The feature-film debut of Bray Wyatt, announced after his 2021 WWE release, is “not dead” according to horror movie effects veteran Jason Baker.
Following his controversial exit from WWE in July 2021, it was announced in November that Wyatt was working on a horror movie, with Baker and Rob Fee.
In addition to effects, Baker is the owner of Callosum Studios, which includes horror effects legend Tom Savini as a consultant.
Callosum’s work will be recognizable for WWE fans, as they are the team behind masks for Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Retribution, the Bludgeon Brothers, Carmella, Nikki A.S.H, and the Fiend, and also designed Alexa Bliss’ Lilly doll.
WWE Return
In October 2022, Wyatt made his return to WWE in the climax of the highly-acclaimed ‘White Rabbit’ series of vignettes.
Since then, news of the movie project has been incredibly scarce, and when speaking to Metro, Baker explained how things have played out.
“We were getting close, and then he started talking with Hunter, and then Hunter hired Rob. It was like, s**t, you guys aren’t gonna have any time to shoot a movie because we’re all gonna busy.
“Then Bray came back, he’s like, ‘Well I need you to make a bunch of stuff.’ I’m like, ‘Well, when are we gonna shoot a movie if we’re all busy with WWE?’”
Jason Baker.
Despite the impact that WWE has had on the film’s production, Baker said this isn’t a bad thing, and called WWE the place that Wyatt “should be.”
Not Dead
Production on the film, which has been described as Ichi the Killer meets Xanadu, may have stalled, but things are still in the works.
In the interview, Baker explained that the film remains in development, but there is no expected date for a release.
“It’s not dead, it’s just we’re all working over at WWE now. I’m sure we’ll eventually get around to it, but – alright, let’s just go and do this for now!”
Jason Baker.
Whatever Baker, Fee, and Wyatt have planned will have to wait until WrestleMania 39, where Wyatt is expected to face Bobby Lashley.
When Bray Wyatt returned to WWE last year, there were rumors of a “Wyatt 6” faction. It would be his “Firefly Funhouse” characters come to life as actual characters.
Fans have been introduced to “Uncle Howdy”. Rumors have been running rampant that Wyatt’s real life brother, Bo Dallas, would be portraying him. After last night’s SmackDown, there is a new theory on the person behind the character.
Former WWE Superstar with Bray Wyatt
WWE
During the “Firefly Funhouse” segment, there was a voiceover that said, “welcome everyone to America’s favorite game show. Can you keep a secret?”
Some fans speculated that the voice belonged to former NXT Superstar, Eric Young. Young had been leading a faction in IMPACT Wrestling, Violent By Design. His character was killed by his stablemate last December. It was reported then that the former SAnity leader was WWE bound.
In the same segment, a box that “Evil Alexa” used in the “Firefly Funhouse” was also featured. A woman’s hands were seen playing with action figures. Could that have been Bliss’s hands?
Would you like to see Eric Young with the “Wyatt 6”?
A major match-up many have been expecting for WrestleMania this year is currently up in the air.
At Elimination Chamber, Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley had their third singles bout. The latest showdown between the pair followed ‘The All Mighty’ making quick work of, and eliminating, ‘The Beast Incarnate’ from the men’s Royal Rumble match last month.
In a sprint-paced brawl, the two heavyweight monsters quickly got their spots in. Lesnar then got DQ’d for a surprise low blow just shy of the five-minute mark. The post-match antics saw the former UFC Heavyweight Champion obliterate both Lashley and the referee with F-5s.
The chaotic finish has left fans expecting a final, blow-off bout between the pair with a decisive finish. Their original clash at last year’s Royal Rumble win ended with a tainted Lashley win after Paul Heyman betrayed Lesnar. Their second bout saw Lesnar win with a surprise pinfall when he was locked in The Hurt Lock at Crown Jewel back in November.
Is Bray Wyatt vs. Brock Lesnar On The Cards For WrestleMania?
On the go-home SmackDown before Elimination Chamber, Bray Wyatt expressed his interesting facing the winner of Lesnar vs. Lashley III.
While Lesnar lost the bout via DQ, Wyatt very curiously specified he wants to face whoever “walks out alive” of the bout. Despite his loss, Lesnar was certainly not the worse for wear figure after his bout with Lashley.
The controversial ending of Lesnar/Lashley III was reportedly booked to keep the feud chugging along this year. However, according to a recent report from Fightful Select, the continuation of the feud may wait until after WrestleMania.
Considering Wyatt’s promo and Lesnar’s curious booking at Elimination Chamber, it looks like the big man may well be butting heads with Wyatt and Uncle Howdy very soon.
Would you like to see Bray Wyatt face either Brock Lesnar or Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania?
Reigns, who had spent months away due to Covid-19 precautions, won the title a week later at the Payback event, starting his current reign as Champion.
