WWE have confirmed that Bray Wyatt has been released by the company.
The news was first confirmed by Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp who noted that Wyatt was gone from the company after WWE posted a statement on Twitter. That first tweet was quickly deleted, however, a new statement was issued shortly after confirming that WWE had come to terms on the releases of the former Universal Champion.
It has since been reported by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer that Wyatt was told his release was due to budget cuts. In addition, the former world champion had been preparing to return in August.
‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt was last in action at WrestleMania 37 where he was defeated by Randy Orton after he was distracted by Alexa Bliss.
WWE has come to terms on the release of Bray Wyatt. We wish him the best in all his future endeavors. https://t.co/XIsUbaMUZ7pic.twitter.com/koRuC3w1yr
— WWE (@WWE) July 31, 2021
On the following episode of RAW, Bliss appeared saying that she no longer needed Wyatt and has made no reference to him since. On the same episode, in a FireFly Funhouse segment, Wyatt himself said that it was time for a new start.
Wyatt, real name Windham Rotunda originally signed with WWE back in 2009. The third-generation star initially performed in FCW under the name Alex Rotundo, before being repackaged as Husky Harris.
As Husky Harris, Wyatt became part of NEXUS arriving on WWE’s main roster in October 2010. However, he returned to developmental the early the following year. It was during this run that Rotunda was repackaged as Bray Wyatt.
As the leader of the Wyatt Family, Bray led Luke Harper and Erick Rowan on a path of destruction through NXT and onto the main roster. The cult-like stable famously went on to feud with Daniel Bryan even briefly claiming the former WWE Champion as one of their own. Wyatt later clashed with John Cena before the group disbanded.
However, the split proved to be short lived, as all were reunited in the summer of 2015.
By 2019 after some time away, Wyatt returned as ‘The Fiend.’ Under this new guise, Wyatt hosted the FireFly Funhouse and was more destructive than ever. The Fiend later joined forces with Alexa Bliss after the wicked witch of WWE came under his spell in the summer of 2020.
During this period, Wyatt engaged in a feud with Randy Orton which saw him set on fire at WWE TLC in December. The Fiend returned at Fastlane sporting a new look, showing the effects of the attack from Orton, leading to a match between the two at WrestleMania 37.
Inside The Ropes will continue to update the story as it develops.