10 WWE Gimmicks That Pushed The PG Era To Its Limits

2. Bray Wyatt (Psychopathic Cult Leader)

Wyatt Family
WWE.com

One popular explanation for Bray Wyatt's character is that he's a take off of Robert De Niro's Max Cady in the 1991 flick Cape Fear. There are parallels to Cady's violent mood swings and psychopathic behaviour, but Wyatt's presentation also shared immediate comparisons to a much more frightening (and real) person.

He looked and talked just like 1960's/70's cult leader Charles Manson.

Bray's bizarre grip over his Wyatt Family charges like Luke Harper, Erick Rowan and later Braun Strowman reeked of Manson's own powerful hold on his Manson Family followers. Charles often spoken in interviews with the same cryptic, self-assured and almost-babbling delivery Bray has perfected in promos too.

Taking inspiration from someone linked to nine murders and initially sentenced to death when WWE are aimed at children is bold. There's no doubt Bray's character and his Wyatt Family gimmick are based on Manson's own creepy commune and unhinged conduct.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.