Responding to a tweet showing the names Reigns has defeated as Champion, Wyatt asked if fans remember how the Tribal Chief won the title.
While Reigns ended Wyatt’s second reign as Universal Champion, he did so by pinning Braun Strowman in a triple-threat match.
At this time, Wyatt is yet to have a rematch for the Universal Championship that he lost without being pinned or submitted.
This is hardly the first time Wyatt has brought this fact up, as he corrected Louis Dangoor when it was claimed that Reigns had defeated every former Universal Champion.
Future Plans
Wyatt is, according to an internal roster listing, the top babyface on SmackDown, but has been kept away from Reigns, the top heel of both the brand and the company as a whole.
Bray’s sole televised match since returning to WWE last October saw the former Universal Champion defeat LA Knight in the first Pitch Black match.
At WrestleMania 39, Reigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes, the winner of the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble match.
As for Wyatt, he issued a WrestleMania challenge to the winner of last Saturday’s Brock Lesnar Vs. Bobby Lashley match, but given the DQ finish, many expect Lesnar and Lashley to face off one-on-one at WrestleMania.
With WWE WrestleMania season in full swing, Bray Wyatt doesn’t have a clear direction for what he will do at the biggest event of the year for the company.
However, on this week’s episode of WWE Smackdown, Wyatt shed some light on what may be coming. Wyatt and Uncle Howdy interrupted a performance by Hit Row (Top Dolla, Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis, & B-Fab) on the show.
The Warning
They cleared out the faction before Wyatt got the microphone and called out Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar. Wyatt stated that the winner of the match between them at Saturday’s Elimination Chamber PLE “should run.”
This will be the third contest between Lashley and Lesnar with each star holding a win over each other.
Wyatt is coming off a victory over LA Knight in a Mountain Dew Pitch Black match at WWE Royal Rumble last month. Wyatt doesn’t have a match booked for the Elimination Chamber nor wrestled on television following his return PLE match in January.
This week’s episode of SmackDown featured not one but three different dark matches, including one with Bray Wyatt.
The very first dark match took place even before the show went on air. It saw Butch taking on Imperium’s Giovanni Vinci. The Brawling Brute won this bout.
The second dark match after the show was over featured the New Day. The duo of Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston shared a moment with Michael Cole and Wade Barrett before making their way to the ring.
Post-#SmackDown dark match: New Day beat Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest. Dom’s mom Angie is ringside, but there was no interaction. pic.twitter.com/8CpOEVELZY
The former tag team champions faced Judgement Day’s Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest. The team of Kingston and Woods won this bout.
Bray Wyatt Wrestles After SmackDown
The final dark match of the night saw Bray Wyatt going up against LA Knight. The two SmackDown stars competed in a No Disqualification match.
The match was won by the Fiend after he put Knight through a table. The ending was very similar to their dark match last week.
Second post-#SmackDown dark match: Bray Wyatt beats LA Knight in a No Disqualification match. Miles better than their Lights Out match. pic.twitter.com/6pZ4VJ55fm
Wyatt did not make an appearance on this week’s episode of the Blue Branded Show. LA Knight was part of a backstage segment.
Apart from this, the SmackDown episode featured a #1 contender’s match in the main event and more. You can check out the full results of the show here.
WWE is doing serious business on the road to WrestleMania 39, but who are the biggest names when it comes to merchandise?
These days, merchandise sellers may not be WWE’s primary source of income (thanks to the promotion’s lucrative TV deals and Saudi contract) but still earn WWE a hefty sum.
More important merchandise sellers are a quantitative way for WWE to see who is the most popular among the fans.
Top Merchandise Sellers
With WrestleMania 39 drawing near, every WWE Superstar will hope to get the attention of the promotion’s higher-ups by moving a serious amount of merchandise.
On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer named the stars who are shining above the rest of the roster in terms of merch.
“A lot of the big characters are very over when it comes to selling merchandise right now. Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, I’m sure Sami Zayn. They’re hot. That’s the deal. Things look good for them going into WrestleMania season.”
Dave Meltzer.
WrestleMania 39
We already know plans for two of WWE’s top merch sellers for WrestleMania, as Cody Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal title this April.
As for Sami Zayn, it has been rumored that he and Kevin Owens will challenge Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos at WrestleMania 39.
It’s worth bearing in mind that these rumors began before Jey’s exit from the Bloodline at last weekend’s Royal Rumble event.
As for Bray Wyatt, all signs are pointing to an eventual clash with Uncle Howdy (played by his brother Bo Dallas) at WrestleMania.
It seems Bray Wyatt may have unfinished business with Alexa Bliss.
Wyatt has quite the history with Bliss, from his time as “The Fiend.” Both superstars were in a storyline together from July 2020 to WrestleMania 37 on April 11, 2021. WWE seemingly ended the relationship between Wyatt and Bliss after she betrayed him at WrestleMania 37. However, Wyatt has teased that his story with Bliss is far from over.
