Windham Rotunda, better known to WWE fans as Bray Wyatt, has died at the age of 36.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque shared the devastating news on social media, saying Rotanda’s death was unexpected.
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. Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their…
— Triple H (@TripleH) August 24, 2023
Bray Wyatt, a three-time WWE champion, re-signed with the promotion last year, returning to WWE Extreme Rules on October 8, 2022 to much fanfare. Bray White was in the middle of a program involving a mysterious and manipulative force. “Uncle Howdy” but was quietly removed from WWE programming in late February amid injury rumors.
RIP BRAY WYATT. This is awful news, just terribly sad for his family, friends and fans. I thought so highly of Bray Wyatt, and was so flattered when he started using the mandible claw for his finisher. He was a true visionary; one of the most compelling presences that wrestling… pic.twitter.com/gSuDQ1Z12I
— Mick Foley (@foleyispod) August 25, 2023
“Just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotonda informing us of the sad news that our WWE family member for life Windham Rotonda – also known as Bray Wyatt – passed away today. “died unexpectedly early in the year,” wrote Levesque, better known to fans. As Hall of Famer Superstar Triple H.
“Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time.”
Im heartbroken over the news of Bray Wyatt’s passing. Always had tremendous respect and love for him and the Rotunda family. Loved his presence, promos, in ring work and connection with @wwe universe.
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) August 24, 2023
Very unique, cool and rare character, which is hard to create in our crazy… pic.twitter.com/i9zlbJIOL3
No further information is available on the nature of Rotunda’s death.
Windham’s father, Mike Rotunda, previously wrestled in WWE as Irwin R. Shyester (IRS). He was best known for his association with Ted DiBiase. Windham’s younger brother, Taylor Michael Rotunda, also wrestled for WWE as Bo Dallas. Taylor is believed to have signed on to the promotion and was working with his brother under the mask of the “Uncle Howdy” persona.
The Windham Rotunda’s extended wrestling family included grandfather Black Jack Mulligan (Robert Windham) and uncles Barry Windham and Kendall Windham, for whom he was named.
Rotunda pushed the boundaries of modern character portrayals in not only WWE, but all of professional wrestling.
He debuted with WWE in 2009 as a relatively ordinary superstar named Husky Harris before later being repackaged as Bray Wyatt. His unflappable portrayal as the cult leader of the Wyatt Family captured the imagination of fans worldwide and made him one of the company’s most popular superstars.
A later adaptation of his character, The Fiend, was a masked, demonic entity who became a focal point of programming and earned him two reigns as WWE Universal Champion.
Wyatt also won the WWE Championship and two tag team championships. He wrestled legendary superstars Randy Orton and John Cena on two of WWE’s biggest shows, losing the WWE Championship to Orton at WrestleMania 33 and Cena at WrestleMania 36 in a sort of “Firefly Funhouse” match. Defeated. -19 pandemic.
His death comes less than three years after his best friend Jonathan Huber — former Wyatt Family member Luke Harper and AEW wrestler Brody Lee — died unexpectedly at the age of 41.
