One of the most common complaints among fans about the state of today's wrestling world is that guys are no longer allowed to have a say in their characters and gimmicks. Instead WWE assigns wrestlers a character and seemingly runs them through a random name generator before putting them In the ring. A perfect example of this is NXT's Adam Rose, an Aldus Snow inspired rock star who was only weeks before known as Leo Kruger, the South African hunter. When Windham Rotunda was sent back down to NXT (initially FCW) after his run in WWE with the new Nexus, he started trying out new gimmicks. He appeared as a hockey mask-wearing character named Axel Mulligan, but Axel never made it to TV. Eventually he masterminded Bray Wyatt, and began cultivating a persona and backstory. For longtime fans, it's obvious that Wyatt is inspired by Waylon Mercy. Mercy was the gimmick given to Dan Spivey upon his return to WWE in 1995. Waylon Mercy was a creation inspired by Cape Fear's Max Cady, one of the most memorable villains in cinematic history. The gimmick was popular with fans and is remembered quite fondly despite being around for less than 6 months. Unfortunately Spivey retired due to nagging injuries and Waylon Mercy was dead and buried. The pro wrestling statute of limitations has expired however, and the gimmick was ripe for the taking. Saying that Bray Wyatt is just a Waylon Mercy ripoff would be unfair. He's taken the basic idea behind the character and ran with it, adding an incredible amount of depth to it. Bray Wyatt is a character unlike anything we've ever seen. And the man behind the gimmick is responsible. It just goes to further the fans' and many veteran wresters' belief that performers need to be given more creative freedom to develop themselves.
Brad Hamilton is a writer, musician and marketer/social media manager from Atlanta, Georgia. He's an undefeated freestyle rap battle champion, spends too little time being productive and defines himself as the literary version of Brock Lesnar.
