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
May 23, 1987
Birth
Windham Lawrence Rotunda was born in Brooksville, Florida, marking the beginning of a life that would be deeply intertwined with professional wrestling.
2009
WWE Debut
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.
2010-2011
The Nexus
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.
2012
Rebirth as Bray Wyatt
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.
2013
Main Roster Return
Bray Wyatt and The Wyatt Family made their main roster debut, quickly becoming some of the company's biggest heels.
2016-2017
WWE Champion
Wyatt won the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber, marking his first singles title in WWE and the first world title of his career.
2019
The Fiend
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.
2022
Return to WWE
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.
February 2023
Medical Hiatus
Wyatt took a medical hiatus due to a COVID-19 infection that exacerbated a pre-existing heart condition.
August 24, 2023
Death
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.
