It is something that WWE fans and Talent have come to expect and hate. Shock and outrage spreads online as the news filters through that fan favourites have been released. This year has really annoyed me and people that know me will understand why.
Wyatt Family & Bray Wyatt
I was a big fan of Windham Rotunda better known to the fans as Bray Wyatt who first became big as part of the faction The Wyatt Family alongside Erick Rowan and the late Luke Harper. Braun Strowman joined the group when he debuted in 2015
The group went on to have a lot of success, with major feuds and storylines. It saw the introduction of new characters in the Firefly Funhouse, where he worked closely with WWE Star Alexa Bliss and debuted the character The Fiend. However, with WWE Releases throughout the years and Luke Harper’s death in 2020, Bray Wyatt was released in June 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. After a huge viral marketing campaign titled The White Rabbit (that saw fans deciphering clues looking out for QR codes and more) Bray returned in 2022 at Extreme Rules.
Bray Wyatt Returns
The return brought a new character with Uncle Howdy. Portrayed by his real-life brother and former WWE Star Bo Dallas / Taylor Rotunda.
We can only imagine how this might have unfolded. Rumours suggested that Bray intended to introduce a faction called The Wyatt Six, which would have included several WWE personalities
It was announced on 24th August 2023 that Bray Wyatt/Windham Rotunda had died. News of the heart attack shocked everyone. It still feels surreal to say as for ages it felt like at any time he would walk out. It was rumoured that the heart issues were related to effects from Covid 19.
Following WIndham’s death a documentary was released in April 2024 Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal. We got to see more from Bray backstage and more personal details from wrestlers, including Alexa Bliss. Taylor/Bo Dallas, showed unfinished ideas. Then at the end of the documentary; you saw Uncle Howdy’s silhouette standing behind the lantern. Could this be a glimpse of what to come? The internet was already awash with rumours that Bray had started to work towards a new faction, The Wyatt 6. This was indicated in the upside-down moth in front of a Red Circle and his in-ring promo.
I am the color red in a world full of black and white – Bray Wyatt
The Wyatt Sicks
In April 2024, a new campaign started where the song Nightbird by Marti Amado played in dark segments in Raw and Smackdown. The lights would flicker and the song would play briefly. This method is generally used to hype up a new faction. ARG was used again, Jason Baker, a close friend of Bray and instrumental in the both campaigns
Fast forward to June, A match between Jey Uso, Finn Balor, and Rey Mysterio, where Jey picked up the win. The lights flickered, and the eerie piano note from Shatter by Code Orange started to play
In my opinion, this is the best reveal in WWE history. Sister Abigail (Nikki Cross), Huskus the Pig Boy (Joe Gacy), Rambling Rabbit (Erik Rowan), Mercy the Buzzard (Dexter Lumis) and Uncle Howdy (Bo Dallas) made their appearance as a group.
All the characters were those of The Firefly Funhouse, seemingly come to life.
Sadly, the booking of the group simply didn’t work. Whether that is to do with Triple H, TKO and/or The Creative Team, their usage was awful. Nikki Cross never even had a match, Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis won Tag team titles. A feud with American Mad, was followed by a feud with The Miz and The Final Testament (Karrion Cross and AOP). Before that had even finished, The Wyatt Sicks were drafted to Smackdown on 15th January 2025. The group were not used again until May 2025 and used in a Feud with Solo Siko’s Group MFT. This basically ended the group and led to their release in April 2026. The Wyatt Sicks were made to look weak and were relying on Bray Wyatt’s Lantern, which MFT stole.
The Wyatt Sicks and the memory of Bray Wyatt deserved better.
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