Bliss is being followed by the mysterious “Uncle Howdy,” who, after the Royal Rumble on Jan. 28, is presumably working with Wyatt. In a press conference after this year’s Royal Rumble, Wyatt talked about his relationship with Bliss and what will come from this storyline.
“…I think me and Alexa are just kind of connected forever, no matter what. It’s just kind of the way it’s gone, and where it leads, I don’t know. No one knows, but I feel like there will be something at some point, and it will be memorable; I’m sure of that.”
-Bray Wyatt
What’s Next For Bray Wyatt and Alexa Bliss?
Based on Wyatt’s comments, Bliss will be working with him again. As of now, Uncle Howdy is the only person following her. However, that could change after this year’s Royal Rumble. Uncle Howdy seemed to be working with Wyatt after he aided Wyatt’s attack on LA Knight.
The mysterious character also appeared in a video after Bliss’s loss to Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair to tease her. The video showed images of Bliss during the time she worked with Wyatt, and Uncle Howdy repeatedly said, “Do you feel in charge.”
It’s unclear where WWE is going with this storyline between Uncle Howdy, Wyatt, and Bliss. However, Wyatt believes that wherever the story is headed, it will be something fans will remember.
Bray Wyatt got to share a pretty special moment with The Undertaker at Raw 30th Anniversary special. The Dead Man symbolized the passing of the torch when he didn’t capitalize on the opportunity to Chokeslam LA Knight. The Last Outlaw instead passed him on to the former Universal Champion so Wyatt can deliver a Sister Abigail. Taker then whispered something to Bray before making his way back.
The Fiend recently had a rare interview with Ryan Satin on Out of Character. He was asked the question everyone has in mind – what did The Undertaker say to him. While the former champion didn’t betray the secret, he did claim that it was a very special segment. Wyatt who never re-watches any of his work, said that it’s the one moment he will cherish for the rest of his life:
“Okay, so I think everybody kind of can see it for what it was, right? When something like that happens, that’s something that no one can take away from me.” said Bray Wyatt, “That moment belongs to me. No one else in the world in the history of time ever gets to have that moment. No one but me. What he said was something that only I would have understood. Something that only I would be able to appreciate, for when and where it happened.
It was something I never thought would come but what he said exactly is between me, him, God [and] the devil. I could never [reveal it]. I’ll never, never tell so. I’ll go to my grave with it. But it was powerful, and it was unexpected. Very very cool. Something I will cherish for the rest of my life. That’s a segment I can watch back. That’s a special one.”
You can check out the interview of Bray Wyatt below:
Bray Wyatt is one of the rare breed of wrestlers who have kept kayfabe alive. He is one who almost never comes out of his character to talk to people and it creates a mystique around him. Though sometimes it also leads to him facing all his problems on his own without involving the world into it.
The WWE star had a rare chat with Ryan Satin on the Out of Character podcast. They talked about his return promo at Extreme Rules last year where the former Wyatt Family Leader opened up about his struggles a little bit and thanked fans for saving him. He revisited the emotions during the talk and reiterated that it’s the fans that have led him back:
“Well, I despise the way my mind works. That’s the truth of it all. I’m the first person ever to tell you all my flaws. I refuse to watch myself back. I’ve never seen pretty much anything that I’ve ever done. I can’t watch. I [am] just that kind of headcase man, but it’s also kind of my superpower.
It’s what makes me, me. [It] is the obsession. When I’m geared on something, I’m so deep into it that there is no separating life from anything else. It just is. When I dive deep like that, it’s what makes me connect and it’s the reason that I have fans that are so into what I do. It feels like it’s part of their life too. If I didn’t have such passionate fans, man, I wouldn’t be here. I really wouldn’t. It’s them that led me back here.”
‘It Was All Out of Nowhere’: Bray Wyatt
The former Universal champion went through a dark period in his life just around the time of his WWE firing in 2021. He lost two of his best friends apart from losing his job. Opening up about the time, Bray Wyatt admitted that he didn’t deal with it very well. Though he also explained that the long journey has led him to where he is now:
“There was so much there. Just so much going on with all that. It was out of nowhere. I wasn’t prepared for any of that. I lost my childhood best friend. I lost Brodie. I lost my best friend from college Mark. It was something that I think I didn’t deal with very well. I think Brodie’s wife Amanda dealt with it. The kids dealt with it better than me and Rowan did. There’s something there that reminds me of him every single day.
I think that time period was such a conundrum for me. I wasn’t myself. It took me a while to kind of remember what makes me, me. It was a long journey man but it’s led me here, into this moment. This is the best I’ve ever felt.”
