Wikipedia defines altruism as " of sacrificing something for someone other than the self (e.g. sacrificing time, energy or possessions) with no expectation of any compensation or benefits, either direct, or indirect (e.g., receiving recognition for the act of giving)." Bray Wyatt fights for the honor of his dead sister Abigail, who seemingly died when Wyatt was a child. Abigail serves as a Virgin Mary-like controller of his actions, and given how young both would seem to have been at the time of her demise, there's even a tinge of childlike innocence to his cause (as determined by the spirit of Abigail, herself). At no point has Bray Wyatt ever demanded a title shot or ever spoken of a victory as in any way connected to being of a financial or self-aggrandizing benefit. He fights for a cause that in being mis (or not well) understood by those deemed in power or against him makes him an outsider and a misfit. While yes, he's not an unlikely misfit babyface in the Daniel Bryan mold, he's could become a greater and more iconic figure than what Bryan has become. When a man who has nothing to either gain or lose, and is ultimately fighting to meet the standard of the spiritual essence of his dead sister, that's an emotionally powerful (and deeply empathetic) idea to consider. On some level, it's entirely possible that booing Bray Wyatt ultimately makes you more soulless and heartbroken of a person than he is.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
