WWE superstar Bray Wyatt has tragically passed away, aged 36
WWE superstar Bray Wyatt has tragically passed away at age 36.
The company’s chief content officer Triple H announced the shocking news on social media.
He wrote: “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 privacy at this time.”
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Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful revealed that Rotunda became sick with COVID earlier in the year which has exacerbated heart issues.
The 36-year-old had made positive progress towards a return to the ring, however, today suffered a heart attack and passed way.
The news will undoubtedly rock both those in the industry and wrestling fans alike with Rotunda a key figure in WWE over the past decade.
He had come through the company's developmental system and debuted back in 2010 as part of The Nexus under the Husky Harris ring name.
However, he would return to developmental and become part of the newly launched NXT where he would have wrestlers Luke Harper and Erick Rowan join him as part of The Wyatt Family.
He would debut on Monday Night Raw as the leader of The Wyatt Family where he would go on to have early feuds with the likes of CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, and John Cena.
Perhaps one of the most entertaining characters in the modern generation of wrestlers, he often garnered comparisons to The Undertaker, whom he faced at WrestleMania 31.
He won his first WWE Championship on February 12, 2017, in an Elimination Chamber match before losing the title at WrestleMania 33 to Randy Orton.
He would take a lengthy hiatus from WWE in 2018, but would return for another memorable run with a new character as 'The Fiend'.
The Fiend was arguably the most popular act in the WWE during his run, an intimidating character with a split personality that would act as a children's show host.
The character would go on to win the WWE Universal Championship at Crown Jewel in October.
The Fiend would face Randy Orton and John Cena at WrestleMania.
Wyatt was released from WWE in July 2022, however, would return for one more stint, playing character more resembling Rotunda's actual personality - as he had a seemingly internal battle with a character known as Uncle Howdy.
His return was one of the most memorable in WWE history, outlining how popular the Wyatt character was to fans.
He was due to face Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania earlier this year, but inexplicably became absent from programming with the match not taking place.
His last appearance on WWE television came in the February 27 episode of Raw, as part of the 'Firefly Funhouse' promo.
His death will undoubtedly be felt across the entire industry - a modern-day great of the WWE.
Jayden Collins