The Disturbing Truth Behind The Fiend

Bray Wyatt The Fiend
WWE.com

As reported by Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, at Hell In A Cell, Vince’s “vision” played out to his exact specification. Of course it did.

A less controversial but equally grim development occurred on the SmackDown after Hell In A Cell—after WWE had refused, through presumed embarrassment, to acknowledge the farce on RAW. The Fiend interfered in the match between Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns by breaking through the ring canvas and dragging Rollins to symbolic hell. Rollins promptly escaped from hell within 12 seconds. So what happened here? How did he escape? Did the Fiend simply taunt Rollins, as part of an ongoing crusade of torment? Does the Fiend, like the eponymous ‘IT’ from Stephen King’s novel, need fear to inform his power? Or did Vince just think Hell, have him do some Kane sh*t!, conflating Wyatt with the generic ’Supernatural character’ trope?

Because that’s what that angle was. This was the same goofy, antiquated sh*t Kane used to do, and it’s what the Fiend is doing now, because it’s Vince’s show, and Vince is bereft of imagination. The scene looked hokey. The Fiend looked like a generic Boogeyman—the exact opposite of what was promised in those stupendously creative Firefly Fun House vignettes.

The failure of the Fiend character brought into focus WWE’s absolute refusal or ability to commit to anything remotely in the vicinity of ‘conclusive’, or ‘purposeful’, or ‘not a total waste of bastard time’. If a supernaturally-powered character can’t win his second match, what point is there in expecting any performer to progress—especially since those who do, do so through resistance (Kofi Kingston) or happenstance (Becky Lynch)?

The reaction has created a black hole around the company. It has existed for several years, but the events of Hell In A Cell ripped it open further. Why get behind Humberto Carrillo’s push? He’s outrageously talented, but that doesn’t matter. Also, he’s a power ranger.

After being genuinely unsettled by the Fiend at SummerSlam, the WWE fandom is now scared for the Fiend. The Fiend is illustrative of everything. If WWE fans can’t believe in the Fiend, what can they believe in? The Fiend is emblematic of the malaise, the nihilistic pointlessness that courses through everything: he is the grotesque, fixed-grin Face of WWE.

CONT'D...(3 of 5)

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!