WWE's Plans For Bray Wyatt & The Fiend Revealed?

Hurt, or heal?

by Michael Sidgwick

According to Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet, "Bray Wyatt wasn’t shown on WWE TV this week to follow up on “The Fiend” debuting at SummerSlam because they want his character to be special and for it to feel like you’ll never know when he’s going to strike next."

It appears that WWE has taken the heal, not hurt approach, by refusing to overexpose this incredible new reinvention of the Bray Wyatt character. This is something for which the company should be credited. The increasingly unpopular three-hour RAW format invites - even necessitates - churn. The (now unspoken) Wild Card rule is in effect for this very reason. This news update is welcome; it indicates that WWE shares the optimism and excitement palpable within the fanbase.

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The Fiend's first in-ring appearance was special. The oscillating textures of his remixed theme, from creepy to noisy, reflected his split persona. The disgusting lantern again symbolised, with a visual at once disturbing and reassuring, that the old, irrevocably damaged Bray Wyatt is dead. The all-encompassing darkness made it difficult to even ascertain what was happening. This was a total subversion of the patchwork quilt of horror cliché once associated with the character; no "BLEH!" jump scare, this was a new horror of such insidious quality that it crept into everybody who witnessed it.

Mercifully, at present, WWE intends to preserve how special it was.

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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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!