Hiromu Takahashi Makes WWE Debut, Gets New Name on WWE Smackdown

Hiromu Takahashi has arrived in WWE, appearing in a vignette on this week’s WWE Smackdown under his new name of Kyoki. Friday Night’s show featured a vignette in which Shinsuke Nakamura introduced the new partner that he previously said would becoming to help him take down the MFTs.

As has been heavily speculated, the partner ended up being Takahashi under the name of Kyoki. WWE filed a trademark application for the name in mid-July.

You can see the vignette from WWE Smackdown below. Takahashi has been expected to come to WWE since it was announced in February that he was leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling. He was with NJPW for 16 years and held a host of titles there including an IWGP Tag Team Championship run, five reigns with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, and a co-reign as NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions.

LISTEN UP, MFTS! 😤

Kyoki and @ShinsukeN have a message… pic.twitter.com/2kHpg6VVv0

— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2026