Ever since Bray Wyatt returned to WWE last year, people have been wanting to see the return of his cult leader character. The reason for him to not bring it back however, is very personal.
WWE on Fox recently posted a clip of their upcoming sit-down interview with the former world champion. He is seen talking about the different iterations of his character.
Speaking about the gimmick he originally debut on main roster with, Wyatt explained that he can’t bring it back without Brodie Lee:
“For me, the Hawaiian shirt of Bray, who he was, he can’t be without Brodie. I can’t be that without Brodie. It’s just not the same. It’s disrespectful to my best friend. It just can’t be without him.”
– Bray Wyatt
Here’s a sneak peak of our exclusive one-on-one conversation with #BrayWyatt
The WWE star also mentioned his WrestleMania 37 match against Randy Orton. He claimed The Fiend died that day in Tampa, Florida and ‘it can never be again.’
Brodie Lee, better known to WWE fans as Luke Harper was one of the original members of The Wyatt Family. He, unfortunately, passed away in December 2020 at the age of 41.
Bray Wyatt is scheduled for a pitch-black match against LA Knight at Royal Rumble this year. The event, scheduled for Saturday, January 28 will be coming live from Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Monday’s 30th anniversary edition of WWE Raw was an eventful show. Perhaps the most buzz-worthy moment of the 3-hour marathon broadcast was the face-to-face confrontation between The Undertaker and Bray Wyatt.
The Dead Man whispered something into Wyatt’s ear that had a profound impact on the Eater of Words. Wyatt took a moment on Tuesday morning to share his feelings about the interaction with his legion of fans on social media.
Wyatt says that one moment with The Undertaker at Raw 30 “justified a lifetime of sacrifices” for him. Whatever you want to say about Wyatt’s WWE character, you have to agree: he’s unique. This uniqueness has brought adversity, including people encouraging him to change and confirm. He’s resisted these calls, and now feels reassured that he hasn’t compromised himself to fit someone else’s narrative.
This moment justified a lifetime of sacrifices for me. A lifetime of people treating my uniqueness like it was a disease. Through all the bad times I never changed myself to fit anyone’s narrative. I’m proud of that. Thank you Taker. #SuckItLAKnightpic.twitter.com/nQHYWNq7CL
The interaction with Bray Wyatt on Raw was also meaningful for The Undertaker. He echoed the sentiment that pro wrestling is all about moments. He’s created countless moments throughout his legendary career, but his brief encounter with Wyatt on Raw was a special one he’ll remember for a long time.
Many are looking at The Undertaker and Bray Wyatt’s interaction as a passing of the torch, of sorts. Taker has been WWE’s resident supernatural character since he arrived on the scene in November 1990. Many others have come and gone, but nobody has pulled it off quite like The Undertaker.
They’ve worked together before, most notably a feud that culminated at WrestleMania 31. The Undertaker has publicly expressed his respect for Wyatt, his creativity and his persona. He’s called Wyatt a “phenomenal talent” who has a lot to offer the industry.
On Monday, WWE will celebrate the 30 anniversary of Raw from Philadelphia with a loaded card and several former stars expected to appear.
Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Booker T, and more will be there. The Undertaker is also slated to attend, although his wife, Michelle McCool, revealed on Twitter that she wasn’t called.
The Idea
WWE might have some big plans for Taker and one of its biggest stars, Bray Wyatt. Fightful Select reported today, “There were pitches for Undertaker to be involved with a Bray Wyatt/LA Knight segment.”
Taker and Wyatt had shared the ring before as The Undertaker went over the fan favorite in a singles match at WrestleMania 31 in 2015, one year after Brock Lesnar snapped Taker’s undefeated WrestleMania winning streak.
The report noted, “Despite his look on the poster, The Undertaker’s traditional gear was sent to the show.” Thus, Taker could again be portraying his Deadman gimmick on this show.
Raw 30 will also serve as the go-home episode before the 2023 Royal Rumble event this Saturday, where Wyatt and LA Knight are slated to meet in the Mountain Dew Pitch Black match in the Alamodome.
Bray Wyatt returned to The Firefly Fun House during the January 20 episode of SmackDown and reunited with all his friends.
This week’s episode of the show saw LA Knight defeating Ren Jones in a singles match. Mercy the Buzzard, Abby The Witch, Ramblin’ Rabbit and Huskus the Pig Boy then made an appearance, confronting Knight on the Titantron.
Ramblin Rabbit revealed that he is scared of the dark and worried about Bray for his Pitch Black match at the upcoming Royal Rumble PPV on January 29.
Wyatt tried to console his friend but halfway through the segment, Uncle Howdy interrupted. He claimed that he knew all Bray needed was a push.
The segment ended with Bray Wyatt telling LA Knight that whatever happens at the upcoming PPV, whatever walks through the door, it’s his own fault.
