Run.
In an industry where death is more common than we'd like, the passing of Bray Wyatt especially stings. His sudden death last August from COVID-related heart issues still feels unreal. Maybe it's because it felt like man who led the Wyatt clan was so young, and yet so influential on pro wrestling during his time on our screens. WWE and Peacock are going to explore the body of his work this coming April with Bray Wyatt Becoming Immortal.
Narrated by fellow spooky wrestling gimmick peer The Undertaker, Bray Wyatt Becoming Immortal will look at the rise and success of the late Windham Rotunda. To celebrate the release of the documentary on April 1, let's look at the legacy of Wyatt, what to expect, and how best to remember one of the most successful NXT call-ups ever.
Bray Wyatt Becoming Immortal: He's here
"I know you people are hurting... I hurt too." The original Bray Wyatt gimmick and story is one of the best, most clever beginnings to a career of all time. Full stop. And while, on the outside, the hawaiian shirt-clad cult leader looked like some kind of combination of Waylon Mercy and Raven, what set it apart was Wyatt himself. A charming demeanor, almost inviting, Bray's introduction promos weaved a spell. This was a man of mystery, capable of anything and everything.
I'd be remiss to not mention his fellow stable members, as they are just as important to the success of Bray Wyatt as the man himself. The late Brodie Lee paired incredibly well with the equally large and menacing Erick Rowan. The two formed a backbone to the stable as looming, lost souls brought in by Wyatt's voice. One of my hopes for the Bray Wyatt Becoming Immortal doc is looking at this relationship.
After all, they were one cohesive unit. The arrival of the Wyatt Family to WWE couldn't have come at a better time, as it was a true renaissance era for stables. At the same time, The Shield were earning its place in the history of pro wrestling as one of the strongest booked factions of all time. The two groups would make wrestling magic shortly thereafter.
The Funhouse cometh
Bray's true legacy in WWE comes irrevocably tied to arguably its biggest star, John Cena. I could sum up the strings that knot these two together, but, really you should just go watch the Firefly Funhouse match. The closest that pro wrestling will ever come to being the anime Evangelion, it's a masterful piece of wrestling media. I don't dare call it a match, so much as a deconstruction of wrestling as a medium, focused through the lens of Cena's career.
Here's hoping we learn even more about this iconic moment during the Bray Wyatt Becoming Immortal documentary, set for release on April 1 via Peacock.
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