Terry Funk, a WWE legend and Hall of Famer passed away yesterday, and the wrestling community has yet to come to terms with his death. The news that Windham Rotunda, aka Bray Wyatt, a former WWE champion, has died at the age of 36 only serves to rub salt in the wound.
It is undeniable that the wrestling community is struggling to come to terms with the recent deaths of so many beloved members. Triple H, aka Paul Levesque, a former professional wrestler and the current Chief Content Officer of WWE, confirmed the tragic news on X (previously Twitter).
Windham Rotunda aka Bray Wyatt, Dies At 36
Former WWE champion Bray Wyatt has died at the age of 36. Paul “Triple H” Levesque, the company’s chief content officer, announced it on X. Wyatt, whose real name was Windham Rotunda, disappeared from WWE television in February of this year and has not been seen or heard from since. He was presumed to be suffering from a terminal illness. Recent reports, however, suggested he was nearing a comeback to the ring before his untimely death.
“Just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda who informed us of the tragic news that our WWE family member for life, Windham Rotunda, also known as Bray Wyatt, unexpectedly passed earlier today,” Levesque wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Our thoughts are with his family, and we ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time.” – Triple H
Journey Of Windham Rotunda In WWE
In 2009, Rotunda joined WWE’s development talent program, and by 2010, he was on the main roster as Husky Harris, a member of the stable The Nexus. But it was not until 2014 that Wyatt’s career took off, when he made his debut with “The Wyatt Family,” alongside Luke Harper and Eric Row.
Before he was let go from the company in 2021, he would continue developing his ‘Bray Wyatt’ character by introducing his sinister ‘The Fiend’ alter ego. Rotunda had memorable WrestleMania matches against superstars like Randy Orton, John Cena, and The Undertaker during this era, and he won two WWE titles in the process.
Rotunda’s beginning as “The Wyatt Family” immediately got him over with the fans. The gimmick was hailed as the “next Undertaker” because of the refreshing novelty of his dark and twisted character. The arena’s lights would go out as he entered carrying a lantern to the accompaniment of ominous music.
The catchphrases he coined, such as “Follow the Buzzards” and “He’s got the whole world in his hands,” demonstrated his potential to influence the crowd’s reaction in a way that few wrestlers have achieved.
Debut Of A Supernatural Character Called ‘The Fiend’
Rotunda introduced “The Fiend,” a supernatural being with a horror mask, in 2019. Even as a calm “Bray Wyatt” hosted the family-friendly skit “The Firefly Funhouse,” “The Fiend” rose to prominence as one of WWE TV’s most divisive figures.
Reinstation Of William Rotunda and His Sudden Disappearance
When Rotunda returned to WWE last year after a year away, he addressed the crowd emotionally in his second appearance, much to the delight of fans. A couple of his matches went off while the mysterious “Uncle Howdy” tormented him. But the storyline was cut short when Rotunda vanished, and the match scheduled for WrestleMania 39 between him and Bobby Lashley was canceled. At about the same time, rumors began spreading that he had been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Before the tragic news broke, he had been inactive for six months.
Conclusion
Rotunda, a third-generation athlete from a family with deep wrestling roots, was widely regarded as having one of the most original and forward-thinking minds in the sport. His legendary father, Mike, was a major figure in the industry as Irwin R. Schyster in the 1990s, and his grandfather, Robert Windham, wrestled as “Blackjack Mulligan” in the 1980s. His uncles, Barry and Kendall Windham, were also competitors in the wrestling ring. Taylor Michael Rotunda, aka Bo Dallas, was his brother and also worked for WWE between 2008 and 2021. In addition to his two children, Rotunda is survived by his wife, former WWE ring announcer Jojo Offerman. In addition to his two kids from his current wife, he has two from his previous union with Samantha Rotunda, which lasted from 2012 to 2017.
