Bray Wyatt, born Windham Lawrence Rotunda, was an American professional wrestler best known for his tenures in WWE from 2009 until his death in 2023. He was a third-generation wrestler, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Blackjack Mulligan, his father Mike Rotunda, and his uncles Barry and Kendall Windham. Wyatt's career was marked by his unique and often unsettling characters, including the leader of The Wyatt Family and the persona known as The Fiend.
Main Milestones
Birth
May 23, 1987
Windham Lawrence Rotunda was born in Brooksville, Florida, marking the beginning of a life that would be deeply intertwined with professional wrestling.
WWE Debut
2009
Rotunda signed a developmental deal with WWE and began training in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he initially competed under various ring names, including Husky Harris.
The Nexus
2010-2011
As Husky Harris, Rotunda became a member of The Nexus, a stable that feuded with WWE's top talent, including John Cena and Randy Orton.
Rebirth as Bray Wyatt
2012
After a brief hiatus, Rotunda returned to WWE's developmental territory, now rebranded as NXT, and was repackaged as Bray Wyatt, the villainous leader of a bayou-dwelling cult known as The Wyatt Family.
Main Roster Return
2013
Bray Wyatt and The Wyatt Family made their main roster debut, quickly becoming some of the company's biggest heels.
WWE Champion
2016-2017
Wyatt won the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber, marking his first singles title in WWE and the first world title of his career.
The Fiend
2019
After a hiatus, Wyatt returned with a new split personality gimmick, The Fiend, a grotesque monster resembling an evil clown, which led to a series of intense feuds and matches, including a successful Universal Championship reign.
Return to WWE
2022
Wyatt made his return to WWE at Extreme Rules, introducing a new character that claimed to be his 'real-life' self, though he gradually reincorporated his previous personalities.
Medical Hiatus
February 2023
Wyatt took a medical hiatus due to a COVID-19 infection that exacerbated a pre-existing heart condition.
Death
August 24, 2023
Bray Wyatt died at the age of 36 due to a heart attack, a tragic end to a career that left a lasting impact on professional wrestling.
