NJPW Confirms EVIL’s Exit Ahead of Contract Expiration

EVIL is officially done with New Japan Pro-Wrestling—at least, as of the end of this month.

NJPW confirmed on January 25, 2026, that the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion will exit the company following the expiration of his contract, ending a storied tenure that included multiple title reigns and a run as the leader of HOUSE OF TORTURE.

In a public statement posted to their website, NJPW made the news official:

“After careful consideration and discussions with NJPW management, EVIL, who has been a long standing member of the NJPW roster, will leave New Japan Pro-Wrestling at the expiry of his contract at the end of January 2026.”

The company thanked fans and apologized for the sudden nature of the news, adding:

“We apologise to fans for the sudden nature of this announcement. New Japan Pro-Wrestling wishes EVIL the very best in his future activities.”

This update follows days of reports that EVIL had given his notice and was expected to sign with WWE. Bryan Alvarez discussed the situation on Wrestling Observer Live, while Super J-Cast also confirmed EVIL’s expected departure. The 38-year-old lost the NEVER Openweight Title to Aaron Wolf at Wrestle Kingdom 20 earlier this month—a move many saw as the writing on the wall.

EVIL’s departure could be part of a larger exodus from NJPW. Voices of Wrestling reported that Hiromu Takahashi may also be WWE-bound, while names like Gabe Kidd, David Finlay, and former tag partner Sanada have all either left or drawn outside interest.

EVIL’s legacy in NJPW includes holding the IWGP Heavyweight, Intercontinental, Tag Team (twice with Sanada), NEVER Openweight (four times), and NEVER Six-Man titles (six times). He also won the 2020 New Japan Cup and back-to-back World Tag League tournaments in 2017 and 2018 with Sanada.

With his time in Japan coming to a close, all eyes are now on what’s next—and if a WWE run is truly on deck.

Do you want to see EVIL show up in WWE, and how should they use him if he signs? Drop your thoughts below and let us know what you think of his NJPW run.