Uncle Howdy also made an appearance on Raw this past Monday on January 16. He saved Alexa Bliss from Bianca Belair.
Bray Wyatt has wrestled a few live event matches since his return but not on TV. His bout against Knight at Royal Rumble will mark his first Televised match since WrestleMania 37 back in April 2021 where he was defeated by Randy Orton.
WWE Superstar Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda) is going to walk down the aisle later this year.
Wyatt is engaged to former WWE ring announcer JoJo Offerman. They couple has been together for several years and have two children together. Their son Knash was born in May 2019 and their daughter Hyrie came the following year in May 2020.
Offerman spoke to Nikki and Brie Bella this week for The Bellas Podcast and dropped some new details about her upcoming wedding to WWE’s creepiest competitor.
Bray Wyatt’s Wedding to JoJo Offerman
The latest Total Bellas Podcast looks at the upcoming 10-year anniversary of Total Divas, the reality series that helped the Bellas break through to a mainstream audience. The series premiered on the E! Network on July 28, 2013.
Show originals JoJo, Nattie and Ariane (Cameron) joined Nikki and Brie to discuss the “beautiful journey” that was Total Divas, including their favorite scenes and memories.
During the episode, JoJo revealed that she and Wyatt are currently planning their wedding ceremony, which is scheduled to take place later this year. She was asked, “How’s married life?” and clarified that they’re still preparing for their big day.
“We’re not officially married, [we’re] engaged, but we will be married at the end of the year, We picked our date and everything. It’s fun, the kids are crazy.”
– JoJo
She said her son looks like her, while her daughter has Windham’s face but her attitude.
JoJo, 28, also recalled being young and inexperienced when she joined the cast of Total Divas a decade ago. At the time, she was just a few months removed from graduating high school and needed to use a fake ID to attend Natalya’s bachelorette party in Las Vegas during season one.
Her favorite memories were getting to know the Bellas, forging lifelong friendships with her cast mates and getting to travel the world.
Actor and screenwriter Freddie Prinze Jr. has been working on the formation of his own wrestling promotion for some time now.
On a recent episode of his Wrestling with Freddie podcast, the Scooby-Doo star shed some light on a feud he had in mind for his promotion. At the top of the card, Prinze Jr. wanted Karrion Kross vs. Bray Wyatt. The angle would’ve also included Kross’ wife Scarlett and Wyatt’s real-life brother Bo Dallas.
Perhaps most curious of all was the manner in which Prinze Jr. wanted to use Bo Dallas. Instead of being a standard, active professional wrestler, Dallas would’ve essentially been a figment of Wyatt’s personality. It would’ve lent an almost supernatural vibe to Wyatt in his feud with Kross. Interestingly, the Hollywood star would’ve booked Kross as a babyface, something he’s rarely played in his professional wrestling career.
Ultimately, though, the feud had to be cancelled when Kross made his surprise return to WWE last year. At that point, Prinze Jr. considered booking ‘The Eater of Worlds’ as a babyface before he too returned to WWE.
Karrion Kross Reportedly Has Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Blessing To Use The Angle In The Future
On the same podcast episode, Prinze Jr. revealed that Karrion Kross knows the full story that was planned out for his and Bray Wyatt’s feud.
Despite both me ultimately backing out to rejoin WWE, the podcast host is happy for Kross to use the angle down the road if he wants to. The former White Rabbit in Lucha Underground plays a devilish heel in WWE managed by Scarlett. His return and subsequent feud with Drew McIntyre in 2022 drew a polarized response from audiences.
Bray Wyatt, meanwhile, returned to much fanfare at Extreme Rules 2022. Since then, he’s engaged in a complex, slow-burning feud with LA Knight. The angle appears set to climax at the Royal Rumble when the two finally wrestle.
While both stars are on the SmackDown roster at the moment, an angle between them seems unlikely for now. Bo Dallas, meanwhile, has not been seen on WWE TV in a long time. Rumors are currently swirling that he will turn out to be the Uncle Howdy character later this year.
The competitors for the first-ever Pitch Black match scheduled for the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble have been revealed.
On Friday’s episode of SmackDown, Bray Wyatt opened the show to apologize to the cameraman he attacked last week before he was quickly interrupted by LA Knight, who called Wyatt a fraud. Knight challenged him to a match at the upcoming premium live event.
The Set Up
Wyatt accepted the bout before saying it was time to remind the world how cruel he could be. Before they could brawl, Uncle Howdy appeared, standing alongside Wyatt before hitting him with Sister Abigail. Knight quickly exited the ring.
WWE confirmed later in the broadcast that Wyatt vs. Knight would be a “Pitch Black Match,” though no details were given on what the match is, although they plugged the bout being sponsored by Mountain Dew with a graphic.
This match will mark Wyatt’s first television match in WWE since his bout against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 37.
