Windham Lawrence Rotunda was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his tenure in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Bray Wyatt. Bray Wyatt has tragically died at the age of 36, WWE executive Triple H announced on social media.
Bray Wyatt Early Life and Age
Bray Watt was a third-generation professional wrestler, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Blackjack Mulligan, his father Mike Rotunda, and two of his uncles – Barry and Kendall Windham. His younger brother Taylor Rotunda is also a professional wrestler, best known as Bo Dallas.
Windham Lawrence Rotunda was born in Brooksville, Florida, on May 23, 1987. By the time of his death, he was 36 years old. He attended Hernando High School, where he won a state wrestling championship at 275 pounds (125 kg) in 2005. He graduated in 2005. He also played football as a defensive tackle and guard. Rotunda played at the College of the Sequoias for two seasons, earning second-team All-American honors as a sophomore offensive guard. He earned a football scholarship to Troy University, where he played collegiate football for two years. He left Troy 27 credit hours short of earning a bachelor’s degree after deciding to become a professional wrestler.
Bray Wyatt Professional Career
According to Wrestling Inc.COM Rotunda worked in WWE from 2009 to 2021, when he was released. He returned to the company a year later, to much fanfare, at the Extreme Rules premium live event, where he began performing an intricate storyline involving a character called Uncle Howdy (portrayed by his brother, former WWE star Bo Dallas) and Alexa Bliss. The story was apparently tabled, however, following Rotunda’s match with LA Knight at the 2023 Royal Rumble. Afterward, Rotunda began a feud with Bobby Lashley prior to WrestleMania 39, but was removed from television due to an undisclosed illness, which was later said to have threatened both his career and his life. Until this news, the worst seemed to have passed; as recently as August 10, wrestling media outlets were reporting that Wyatt was recovering and moving in the direction of being medically cleared to return.
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.
Bray Wyatt’s Personal Life
Rotunda and his ex-wife, Samantha, married in 2012 and had two daughters together before she filed for divorce in 2017. Rotunda and WWE announcer JoJo were revealed to be together during this time. They later had a son (born May 2019), whose godfather is wrestler Braun Strowman, and a daughter (born May 2020). They became engaged in 2022.
Bray Wyatt’s Death
Rotunda’s died unexpectedly on August 24, 2023. No cause of death has been announced. Prior to his death, he had been dealing with an undisclosed illness since February, which was reportedly life-threatening, and he was nearing a return to WWE before his passing. His death was announced by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
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
Rotunda was eulogised by fans and other WWE superstars for example the Rock.
Im heartbroken over the news of Bray Wyatt’s passing. Always had tremendous respect and love for him and the Rotunda family. Loved his presence, promos, in ring work and connection with @wwe universe.
Very unique, cool and rare character, which is hard to create in our crazy… pic.twitter.com/i9zlbJIOL3— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) August 24, 2023
The WWE universe also eulogised Rotunda for his immense contribution to WWE.
Rip bray wyatt
— Lord_Kira (キラ✡️) (@_Galadeemah) August 24, 2023
The WWE also issued a statement following the death of Bray Wyatt.
WWE is saddened to learn that Windham Rotunda, also known as Bray Wyatt, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 24, at age 36.
WWE extends its condolences to Rotunda’s family, friends and fans. pic.twitter.com/pabVuaKlnP
— WWE (@WWE) August 24, 2023
