On August 24th, 2023, the professional wrestling world experienced yet another devastating heartbreak, as Windham Rotunda, aka Bray Wyatt, passed away at the age of 36. Wyatt has a number of accolades to his name after over a decade spent in the WWE, having won the namesake championship once, in addition to competing at multiple WrestleManias. That's the cliffnotes version, the driest form of exposition to summarize one of the most captivating careers we as wrestling fans have ever witnessed. But Bray's legacy and impact, brief as it was, is truly one of a kind.
"Potential" was the buzzword for Bray from the very beginning, and even at his earliest stages as a performer, it was impossible to ignore. Bray's early days spent tagging with his younger brother, the future Bo Dallas, in the soon-to-be defunct Florida Championship Wrestling passed without notice, but the two third-generation progenies found the spotlight quickly. The grassroots of NXT formed under their feet, as Bo would become champion of the brand, while Bray grew into a phenomenon. It was clear from the moment that Bray Wyatt emerged from those famed Bayou swamps that something altogether new was about to take wrestling by storm, but none of us knew then how far he truly could go.
Bray's ingenuity and brilliance were unleashed, and the wicked sermons he delivered from his ominous rocking chair, flanked by an array of hulking, brain-washed monsters promised the change the wrestling landscape needed. He was dangerous and deranged in front of the camera, but every story of Windham Rotunda behind it has been one of warmth and humanity. For whatever we were privileged to see, the man was respectful and genuine, and I consider it the highest honor that accusations of nepotism surrounding his steady rise remained silent. Bray was so talented, so true to himself and the creation he had fostered, and the loyal following he amassed desperately craved to see him expand his vision.
When Bray Wyatt left the confines of NXT to spread his wings on WWE's biggest stage, controversy across the community took hold. Bray became the subject of intense debate between those that pushed the powers that be to grant him more, and those who believed that his in-ring ability lagged far behind his cloying words. Whatever side you stood on, Bray's continued presence in some of the company's most iconic moments across the decade to follow was undeniable. The steel cage segment with Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson on Raw, his showdowns with legends like John Cena, Randy Orton, and The Undertaker, and of course, that glorious WWE Championship win in early 2017 were just a few of the highlights. No matter where on the card he was placed, Bray Wyatt always demanded your attention, and his wrestling manifesto was delivered just when the world needed it most.
The "Firefly Fun House", airing during the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrated the peak of Bray's creative abilities. A brutal takedown of Cena, WWE's creative process, and the concept of the wrestling industry itself, it went so far beyond anything that any promotion had aired before. It was daring, brilliant, and impossible for anyone besides Bray to ever replicate or reproduce. The years that have followed haven't always been the smoothest ride, from a poorly-received match at WrestleMania 37, to his subsequent release months later, and then a beloved comeback late in 2022 that unfortunately has been cut so agonizingly short. But even through the rocky stretches, Bray stayed true to himself, his ethos, and his vision.
You'll likely read and hear tributes from so many that felt Bray's potential has gone unrealized, but when I take a look through his career, I see a man that has blazed a path that few will ever or can ever follow. Bray is not a "what could have been". He provided us with so much already and leaves us with a bitter reminder to take nothing for granted. Life leaves us in the blink of an eye, and no matter how it may feel today, or tomorrow, or a decade from now, always remember that we are the lucky ones. We're left to observe a life fully lived and appreciate the ones that are unafraid to be different. Bray Wyatt leaves behind four children, a lifetime of memories, and a gaping void in our hearts that will last an eternity. I leave you today with his final public comments, as he outlined his thoughts on the landscape in front of him, and his place in it.
"...I think there's some people that like new concepts and people that take risks...it's a sport to some and a show to others, but I think the beautiful thing about wrestling and this industry is that there's something for everyone. I've always kind of prided myself on...being willing to take risks, and do things that no one's ever done, because in my opinion, if you're not willing to do that, what are you doing here? You know, it's about leaving a legacy for me, and I would do pretty much anything, especially if no one's ever done it before, because people will notice it." - Bray Wyatt, Royal Rumble 2023 Press Conference, January 28th, 2023.
Rest in Peace, Windham "Bray Wyatt" Rotunda (May 23rd, 1987 - August 24th, 2023).
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