WWE presents the Royal Rumble premium live event on Saturday, January 28, 2023 from San Antonio, Texas at the Alamodome that will air on Peacock. WWE will be announcing more matches for this show in the coming weeks.
Bray Wyatt says he broke his finger at Thursday’s WWE live event from Miami, Florida, but he doesn’t seem to concerned about it.
WWE’s holiday tour wraps up tonight with a Raw-brand house show from Toronto. It was a successful week, in terms of ticket sales. Unfortunately, a couple stars suffered injuries.
The former WWE Champion defeated Jinder Mahal Thursday night from Miami’s FTX Arena. After the match, Wyatt spent some time at ringside taking photos with fans and signing autographs. As seen below, Wyatt told Justin from Vlog Warriors that he broke a finger on his right hand during the match with Mahal.
Finger fractures take approximately three to four weeks recovery time. It sounds painful, but there’s a strong chance Wyatt will be able to avoid time away from the ring.
Bray Wyatt wrestled Jinder Mahal four times this week on WWE’s holiday tour. The result was the same each time, with Mahal getting in some early offense but Wyatt making a comeback and finishing him off with Sister Abigail.
Prior to this week, Wyatt had not competed since April 2021. After four consecutive wins over Mahal in NYC, Atlanta, Greensboro and Miami, Wyatt sets his sights back on LA Knight. The two have been feuding over the past several months since Wyatt’s return to WWE television.
Bray Wyatt made his triumphant return to WWE at Extreme Rules in October. This followed weeks of teases of the White Rabbit. He has since spent time taunting LA Knight and cutting promos that are more like riddles.
Last week, the crowd and LA Knight got to meet Uncle Howdy. While Wyatt was in the ring, Uncle Howdy stood at the top of the ramp to prove that they are in fact two people and not a figment of Wyatt’s imagination.
Weeks after making his WWE return, Wyatt has had his first match. WWE held a house show at the famed Madison Square Garden tonight.
Bray Wyatt’s First Match Back
Wyatt has not wrestled a match for WWE since The Fiend lost to Randy Orton at WrestleMania 37 in April 2021.
Twitter user Taboy225 posted a seven second clip of Wyatt in the ring and captioned it “Bray is having a match!” His opponent was Jinder Mahal.
It’s safe to say that 2022 has been one of the wildest years in the history of WWE.
From mass releases to the shock retirement of Vince McMahon, this is a year that none of us will ever, ever forget.
But with 2022 drawing to a close, attention turns to 2023, and a whole new year of matches to look forward to.
Here are five of the most anticipated matches of WWE in the new year.
5: Brock Lesnar Vs. GUNTHER
It has been reported that GUNTHER Vs. Brock Lesnar is in the works for WrestleMania 39.
Can you say PHYSICAL?!
In 2022, there are few names in WWE who have made an impact quite like our reigning Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER.
Debuting on the main roster earlier this year, the Austrian powerhouse wasted no time in winning his title from Ricochet, a title he has held for over 200 days.
It was reported recently that right now, WWE’s plan for WrestleMania 39 is for GUNTHER to face Brock Lesnar, in what could be the most hard hitting match we’ve seen in decades.
GUNTHER’s in-ring strength has never been in doubt, while Lesnar is a once in a lifetime athlete who’s 2022 has shown he still has a love for wrestling.
Whether the title is on the line or not, GUNTHER Vs. Lesnar has all the markings of an instant classic, and a match fans are eager to see.
4: Bray Wyatt’s First Match Back
Bray Wyatt returned with a ton of buzz, but WWE needs to pull the trigger with a match soon.
At Extreme Rules, WWE’s excellent White Rabbit build paid off with the return of Bray Wyatt, fifteen months after his controversial release from the company.
Since then, Wyatt has feuded with LA Knight, though his attentions seem to be more focused on the presence of the mysterious Uncle Howdy.
For all of Wyatt’s talk and promos though, Bray is yet to wrestle, something that has not gone unnoticed by fans.
It has been rumored that Wyatt will face Knight in a ‘Pitch Black’ match at the Royal Rumble, though whatever the rules are for said match is unclear.
I guess you could say that with the Pitch Black match, we’re ‘in the dark!’ (I crack myself up.)
While Bray returned with all the momentum in the world, it does feel like some of the shine has come off, and WWE needs to pull the trigger on a match for him soon.
Wyatt’s first match back is hotly anticipated, if nothing else than fans want to see what he can do in the ring as this new character, and we can only imagine his match will come in 2023.
3: Edge’s Final Match
Edge will have the chance to end his career on his own terms next year.
It’s hard to believe that next month will be the third anniversary of Edge’s startling return to wrestling.
In April 2011, fans (and Edge himself) had resigned themselves to the fact that his career was over, tragically cut short by neck issues.
