Can horror work in wrestling? The late great Windham Rotunda found his own innovative success with his iterations of Bray Wyatt and eventually The Fiend, but some of that intrigue fell victim to booking and creative choices. You can’t pin ghosts (Goldberg did), but the lasting effect on the product and The Fiend persona itself was put into question.

There’s no denying that Wyatt had an innate connection with the wrestling fanbase and it would have been tremendous to see what he and WWE had planned for him if it wasn’t for his tragic passing, but what fans got to witness on Monday, the game plan looks promising. It’s all the more fitting that Bo Dallas is front and center.

The Wyatt Sicks had their fair share of spooky tricks in their debut. Nikki Cross as “Sister Abigail” channeled the girl from The Ring to begin the terror tour that viewers were about to be led on. The implied violence with only WWE showing the results of the bloodshed added to the horror. ECW Original Blue Meanie mentioned on X that WWE beautifully set the table for how Gorilla typically looks for us to eventually see the “massacre” that took place.

“Brilliantly marketed, build up debut,” Meanie said on “Rumor & Innuendo”. “I believe in the creative. They got great guys there like Rob Fee who’s doing an amazing job backstage developing characters and I think we’re about to see something very cool and to carry on the legacy of Bray Wyatt.”

“They got people talking. When you get people saying ‘How are they going to do this?’ That means they’re invested to watch next week as well and see the follow-up.”

• Sami Zayn Reveals How He Dodged Wyatt Sicks’ Attack

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Bo Dallas Redemption Story

While Bo Dallas has previously portrayed “Uncle Howdy” on television, we have yet to see the younger Rotunda brother’s actual face in years. With how this new faction is set up, there’s potential for all the masks to come off. Arguably, that may be the most beneficial to Wyatt Sicks in the long-term. These “personas” could merely just be an homage to Wyatt’s legacy, but the people behind the masks are what fans can truly sink their teeth into. Erick Rowan won’t totally be “Rambling Rabbit”, nor should Dexter Lumis be “Mercy The Buzzard” but you associate those established names with characters that Wyatt created and you continue to keep those fireflies “aflame.” 

That brings us to Bo Dallas. He played a patronizing champion heel in NXT before being called up the main roster where he was greatly used as a comedy act. The B Team found cult-like success as a tag team, but what will really establish Dallas as a viable star is the cult he’s currently cultivating. Is there a sixth member or his Wyatt the omnipresent addition? 

• Mika Rotunda Pens Emotional Tribute To Brothers Bray & Bo After Wyatt Sicks Raw Debut

Charles Manson violently symbolized the end of the 60s with Helter Skelter and there’s nothing scarier than a little bit of realism in your horror. Obviously, Chad Gable didn’t get killed backstage, but how will this affect his character moving forward? How will RAW protocol be affected in the weeks to come? Will we see a skeleton crew of production and “Superstars” next week as RAW recovers? Those can be wrestling’s variant of “murders committed.” 

If The Sicks take someone out, make it mean something. They’re gone for a while and that character is changed for better or worse. Do the cult stuff right, something that WWE teased and struck out on when Bryan Danielson joined The Wyatts many moons ago. If you’re going to make a sixth in The Sixth, have them initiate a new member or channel X-Men’s Apocalypse’s “Four Horsmen” and rotate a new member in from time to time.

If you humanize the horror, you make each member relatable and the actions they take more impactful. WWE can make this whole faction work. They just need to avoid the potential pitfalls and lean into the strength of it all by letting the fan’s imagination run wild. More like JAWS and less like Terrifier 2. WWE could have something very cool going, but it’s certainly going to be a team effort. 

For starters, Bray Wyatt has got to be smiling.

Related: Sami Zayn Reveals How He Dodged Wyatt Sicks’ Attack

Something is stirring in the WWE Universe, and the cryptic clues keep coming. The company’s Twitch stream, already a target for mysterious messages, saw another ominous interruption today.

A new hint has emerged about the rumored Bo Dallas-led faction in WWE. This only adds to the growing intrigue surrounding their anticipated arrival.

During a live Twitch stream on WWE’s official channel, viewers saw a series of mysterious visuals and messages. This concluded the stream for the day, and the clip immediately went viral.

The strange portion of the broadcast started with two notes shown on screen. One said, “I can’t wait to meet you,” as the other read, “I will see you all soon.” Then, hands wearing fingerless gloves appeared, holding a note with the message “REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE” along with displayed coordinates. They left this note on a doorstep before running away.

Who's ready for this faction to break WWE wide open? pic.twitter.com/FWjenj3Msd

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) May 24, 2024

The Upcoming Stable

Four other names are expected to be part of this new faction. Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan are all slated to join the new Wyatt Family fold.

