrival, keeping his status quiet despite the news having circulated.
The situation is further complicated by the expectation that EVIL will not be using his current ring name once he appears on WWE programming. As PWInsider previously noted, sources in Japan believe a name change is coming, which would point toward a full character repackage whenever his debut ultimately arrives.
Whether WWE introduces him through NXT to rebuild his character or rolls him directly onto Raw or SmackDown under a new identity has not been determined. For now, his spot on the Misc. roster suggests the company is still working through that decision.
