The professional wrestling world was hit with a horrible shock on Thursday with the news that Windham Rotunda, most commonly known as WWE’s Bray Wyatt, passed away at 36.
While he’d been out of action for a while, he was seen recently in the ring, competing in a match against LA Knight at January’s Royal Rumble event.
Rotunda’s WWE career started in Florida Championship Wrestling, which was, at the time, WWE’s primary developmental territory. Right around the same time that FCW rebranded as NXT, Rotunda became Bray Wyatt, one of the most unique characters WWE had produced in years. Eventually, Wyatt made his way to the main roster. There, he was a two-time WWE Universal Champion and one-time WWE Champion.
Despite passing away at the far-too-early age of 36, Rotunda made a massive impact in WWE and the wrestling world in general. And as news of his passing broke, several people in the wrestling world paid tribute to both the iconic character and the man who played him.
https://twitter.com/foleyispod/status/1694868924054053070
The wrestling business was close to Rotunda for his entire life. He’s the grandson of Blackjack Mulligan, the son of Mike Rotunda (FKA, IRS in WWE), the nephew of Barry and Kendall Windham and the brother Taylor Rotunda, best known as Bo Dallas in WWE.