WWE fans are familiar with the relentless rhythm of high-intensity matches, unexpected plot twists, and the churning drama that unfolds every night in the ring. Yet, the company’s vigorous entertainment machinery was abruptly stalled when one of its most popular performers, Bray Wyatt, suddenly disappeared from the screen, taking his persona, Uncle Howdy, with him. The culprit? An undisclosed illness that has put Wyatt’s wrestling career on an uncertain pause since March. His long and still-unexplained absence has raised eyebrows and given rise to waves of speculation, but the waiting game for his anticipated return continues, as Wyatt is still not medically cleared to return to the ring.
The consequences of Wyatt’s absence have affected WWE’s storyline. His last appearance in the ring was back in February, and the WWE universe was all agog about his planned confrontation with Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania 39, an encounter that was eventually scrapped.
With Wyatt out of action, Uncle Howdy has been kept off of television, and Bliss on maternity leave, there exists a dark and foreboding cloud that’s looming over the future of the third-generation WWE superstar.
Despite his professional setbacks, Wyatt’s spirits remain undimmed. His most recent public sightings confirm he remains in good health and just eagerly awaiting the green signal to re-enter the wrestling world. However, the timing of his return is still up in the air.
As per Fightful Select, a reliable source of wrestling news, a WWE higher-up confirmed that Wyatt is still sidelined, awaiting clearance for a return whenever it’s feasible. In the wake of Wyatt’s prolonged absence, Fightful noted that they’ve not heard any significant creative plans involving him in recent months.
At this point, the speculations about whether Wyatt will return for the next PLE will continue until he comes back to silence the noise. If nothing else, we’re nearly a year since he made his return to the WWE following a not-so-brief hiatus due to a difference in creative direction or an undisclosed injury, the truth of which depends on who you ask.
Is this the second coming of that situation, especially in light of Vince McMahon and his increasing influence in the WWE? Surely, this has nothing to do with that, right?
As we wait for Wyatt to make his return, we can at least take solace in the fact that he has the vote of confidence from one of WWE’s most iconic performers. Mark Calaway, better known as The Undertaker, believes that the future is still bright for the 38-year-old wrestler. However, Calaway believes that Wyatt should put Uncle Howdy and The Fiend to rest if only for the meantime. The WWE Hall of Famer advises Calaway to tap back into the persona he debuted with, the cult leader of the Wyatt Family.
If Wyatt is listening, then maybe that explains his absence – not an undisclosed illness. After all, before he debuted as The Fiend and brought along the Firefly Fun House gimmicks back in 2018, Wyatt was largely unseen from WWE television as he went radio silent for no apparent reason than to work on his craft.
With a handful of upcoming PLEs scheduled already, including one in Saudi Arabia in November, Wyatt isn’t going to run out of opportunities to be welcomed into the open arms of his legions of fans.
Let’s just hope that, when that happens, Wyatt is ready to go for an extended run for whoever he’s got planned for the WWE universe.