This year has seen Edge compete six times, a slight dip from the ten matches in 2021, but next year may see his final match.
After competing in his native Toronto earlier this year, Edge strongly implied that he will be retiring the next time WWE comes to Canada, which is expected for mid-2023.
If so, then we are not long away from Edge’s final match, and hopefully WWE will give it the build and gravitas it deserves.
Edge’s return to wrestling has been nothing short of miraculous, but the Rated-R Superstar now has the chance to end his in-ring career again, this time on his own terms.
2: Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes
From the moment Cody Rhodes returned, there has been speculation on a match with Roman Reigns. (via WWE)
From the moment Cody Rhodes’ platform was raised at WrestleMania 38, this was a match fans anticipated.
The idea of Rhodes Vs. Reigns was cemented the following night when the American Nightmare spoke about his WWE return, and his desire to become World Champion.
Sure, Rhodes’ injury may have delayed those plans, but it is clear that Cody is destined to hold gold soon.
With rumors of Rhodes returning as part of the Men’s Rumble match, a match he is a favorite among many to win, a match with Reigns seems a matter of when, not if.
But this match will resonate for another reason. It will be WWE’s top star against someone for years considered the face of AEW.
The fact that Cody is in WWE now at all remains mind-blowing, and him facing Reigns has the substance to be an all-time great story, even if there’s one more for the Tribal Chief that fans are anticipating even more…
1: The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns
The Rock & Roman Reigns could be the biggest match WWE has held in a decade.
The People’s Champion Vs. The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
The Brahma Bull Vs. The Tribal Chief.
The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns.
Not since The Rock Vs. John Cena in 2012 has there been this level of excitement for a match, one that WWE has yet to confirm.
Both Reigns and Rock have teased for years that a match between them could happen, but never has it seemed more likely.
From Reigns being at his very best, to Rock’s movie filming schedule being suspiciously free for the first quarter of the year, all the signs are pointing to this match finally happening.
The Rock, now 50 years old, is not the spring chicken he once was, and if not next year, than this match, nor any other match with him, may never happen.
If WWE wants The Rock Vs. Reigns, then 2023 is the time, in what would be the biggest fight we’ve seen in years.
Bray Wyatt may be a mysterious, enigmatic figure on WWE TV, but the former Universal Champion recently broke character to speak about his uncle.
Earlier this month, Barry Windham suffered a heart attack when traveling through the Atlanta airport and was later transported to an intensive care unit.
This week, it was reported by Mika Rotunda, Windham’s niece and sister of Bray, that the wrestling legend has been stabilized and out of the ICU.
Wyatt’s Message
Taking to Instagram, Wyatt spoke about his uncle, who is the namesake for his real name Windham Rotunda.
In the video, Wyatt thanked a “random citizen” who delivered CPR to Windham before EMTs were able to get to him.
“I want to thank one specific man, Michael Todd Lalic, who was there, a random citizen, and he gave him CPR in there throughout that entire time before everyone else and the EMTs can get to him, and he stayed with him, and he’s the reason that we have Barry still, he’s alive, he’s with us. “
Bray Wyatt.
Wyatt added that his uncle has given his life to professional wrestling, and spoke about his sister’s GoFundMe page to help cover medical bills.
“My sister set up a GoFundMe in his name and not obligated to share, no one is obligated to share anything. But if you could, that would be incredibly helpful. “
With Survivor Series in the rearview mirror, WWE will look ahead through the holidays and start building towards the Royal Rumble premium live event in January.
WrestlingNews.co reports that WWE has already mapped out the entire card for the show. Last week, there was a pitch within the creative team for a “Pitch Black” match and it was being seriously considered for the show.
Bray Wyatt’s Speciality?
However, the source didn’t provide any further details on the structure/rules of the match but another source in the company believes that the match is for Bray Wyatt.
Since returning to WWE, he has been involved in a feud with LA Knight. Last week on SmackDown, Wyatt claimed to not have been involved in the attack on Knight. This has left the door open for more characters to be introduced or perhaps the first member of the rumored Wyatt 6 faction.
The source said that they are being careful to not overexpose Wyatt in the ring because they want everything he does to feel extra special. WWE previously did this with him when he was portraying The Fiend character as he wrestled on a limited schedule.
In addition to this possible match, WWE will of course have its two Royal Rumble matches – one for the men and one for the women – as well as a defense of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship by Roman Reigns.
Bray Wyatt returned at Extreme Rules after a White Rabbit teaser campaign that captured the imagination of the WWE Universe.
The mind games are still happening as a phone number flashed on the screen during tonight’s episode of SmackDown. Wyatt came to the ring and claimed that he was not the one who attacked LA Knight last week.
LA Knight made the bold decision of slapping Bray Wyatt in the face not once, but twice last week. He was later found buried under a bunch of equipment and showed up this week with his arm in a sling.