Each of these Superstars has experience as faction members. Cross was part of Sanity, Gacy leads The Schism, Lumis was a member of The Way, and Rowan was an original member of The Wyatt Family.

Uncle Howdy hasn’t been seen on WWE television since he was involved in Bray Wyatt’s story with Bobby Lashley during the build toward their WrestleMania 39 match that never happened. WWE is obviously planning something, and fans will seemingly have an answer to all their questions soon.

Something is happening on WWE television. The glitches and QR codes continue, hinting at a new force on the way. These interruptions have spread across RAW, SmackDown and NXT. Now, even WWE’s digital programming is being affected.

During a stream on WWE’s Twitch channel, glitches appeared as Lilian Garcia introduced Kane to the ring. The disturbances caused static, and Garcia’s voice was manipulated to say “Wyatt.” As Kane made his way to the ring, the screen glitched again. A serene setting with an ominous chair in a corner was shown. The stationary shot remained unchanged, with no one else visible in the frame. The screen then flashed back to the old WWE program in progress. In the end, the takeover lasted about thirty minutes, with interruptions like this throughout that period of time. 

UNCLE HOWDY HAS TOOK OVER WWE’S TWITCH ACCOUNT JUST NOW

?????????? pic.twitter.com/ZqNBveoRIA

— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) May 16, 2024

At the end of the takeover, a woman was shown in the chair. She had a book and was asking the camera “what does this represent?” as she showed off something drawn on the page. The camera then flashed to a news article of a missing reporter.

This Twitch stream escalated quickly… pic.twitter.com/g6XOy3WCUX

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) May 16, 2024

WWE teased Bo Dallas’ return at the end of the “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal” documentary, making it clear that something is coming. Fans have been analyzing the cryptic clues, waiting for what lies ahead.

Bo Dallas’ Upcoming Stable

Bo Dallas played Uncle Howdy during Bray Wyatt’s final run. Sadly, Windham Rotunda passed away, and we will never see what they had planned. Now a new chapter is beginning.

Four names are currently expected to be in the new faction. Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan are all slated to join the new Wyatt Family.

Each Superstar has previous experience in factions: Cross with Sanity, Gacy leading The Schism, Lumis as part of The Way, and Rowan as an original member of The Wyatt Family. It will be interesting to see how they fit into the picture once the new stable officially debuts on WWE television. 

Two new statues of the late Bray Wyatt have been unveiled at the WWE World convention taking place in Philadelphia, PA ahead of WWE WrestleMania 40. 

Bray Wyatt tragically passed away in August of 2023 after being pulled from programming earlier that year. The three-time WWE World Champion was 36 years old and tributes have poured in for Wyatt ever since. 

At WWE World, WWE unveiled two statues of the late wrestler. One depicts Wyatt from his 2022 return to WWE, holding a lantern and a mask. The second depicts Wyatt during his time as ‘The Fiend’ which was a hit with audiences from 2019 until his WWE release in 2021. It also features a Fiend-inspired lantern. 

The Return of Uncle Howdy

At WWE World, a panel was hosted highlighting the life and career of Wyatt. The panel included some of the people who knew Bray best, including Big E, Natalya, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair, The Undertaker, his widow JoJo Offerman, and Wyatt’s brother Bo Dallas, among others. 

The panel proved to be an emotional event for the guests and the fans and there was a tease at the very end of the festivities. On a screen, a video was shown, teasing the return of Uncle Howdy. 

https://twitter.com/TraceDarabaris/status/1776639627064963279

Dallas played Uncle Howdy on WWE TV shortly after Wyatt’s return to the promotion in 2022. It’s unclear when or how WWE will reintroduce the Howdy character to TV. During the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, Bo and his sister Mika paid tribute to Wyatt during their induction speech for the US Express. 

Bray Wyatt’s passing didn’t just rob the world of a great man, but so many mind-blowing creative moments also never came to pass. Wyatt was deep into an angle with his real-life brother, Bo Dallas under that Uncle Howdy mask, but even after Wyatt’s passing, Dallas is still with the company.

Bo Dallas’ WWE Status Revealed

When Bray Wyatt faced health problems last year, WWE removed him and his brother Bo Dallas from television. Initially, there was hope for their return together after Wyatt’s recovery. Sadly, this expectation was shattered when Wyatt passed away at 36 due to a heart attack during sleep.

PW Insider Elite has now confirmed that, despite being inactive, Dallas remains an employee of the company. He is still on their payroll, even though he is not booked in a current television storyline.

Bo Dallas had a 13-year run with WWE, ending in an April 2021 release due to budgetary cuts. His last in-ring appearance was in November 2019. Initially, WWE cited a lack of creative plans for his absence.

However, Dallas later revealed a broken neck, leading to his hiatus for recovery. His unexpected return in 2022 as Uncle Howdy surprised many fans.

