Only 24 hours after the wrestling world lost Terry Funk…more tragedy befell us all. Triple H announced to the world that he’d received a phone call from Mike Rotunda (Irwin R. Schyster) that his son Windham Rotunda – famously known as Bray Wyatt – had died from a heart attack at the age of 36.
Like the rest of the world, all of us at SmarkDown are deeply shocked and upset by this news. All of us extend our deepest condolences to Bray’s family and loved ones, namely his father Mike (IRS), his brother Taylor (Bo Dallas), his partner Joseann (JoJo), all of Bray’s children, and his fellow Wyatt Family members Braun Strowman and Erick Rowan.
MrDCWood (Daniel): Whenever a wrestler dies…it’s always a sad day. We’ve lost too many legends, stars and human beings. God knows we’ve lost too many more this year alone. And now only a day after losing Terry Funk…we lose Bray Wyatt. It’s not just that we lost Bray Wyatt, it’s also that it happened so suddenly – out of nowhere – that makes this all-the-more upsetting. And Bray was only 36 years old. I still can’t believe he’s not here anymore…
Immediately, Bray Wyatt made an impression on me. When Winham Rotunda moved on from Husky Harris to Bray Wyatt, allying with Erick Rowan, the late, great Luke Harper and (much later on) Braun Strowman to form the eerie, sinister Wyatt Family…it was such a far-out gimmick. Creepy, psychological and utterly captivating, the Wyatts were among the best acts in the glory days of NXT. It was no surprise that they achieved even greater success when they graduated to the main-roster.
But it wasn’t just Bray’s creative genius that excited me, it was his ability to work that was equally enthralling. Bray Wyatt reminded me so much of Mick Foley as Mankind, with the way he moved inside and outside the ring. Stalking his prey and when he finally struck, it was always with such terrifying speed and shocking brutality. The way he matched-up against legends like the Undertaker and Kane, against greats like Randy Orton, AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan and John Cena…the man had such a grasp of psychology it was unreal.
I can talk about hilarious, sinister & brilliant those Firefly Funhouse segments were, I can talk about how utterly amazing his evolution into The Fiend was, how thrilled I was to see Bray Wyatt become WWE Champion at Elimination Chamber 2017, and what a five-star epic the Shield/Wyatt Family match was at Elimination Chamber 2014…but most of all, I can talk about how Bray Wyatt literally had the whole world in his hands.
And really, Bray…we’re so glad that you were our friend. And this is a friendship that will never EVER end. May he reunite with Brodie Lee/Luke Harper in the ever-increasing Royal Rumble in the sky. And my deepest condolences go out to Jojo, all of Bray’s children, the rest of the Rotunda family and all of Windham’s loved ones. We will always love you, Bray Wyatt.
My favourite Bray Wyatt matches:
- Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan (Royal Rumble 2014)
- The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family (Elimination Chamber 2014)
- Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Championship (Elimination Chamber 2017)
- Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena vs. AJ Styles (SmackDown 14.02.2017)
Tomas: Bray Wyatt is unquestionably one of the biggest wrestling stars of the last decade. Through his great creativity and storytelling, Wyatt was able to stay relevant in WWE for nearly 10 years, despite WWE’s best attempts to ruin everything at times over the years. From his entrance to his talking skills, even to his in-ring ability, there is no doubt Wyatt was a star. No one was expecting to get this news. Every single wrestling fan is in shock at the passing of Bray Wyatt at such a young age.
Personally, I found myself at a lost for words when I found out, and still do now. All I have to say is thanks for the memories, Bray. Sending all the love in the world to his young, beautiful family. Rest in peace, Bray Wyatt.
My Favourite Bray Wyatt matches:
- Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan (Royal Rumble 2014)
- The Fiend vs. Daniel Bryan (Royal Rumble 2020)
- The Fiend vs. Daniel Bryan (Survivor Series 2019)
- Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena (WrestleMania 30)
Ben: In a time for WWE where faces and heels all felt very much the same people, when Bray Wyatt first emerged in 2013, it was something so fresh and captivating that no matter what he and the Wyatt Family did, it was so unusual and so out there that you had to watch. He added layers to his persona over the years that continues to make him someone who should always be remembered before creating maybe the most over character WWE has had in the 21st century; The Fiend, the ultimate showcase of Bray’s creativity and passion for the wrestling business.
It was so great and so consuming that he poured every idea and every facet he had into it. Bray’s return in 2022 (although cut too short) also showed his human side and we could see how grateful he was that he had the opportunity to do this for all of us fans across the world. A genius of a man who maybe gone but though his characters, memories and passion, will never be forgotten.
Thank you, Bray.
My Favourite Bray Wyatt matches:
- Bray Wyatt vs Daniel Bryan (Royal Rumble 2014)
- The Wyatt Family vs The Shield (Elimination Chamber 2014)
- Bray Wyatt vs AJ Styles vs John Cena (WWE SmackDown, February 14th 2017)
- The Fiend vs John Cena (WrestleMania 36)
REST IN PEACE, BRAY WYATT 1987-2023