Uncle Howdy interrupted Bray Wyatt and accused him of being a liar once again. A phone number flashed on the screen during the segment and the following message is delivered when it is dialed:
“Patient suffers from delusions of grandeur, perhaps the most extreme incidence I’ve encountered. Concerns that no regime or treatment will be able to counteract the imbalance of pattern in the patient’s psyche.
Prone to disorganized thought patterns that communicate a sense of unmatched importance. Bouts of isolation has seems to have amplified their inner monologue and honestly blocked out any outside voice.
In short, the patient would need to think as highly of a medical practitioner as they do themselves and honestly that seems to border on the impossible. I’ve become concerned that this patient has become such a danger to themselves and anyone that they encounter that… Hello? Hello? Is someone there? Hello? I…”
There was a phone number that flashed during the Uncle Howdy video. If you call, you get Bray Wyatt's psychiatrist saying how he is a danger to others as well as himself. 👀 #SmackDownpic.twitter.com/AZFpWH0Ikn
WWE Survivor Series WarGames airs live tonight from the TD Garden in Boston, MA. The premium live event will feature two WarGames matches, two title matches, and a grudge match.
Here is the card for WWE Survivor Series WarGames 2022:
Men’s WarGames Match: Sheamus, Ridge Holland, Butch, Drew McIntyre, and Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline’s Roman Reigns, Jimmy and Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn
Women’s WarGames Match: Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, and Mia Yim vs. Bayley, Dakota Kai, IYO Sky, Nikki Cross, and Rhea Ripley
United States Championship Triple Threat match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Austin Theory
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Shotzi
Finn Balor vs. AJ Styles
Our live coverage will begin alongside the event in the link below.
Bray Wyatt’s new feud with the recently-rebranded LA Knight is set to continue tonight on SmackDown.
The primary focus of the show will be the final build to Survivor Series, including an ‘Advantage Match’ on the men’s side, and Asuka, Alexa Bliss and Mia Yim revealing the final member of their team for the women’s WarGames match. However, WWE has several other ongoing storylines that are worth tuning in for.
Wyatt has been trying to keep himself on an honest path since returning to the company, but he’s had a difficult time keeping his violent tendencies at bay. He slipped up by recently attacking LA Knight, and attempted to apologize for his actions last week. Knight wasn’t having it. After interrupting a Wyatt’s in-ring promo, he slapped Wyatt in the face, twice.
Later in the show, Knight was found badly beaten backstage. Maybe the attack was carried out by Waytt, maybe someone else was responsible.
Headed into tonight’s SmackDown, Fightful Select reports that plans call for Knight to sell his injuries “pretty heavily” on the show.
It would be (very) short notice to add Wyatt vs. Knight to the Survivor Series card less than 24 hours before the event. One thing we o know: this storyline still has a ways to go as we head into the final weeks of 2022.
Wyatt Masks
Finally, Fightful also notes that several Bray Wyatt masks are being brought to SmackDown.
Check back later tonight for our WWE SmackDown results and takeaways feature.
There are two stars that Bray Wyatt would like to see Paul Levesque (Triple H) bring back to the WWE that had been released during the COVID-19 pandemic alongside several other names because of what was blamed on “budget cuts.”
Wyatt was also let go by the company when Vince McMahon was still running things as he departed in July 2021, only to return last month at the Extreme Rules event after several weeks of teases that were dropped throughout WWE’s shows.
Since taking over talent relations and main roster creative, Triple H has brought back several names, including Wyatt, and it appears fans shouldn’t expect that trend to end any time soon.
The Names
While speaking with GiveMeSport, WrestleVotes stated that Wyatt wants to work with two specific names: his real-life brother Bo Dallas and former Wyatt Family member Erick Rowan.
“There’s people that Bray likes and people he wants to work with. Bo Dallas is one of them and so is Erick Rowan. If Erick wants to come back, I’m sure they’d allow that if Bray also wanted it.”
There have been rumors that Wyatt will lead a new faction called the ‘Wyatt 6.’ As of late, Wyatt’s promos have been interrupted by a dark character known as ‘Uncle Howdy,’ whose actual identity has yet to be revealed but is speculated to be Dallas or an alter-ego of Wyatt himself.
Bo Dallas and Eric Redbeard have both spoken about the possibility of returning to WWE. Back in April, Dallas announced that he’ll be returning to wrestling “really, really soon.” More recently, there have been reports that his WWE return is imminent.
Last month, Redbeard said the door is open for a WWE return. He told NBC Sports Boston, “There’s always [an] opportunity and my story within wrestling. That character of Erick Rowan or Erick Redbeard, it has so much left to tell and talk about. I think when I stepped aside when Covid happened and people were let go, I wasn’t ready for my story to stop.”
5 WWE Superstars who can Challenge Gunther for the IC Title
