WWE Champ Bray Wyatt Dead At 36, Wrestling World Mourns
Source: Monica Schipper / Getty
The wrestling world has suffered a great loss.
Former WWE champion Bray Wyatt has died at the age of 36. Born Windham Rotunda, he’s been out of the spotlight for the last few years while dealing with health issues that he never explicitly explained to the public.
He’d been with WWE since 2009 before getting released in 2021. He’d eventually return in 2022 and was lauded after being welcomed back into the fold.
WWE’s chief content officer, Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H, took to social media to confirm the tragic news but did not reveal the cause of death.
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
“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,” Levesque wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time.”
Wrestling was in his blood; his father, Mike, was also part of the WWE family and performed under the name Irwin R. Schyster. His uncle, Barry Windham, was also a prominent wrestler in the 1980s and ’90s and was even a member of the wrestling group “The Four Horsemen,” which also touted Lex Luger and Ric Flair.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was among the big wrestling names who responded to his untimely passing.
“Always had tremendous respect and love for him and the Rotunda family,” Johnson tweeted. “Loved his presence, promos, in ring work and connection with the WWE universe. Very unique, cool, and rare character, which is hard to create in our crazy world of pro wrestling.”
Social media has taken the news hard, reliving some of Wyatt’s best moments and sending their condolences. See the reactions below.
2.
Paul Wight talks about Bray Wyatt’s passing.
Full interviewhttps://t.co/3I9hhsQpL4 pic.twitter.com/ODDCBQ24xE
— Denise ‘Hollywood’ Salcedo (@_denisesalcedo) August 25, 2023
3.
The Wyatt Family vs. The Shield at Elimination Chamber 2014.
One of the best matches in Bray Wyatt’s career and a personal favorite of mine. That night everything was just perfect. https://t.co/mQhpkYD1iT
— Wrestling Pics & Clips (@WrestleClips) August 25, 2023
4.
Actress, Vanessa Hudgens was a huge fan of Bray Wyatt. She paid her respects on her Instagram story
pic.twitter.com/wplg5jkjse
— Wrestlelamia.co.uk (@wrestlelamia) August 25, 2023
5.
One of my favorite moments overseas and of course Bray Wyatt was ALWAYS down to make us a Greater, Happier and Focused on what matters the most….Enjoying Life with our Family and Love ones
RIP #BrayWyatt pic.twitter.com/NjPGFGxVFl
— Titus O’Neil (@TitusONeilWWE) August 25, 2023
6.
After Bray Wyatt’s sudden passing, WWE are putting everything on hold. Everything for Smackdown has been scrapped. All meetings are off.
WWE are being focused for Windham’s family.
(BWE) pic.twitter.com/rxjqNEEH6E
— Wrestlelamia.co.uk (@wrestlelamia) August 25, 2023
7.
This clip says so much about Bray Wyatt’s character in real life. What a loss.
— thewrestlingclassic (@twcworldwide) August 25, 2023
8.
Bray Wyatt & Brodie Lee, reunited in heaven forever
— Wrestlelamia.co.uk (@wrestlelamia) August 25, 2023
9.
What an incredible photo.
Bray Wyatt with The Undertaker backstage in 2020
pic.twitter.com/vE938WHuJO
— Wrestle Features (@WrestleFeatures) August 25, 2023
10.
Bray Wyatt’s first promo after returning to WWE hits so different now…
“You were all there when I was weak, when I was vulnerable, when I was down, so I just wanted to say thank you. You all saved my life.”
We love you, Bray. RIP
pic.twitter.com/Jj3gf0fiNU— 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐕𝐞𝐧 (@WrestlingCovers) August 25, 2023
11.
The Undertaker and Bray Wyatt backstage at Survivor Series 2020
pic.twitter.com/flHlqoY0Jr
— WrestlingWorldCC (@WrestlingWCC) August 25, 2023
12.
Thank you Bray Wyatt
His underrated entrance at WrestleMania 31 when he faced The Undertaker pic.twitter.com/rjDjQIi23E
— Underrated Wrestling Entrances
(@UnderatedEntryW) August 25, 2023
13.
Really hopeful that we get something truly special tonight on SmackDown in the form of a Bray Wyatt tribute show.
Still feels so incredibly heavy. Any small start to a form of closure would be nice.
I’d love to hear his song tonight. pic.twitter.com/fPQaXNOVgF
— Patrick The Heel (@patricktheheel) August 25, 2023
14.
Can’t believe this was Bray Wyatt last match in he’s career of wrestling and to think a lot of people hated this match when it was a very enjoyable and entertaining match
pic.twitter.com/RrJxWDmChW
— The Wrestling Blog (@WrestlingBlog_) August 25, 2023
15.
Some of my favourite moments of Bray Wyatt. pic.twitter.com/4M1ctH0eh3
— EliteRockers 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) August 25, 2023
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