While unconfirmed, it is reported that internal speculation suggests Wyatt, who had recently returned to WWE at the time, might have influenced Dallas’s re-hiring. Sadly, Howdy and Wyatt never had much time together in the ring.

Who is Bo Dallas?

Bo Dallas’ real name is Taylor Michael Rotunda. He is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda, who wrestled as IRS, and the brother of Windham Rotunda, who we all knew as Bray Wyatt. That family connection continued until the end, as their Uncle Howdy storyline never had a chance to really play out as they envisioned it.

Dallas is still under WWE contract, but it’s unknown whether WWE will ever use the Uncle Howdy character again. I asked a couple of months ago when this rumor first surfaced, and I was told by multiple members of the creative team that, at the time, there is and was no talk of bringing Uncle Howdy back.

WWE Is Taking Care of Bray Wyatt’s Family

WWE has taken great care of Bray Wyatt’s family since his passing. JoJo Offerman is receiving 100% of the proceeds from all of his merchandise that they sell. The company made this declaration shortly after news of his passing broke.

Wyatt was also put under a Legends Contract to ensure that the company will continue providing for his family for a very long time to come.

Our thoughts are still with JoJo Offerman, Bray’s children, and his family. He is gone, but his name will live on forever. 

Uncle Howdy has remained an ominous figure who lurks around but never gets his own hands dirty ever since his introduction to WWE TV, but this changed on tonight’s episode of SmackDown.

Bray Wyatt called out the winner of the Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar match at Elimination Chamber before the PPV last month. The bout, however, ended in a disqualification after The Beast Incarnate delivered a low blow to his opponent.

Later reports revealed that Lesnar has declined a WrestleMania match with The Fiend. Wyatt then started targeting the All Mighty in various segments.

Bobby Lashley made a trip to SmackDown this week in response to Bray’s tricks. He called out the former Universal Champion for a confrontation.

Uncle Howdy In Action

While Bray was nowhere to be seen, Uncle Howdy did make an appearance. He first showed up in a video on the Titan Tron.

The mysterious character then attacked Lashley from behind, marking it the first time he has gotten physical with an opponent.

Though Bobby Lashley did not stay down for long. As Howdy ran the ropes, Lashley planted him and set him up for a spear. However, lights then went out and when they came back on, Bobby was left alone in the ring.

WWE has not made the match between the former WWE Champion and The Eater of Worlds official yet but all signs indicate that they will meet at the Show of Shows this year.

• WWE SmackDown Results (3/3): Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes Come Face-to-Face, Sami Zayn Battles Solo Sikoa, More

Fans have wondered who is behind the mysterious Uncle Howdy since the character made his first appearance on WWE television. 

Various names have been speculated, from Bo Dallas to Vincent to Cameron Grimes.

As previously reported, WWE has been playing its cards close to its chest with the character as the person behind the costume wears the mask backstage to hide their identity. It looks like fans are one step closer to finding out who is behind the Uncle Howdy mask.

Confirmation? 

PWInsider and Fightful Select report that former WWE star Bo Dallas, the brother of Bray Wyatt, is backstage at tonight’s Raw show in Birmingham, Alabama. 

On last week’s WWE Monday Night Raw, Alexa Bliss viciously attacked Bianca Belair during their Raw Women’s Championship match, which led to Belair needing stitches from the attack. WWE has confirmed that Bliss will explain her actions last week on tonight’s show. 

With Dallas being present backstage, it would sure seem that Dallas is the man behind the Uncle Howdy mask.

Bray Wyatt is set for his first match since returning to WWE at the Royal Rumble by taking on LA Knight in a Pitch Black match.

WWE is keeping talent and those backstage at events in the dark regarding who is playing the role of Uncle Howdy. 

There has been a lot of speculation among fans regarding who is behind the character. Apparently, WWE talent backstage is wondering the same thing, but the person portraying the gimmick isn’t talking. 

Keeping Kayfabe

Fightful Select reports that WWE is playing everything close to the vest in regard to the identity of Uncle Howdy, and the person in the outfit is kayfabing people backstage by going as far as to keep his outfit on backstage so nobody knows who it is.

There have been various guesses among fans regarding who the person is, with Bo Dallas’ name being heavily rumored. It’s likely there won’t be a confirmation until whenever they decide to do a big reveal.

Wyatt is slated to compete against LA Knight in the Mountain Dew Pitch Black match at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view later this month. WWE confirmed the match on last Friday’s episode of SmackDown.

 The segment to announce the upcoming match saw Knight and Wyatt exchange words. Before they could brawl, Uncle Howdy appeared, standing alongside Wyatt before hitting him with Sister Abigail. Knight quickly exited the ring.