The wrestling world is a challenging arena, where character development is just as crucial as one’s physical prowess. One of WWE’s most enigmatic wrestlers, Bray Wyatt, is no stranger to this intricate dance, allegedly leaving the WWE last year due to a falling out with the former Head of Creative, Vince McMahon, due to creative differences although there are reports of Wyatt being uncommunicative about his undisclosed illness. Regardless of what’s true, the fact remains that his return in the WWE hasn’t gone as well as expected.
If you ask Mark Calaway, better known as The Undertaker, the third-generation WWE superstar still has a bright future as a wrestler but he needs to look back to his past to fully realize his potential.
In an exclusive interview with Metro.co.uk, The Undertaker expressed his support for the former world champion, Wyatt. He has been absent from the WWE for several months due to an undisclosed illness, leaving his future in question. However, if you ask The Undertaker, who shared the ring with Wyatt at WrestleMania 31 in 2015, is of the opinion that Wyatt’s talent remains undimmed.
“I got to work with Bray at ‘Mania the year after I got concussed in the Brock match,” said The Undertaker. “I think a lot of him, and I like what he’s doing.” The Deadman, however, thinks that recent iterations of Wyatt’s character have put him into tough spot, effectively boxing him into a challenging situation. Wyatt, who initially rose to fame as the leader of the cult-like Wyatt Family, has been experimenting with supernatural elements in his character, including alter egos known as The Fiend and Uncle Howdy. While the dramatic shift showcased Wyatt’s dedication to character development, The Undertaker believes that the change has complicated Wyatt’s participation in matches.
“They need to back Bray’s character up to the original character,” said The Undertaker. “They’ve kind of got themselves booked into a situation where it’s kind of difficult for him to have matches. I think the original Wyatt Family Bray, that’s the money.”
Wyatt last graced the WWE screens on February 27, when his burgeoning rivalry with Bobby Lashley was cut short due to his illness. While The Undertaker holds Wyatt’s talent in high esteem, he thinks that the supernatural invincibility of The Fiend hasn’t served the star well. As a result, the WWE bosses need to devise a more effective way to utilize Wyatt’s skills. “His promos, and then his ability to work – he’s an incredible, incredible worker but he’s not getting the opportunity to do it,” The Undertaker explained.
The question that remains is whether Wyatt would be open to reverting to his original character. Previously, he had stated that the original ‘Hawaiian shirt Bray’ wouldn’t work without his late friend Brodie Lee, known to WWE fans as Luke Harper. “The Hawaiian shirt Bray, who he was, he can’t be without Brodie, to me,” Wyatt told Ryan Satin on Out of Character. “I can’t be that without Brodie, it’s just not the same, it’s disrespectful to my best friend.”
Regardless of Wyatt’s eventual character trajectory, The Undertaker’s endorsement stands as a testament to Wyatt’s talent and potential. “I hope the best for him, I really do think a lot of him. We’ll see what happens there,” he concluded.
Only time will tell whether Bray Wyatt will heed The Undertaker’s advice, but one thing is clear: the WWE ring is missing its most unique performer in recent years.
Unfortunately, it probably won’t happen anytime soon. Bray Wyatt isn’t likely coming back as The Fiend at SummerSlam in August. Not to mention, the previous reports that Alexa Bliss will join him have been proven to be false after the multi-time women’s champion confirmed her hiatus until at least WrestleMania 40 because she’s pregnant.
