Wrestling aficionados from every corner of the globe are on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the enigmatic return of Bray Wyatt to the WWE ring. While his sudden hiatus left fans scrambling for answers, recent comments from his father, Mike Rotunda, have added fuel to the speculative fire.
Bray Wyatt’s scheduled face-off with Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania 39 was one of the most awaited clashes. But in an unforeseen turn of events, Wyatt, a third-generation WWE superstar, vanished from the scene. Reports about his still-unexplained unanticipated absence from WWE television have been fraught with rumors and speculations. At the heart of it lies a life-threatening illness which, much to the concern of his legion of fans, has kept him off the radar since March.
The weight of these rumors and the cloud of mystery surrounding Wyatt’s well-being have been somewhat lightened by his father. Best known by his WWE moniker IRS, Rotunda’s place in the wrestling pantheon is not just as a Hall of Famer but also as the father to Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas. Thus, when he speaks about Wyatt, fans and critics alike pay heed.
During a conversation with Bill Apter of SportsKeeda at WrestleCon 2023 in Detroit, MI, Rotunda addressed all of the rampant speculations. saying:
You read a lot of stuff on the internet, which I wouldn’t believe a lot of it or, in my case, any of it. So, Bray Wyatt, I’m sure he will return to WWE hopefully shortly, and we’ll go from there.
While Bray Wyatt’s sudden sabbatical from the limelight remains shrouded in mystery, this isn’t the first time he’s been absent. Notably, post his comeback last October, he’s only graced the ring once for a televised match, where he secured a win against LA Knight at the Royal Rumble in the much-debated Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match.
Rotunda’s recent conversations haven’t solely revolved around Wyatt. When quizzed about his former tag team partner and brother-in-law Barry Windham’s health (who faced a massive heart attack in 2022), he said, “Barry’s doing good. [I] Actually just did a signing recently, so he’s back up and running and actually doing well.”
It’s worth noting that before Wyatt’s sudden departure, WWE had grand plans in the pipeline. Given his current health status, WWE is reportedly treading cautiously, ensuring that they don’t heavily invest in new storylines only to face another unforeseen hiatus.
As Wyatt’s return to the ring draws near, two things are clear. Firstly, the health and well-being of the enigmatic star are of utmost importance, both to his family and the WWE. Secondly, when Wyatt finally makes his grand comeback, it promises to be a monumental moment for the world of professional wrestling.
Who knows? Bray Wyatt might return around the same time as his former opponent, Randy Orton.
