Former WWE Champion Windham 'Bray Wyatt' Rotunda Passes Away At 36 Years Old

Earlier this afternoon, WWE Chief Creative Officer Paul Michael Levesque, best known to fans under his longtime ring name of Triple H, announced the news that former WWE Superstar and world champion, Windham Rotunda, who had a long and historic career under the ring name, Bray Wyatt, has passed. Triple H confirmed the news via his social media, noting that he was informed of the news by Wyatt's father, former WWE Superstar former wrestler Mike "IRS" Rotunda.

Wyatt, who was in a relationship with former WWE ring announcer Joseann Alexie Offerman, was the father of four children. He was only 36 years old. His passing was due to a reported heart attack. The wrestler was dealing with heart issues following a COVID diagnosis earlier this year, which exacerbated heart issues, per Fightful reporter Sean Ross Sapp.

https://twitter.com/TripleH/status/1694840084091023529

Triple H wrote in his announcement, "Just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda who informed us of the tragic news that our WWE family member for life Windham Rotunda - also known as Bray Wyatt - unexpectedly passed earlier today. Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time."

Details on Wyatt's passing are unknown at this time. He last appeared on WWE programming in February, featured in Firefly FunHouse vignettes for his character and teasing an onscreen feud with Bobby Lashley. He competed at January's WWE "Royal Rumble 2023" event, appearing in a signature "Mountain Dew Pitch Black" match against LA Knight, where Wyatt was victorious.

Wyatt had recently made a massive return to WWE last October at "Extreme Rules." The return received a great deal of fanfare, and WWE had built an elaborate ARG experience to build up his return. It resulted in a massive payoff with the return of Wyatt, which had fans across the WWE Universe excited for what was next. It appeared that Wyatt had created a new persona and ally with Captain Howdy.

Details are still pending regarding Wyatt's passing. Earlier this month, it was reported by Fightful that Wyatt was battling an undisclosed illness, and he was said to be "closer" to being medically cleared to return. The illness was said to be the reason why Wyatt was not cleared to work on television over the last six months. The report also noted that WWE and Wyatt were taking "extra precautions" to preserve his long-term health. Additionally, the illness was said to be both "career and life-threatening."

Following the news of Wyatt's passing, it was reported by Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp on social media that Wyatt was diagnosed with COVID earlier this year. His bout with COVID reportedly exacerbated heart issues, and while the former champion was making progress toward an eventual recovery, he reportedly suffered a heart attack earlier today (Aug. 24).

Rotunda made his WWE debut in 2010 under the ring name of Husky Harris as part of that season of NXT. Eventually, he would find his way back into WWE's developmental league, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he developed a new cult-leader-type gimmick called Bray Wyatt. He later brought his repackaged character to WWE's new developmental show and brand, NXT, in 2012. Forming a stable of eerie, haunting figures called The Wyatt Family, Wyatt and his group would debut on the main roster as part of "Monday Night Raw" in 2013.

It wouldn't be long before Wyatt would find himself feuding with top names and headliners in the business. At "WrestleMania 30" in 2014, Wyatt faced John Cena in a key matchup. The two would later have a rematch many years later at "WrestleMania 36" during WWE's pandemic years where no fans were allowed. At Night 2 of the event, under his persona of "The Fiend," Wyatt defeated Cena in a Firefly Fun House contest.

During his career, Wyatt has earned two of the top titles of the company, becoming both the WWE Champion and the Universal Champion. His Universal Championship reign ended when he lost to Goldberg in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at WWE's "Super ShowDown" premium live event in February of 2020. Wyatt continued working through WWE throughout that year and early 2021, culminating in a match with Randy Orton at "WrestleMania 36" in April 2021, which Orton won. Later on July 31, 2021, WWE announced the release of Wyatt. At the time, his release was said to be the result of budget cuts the company was making due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wyatt was largely out of the public eye and wrestling scene until his WWE return later the following year.

Wyatt is the father of four children. He had two daughters with his first wife, Samantha, before they divorced in 2017. He also has two children, son Knash Rotunda and daughter Hyrie Von Rotunda, with his partner, Joseann Alexie Offerman, aka former WWE ring announcer JoJo.

The two later started dating while Wyatt was undergoing a tumultuous split from his first wife. The couple was engaged to be married, and JoJo revealed earlier in January that they were planning to get married later this year. JoJo announced their engagement last year.

Wyatt was a generational talent, himself the son of former WWE Superstar Mike Rotunda, best known as the notorious bad guy Irwin R. Schyster in the WWE. Wyatt's brother, Taylor Michael Rotunda, was also a Superstar and wrestler in WWE, wrestling under the ring name of "Bo Dallas," becoming the world champion in NXT and a World Tag Team Champion on the "Raw" brand. Dallas is also rumored to have portrayed Captain Howdy on WWE programming during some of Wyatt's final onscreen appearances.

Wyatt leaves behind an incredible legacy from his memorable characters, feuds, and storylines as part of WWE programming, but he was also a beloved family man.  He is survived by his fiancée Offerman, his four children, his parents Mike and Stephanie Rotunda, his brother Taylor, and his sister Mika.