WWE Wrestler Dies “Unexpectedly”

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) professional wrestler Windham Lawrence Rotunda, who performed under the ring name ‘Bray Wyatt,’ has passed away “unexpectedly.”

“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 privacy at this time,” WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H said.

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

WWE’s Windham Rotunda, also known as Bray Wyatt, has died at 36 pic.twitter.com/MldTnzBFzf

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 24, 2023

Thank you Windham Rotunda for giving us Bray Wyatt. pic.twitter.com/A135RJGw3z

— Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsCo) August 24, 2023

Bray Wyatt left us with a lot of special moments.

Keep thinking about how he had only become a Father a few years ago. Heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/YVua7WZmMw

— Patrick The Heel (@patricktheheel) August 24, 2023

Fox News reports:

The news of Wyatt’s death was a shocking and devastating revelation as a report surfaced earlier this month that the former champion was nearing a return to the ring after battling a “life-threatening illness.”

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What Wyatt was dealing with was not made known. Pro wrestlers and fans sent their condolences across social media.

Back in October, Wyatt had made a return to the WWE in one of the most mysterious build-ups the company had done in a while. A white rabbit, mystery QR codes and other messages appeared on WWE programming leading up to Wyatt’s eventual return at Extreme Rules. The hints pointed toward his return about 15 months since he was released in July 2021.

Wyatt’s “Fiend” character was among the favorite programs that WWE ran in recent years. WWE was able to make the character thrive through the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and he was put into epic feuds with John Cena and Randy Orton.

One of the best returns that WWE ever produced.

Rest in Peace Bray Wyatt 🙏🏻https://t.co/rmFrrFcS6w

— Alastair McKenzie🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@mckenzieas93V2) August 24, 2023

Wrestling Inc added:

Rotunda’s televised WWE career began in 2010, when he joined the cast of the original “NXT” as Husky Harris, competing in the second season of the original “reality show” format of the program. As Husky Harris, he joined the “NXT”-centric heel stable The Nexus on the main roster, but was written off television and sent back to WWE’s developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling, in 2011. He was repackaged as the sinister cult figure Bray Wyatt in 2012 and was a major part of the re-branded “WWE NXT” when it functionally replaced FCW, becoming one of the show’s most popular acts alongside his cohorts, Erick Rowan and the late Luke Harper, aka The Wyatt Family. This incarnation would take him back to the main roster, where his career had numerous ups and downs; Rotunda seemed almost constantly in the act of re-inventing himself, a process that culminated in 2019, when he debuted both his Firefly Funhouse segments and his alter ego The Fiend, who notoriously wrestled under a terrifying mask and obtrusive red lights. Over the course of his career, he won the WWE Championship, the WWE Universal Championship, and two tag team championships.