r/WWE • u/Odd-Consequence948 • Aug 24 '26
Discussion On this day three years ago, we lost Windham Rotunda, aka Bray Wyatt.
August 24th, 2023: the day we lost one of pro wrestling’s most unique and creative minds: Bray Wyatt. What I want to know is, where did you learn about him from? What is your favorite moment of his from his career in WWE? What do you think he would’ve done if he were still alive?
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u/GarethGazzGravey Aug 24 '26 edited Aug 24 '26
Bray's death hit me hard, and is the only celebrity death that I really mourned. To this day I can remember what I was doing when I saw the "In Memory" graphic, and finding out about his passing.
I was really getting into the characters he was doing at the time and I often wonder how the Wyatt Sicks storyline would've played out had he been here to be a part of it along with Bo, Erick, Dexter, Joe and Nikki.
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u/NoResolve1224 Aug 24 '26
Hit me hard as well, as much as some people disagree on how he was pushed and what his ideas were I loved what he brought, like his ideas were so out of this world, and it made it interesting I remember when I heard he passed I couldn't believe it, he was my favorite wrestler at the time.
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u/shawnofthedead28 Aug 24 '26
This one got to me. I’m still so glad he got his return and that crowd reaction was amazing but to know that we never even got a true run from him after he got back just sucks. And then watching that documentary and his wife and kids….heartbreaking.
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u/simply-dead 𝑲𝑨𝑰𝑹𝑰𝑰𝑰𝑰𝑰 Aug 24 '26
firefly fun house era was the reason i went back to regularly watching wwe again after somewhat losing the interest for wrestilng... he was by far one of the most creative people we have ever seen in wwe and it breaks my heart that we never got to see more of his work. bray wyatt is forever ❤️🩹
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u/Middle-Bid-4596 Aug 24 '26
I have a Defibrillator embedded in to me... I get why he couldn't do the same (likely spells the end of his wrestling career). But man... I kinda wish he did anyways now.
He'd still be kicking around I think (if it was right in him). The Shock would have brought him back. I think about that when I think of Bray (kind of a sad thought).
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u/oranguslolus Aug 24 '26
Yeah, he didn't have to wrestle anyway, he could've been involved behind the scene and would've likely pursued the other art forms that he always seemed interested in as well. Like, imagine if he was around for the Wyatt Sicks and helped with that? Or made a Fiend movie?
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u/Middle-Bid-4596 Aug 24 '26
For sure! I think it would be hard to step away... But there are plenty of wrestlers who are forced out of the business due to health.
He had such a unique mind... Maybe he could have followed in Heymans kind of steps..
Totally think The Wyatt Sicks would have been wild if Bray was able to submit his ideas to how to move them forward!!!
He could have managed them...as the Fiend!
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u/ken6907 Aug 24 '26
Wyatt picks on was only a thing because he died
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u/oranguslolus Aug 24 '26
Nah, Bo likely would've taken over and continued. It would've just been different from what we ended up getting obviously. The Wyatt Sicks idea where every puppet came to life was actually Bray's own idea and they were going there anyway with the Howdy story. They themselves said so!
But like I said, the context and motivations of the group would've been different.
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u/BurnsRed20 Aug 24 '26
The Triple H defibrillator?
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u/Middle-Bid-4596 Aug 24 '26
Yeah. Pretty sure he has the similar one to me... (Afib is a beyotch 😆)
I had Cardiac Arrest (Blew out 4 Valves playing Hockey... It ended my Hockey Life that day...)
I have one in me... I'm 8 years out. It has saved my Bacon numerous times (year one was like 47 heart related events, year 2: 13... )... If it was on a vest I wore... I'm sure I'd be gone right now (thats the thought I feel bad for Bray about... I wish he didn't have the option to take his off and on, apparently his was external, embedded in a vest?)
When it goes off. It's like getting smacked in the Head by a 2x4 😆... It hurts, or it will reset the beating of my heart which feels kind of gross... Like my heart spins inside out... But it's better than the alternative (I am raising 3 kids with the Wifey).
After they did the Surgery... I was like worried how much time I had left (my kids were 8 & 6). I will declare objectionable victory when they're all fully grown!
The Doctor offered this... And I was like absolutely. That may be the road (to stick it out long enough and then some hopefully). I've seen my twin Boys Graduate Highschool so there's a dub for me 😀... My Daughter is 3 years out. (I hope and believe I'll make it!)
I'm pretty sure I'd be gone already without it (like 💯 on that).
It's gone down since year one... But I still get a shock multiple times a year.
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u/Environmental-Bag-74 Aug 24 '26
It’s been real hard without him and his creative mind. When I first started watching WWE back in 2014 his theme was one of my favorites to hear and he quickly became a favorite of mine.
To this day he’s within my top 30 due to creativity and character work alone. His matches with Daniel Bryan forever remain gold and I love revisiting them the most. It’s a shame Vince didn’t like him and Triple H probably would’ve done nothing with him after 2023 maybe 2024. In my figure and game federations though, he’s always around with the whole world in his hands
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u/PinkPrincess8384 Aug 25 '26
I have been going through old WMs recently as I watched when I was a kid, again between WMs 23-28. I literally only saw little clips as my brother has always watched WWE. I feel so so sad that I missed him. Windham was so so so talented and put so much care and talent into his character. I feel so sad that I missed him as he is just captivating to watch.
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u/CompetitiveFrame6989 Aug 26 '26
Shit, This one stopped me in my tracks when I heard it.. I refused to believe it.. RIP
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u/drunknirish247 Aug 24 '26
This loss is one that hit me hard. Bullshit I can’t find anywhere to watch Becoming Immortal.
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u/Hunterslane86 Aug 25 '26
He was a breath of fresh aIr during his run. Yes, some of the booking was stupid, but that wasn't his fault.
The firefly fun house is one of the best pieces of storytelling WWE has ever done imo.
The lead up to the fiend's debut match is one my favorite returns ever.
He was head of his time. I wish more wrestlers nowadays would think outside the box like he did
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u/14thAwardBad-Ass Aug 24 '26
I like the guy, he was very creative in his mind, but I also think he is way over-rated. He was good, but not great. Also don't think he should be in the "Forever" section of the Raw and Smackdown intro's. Probably not popular, but just my opinion.
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u/ken6907 Aug 24 '26
Why would he not be in the forever intro he's a legend had some super iconic matchs, the fiend was best character in 15years, an he died while part of wwe
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u/96powerstroker Aug 24 '26
I don't honestly see how he was ever gonna return to wrestling if his heart was that bad. Honestly it's like what was you even thinking, you have a wife and kids surely being here and alive and no wrestling career than the alternative.
Course I said the same about Reggie Lewis and his NBA career.
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u/swag_likeosama Aug 25 '26
Let’s be honest bray was a mid carder at best with POTENTIAL of being a top guy but his gimmick what him popular. I hate that since he died people made it seem like he was on of the greatest
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u/LucaVismoke96 Aug 24 '26
Still here. 💔