Bray Wyatt, a well-known WWE world champion with a trio of title victories, has sadly passed away at the age of 36.

Wyatt had been grappling with an undisclosed health issue that had kept him away from the wrestling ring since February. Nevertheless, his family characterized his passing as sudden and unforeseen.

The sobering news was conveyed by Triple H, the Chief Content Officer of WWE, who took to social media to announce the unexpected demise of Bray Wyatt, known in real life as Windham Rotunda.

Among those paying tribute to this wrestling luminary was Dwayne Johnson, widely recognized as The Rock. Through a post on the X platform (formerly Twitter), Johnson expressed his sorrow, acknowledging the deep respect and fondness he held for Wyatt. He wrote, “My heart aches. I cherished his presence, his promos, his work in the ring, and his connection with the @WWE universe. He possessed an exceptionally unique, cool, and rare character, something difficult to craft in the chaotic realm of professional wrestling.”

Mick Foley, a commentator for WWE, added his own sentiments, noting, “I held Bray Wyatt in the highest esteem… He was an authentic visionary, one of the most captivating personas the wrestling world has ever witnessed.”

Hailing from a lineage of wrestlers, Bray Wyatt’s family included his grandfather Blackjack Mulligan, his father Mike Rotunda, and his younger brother Bo Dallas.

Mike Rotunda himself was a celebrated wrestling figure, gaining recognition as IRS due to his portrayal of a tax collector from Washington DC who playfully hassled both wrestlers and fans as “tax cheats.”

Bray Wyatt, born Windham Rotunda on May 23, 1987, in Brooksville, Florida, achieved the status of a state wrestling champion during his high school years. He even secured a football scholarship to Troy University. Despite these accomplishments, he opted to step away from his studies before graduation to pursue a career in professional wrestling, making his official debut in 2009.

Throughout his career, he embraced various personas including Husky Harris, Alex Rotunda, Duke Rotundo, and The Fiend. Operating under the name Bray Wyatt, he embodied the enigmatic leader of a cult faction known as The Wyatt Family, featuring members like Erick Rowan, Braun Strowman, and the late Luke Harper (also known as Brodie Lee).

Following his departure from WWE in 2021, he made a much-anticipated comeback at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view event in October, unveiling a reinvented version of his character. Despite grappling with health challenges and a period of absence, he stood on the brink of rejoining WWE prior to his untimely passing, as reported by Wrestling News.

In the preceding year, Bray Wyatt stepped out of character to candidly discuss his struggles with mental health, sharing, “I lost many things. I lost my career, I lost two people who were very, very close to me, and I lost my sense of direction. I arrived at a point where I questioned the significance of everything I had accomplished here; much of it seemed devoid of meaning.”

The heartbreaking news of Windham Rotunda’s passing reached Triple H, whose real name is Paul Levesque, via a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda, Bray Wyatt’s father. Triple H conveyed the tragic news through a message, expressing, “I just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda who informed us about the tragic news of the passing of our lifelong WWE family member, Windham Rotunda—known also as Bray Wyatt. He unexpectedly left us earlier today. Our thoughts are with his family, and we earnestly request that everyone respect their privacy in this difficult time.”

Subsequently, wrestling journalist Sean Ross Sapp disclosed that the 36-year-old’s passing was attributed to a heart attack, exacerbated by pre-existing heart conditions compounded by a bout with Covid-19. Sapp shared, “Significant strides were being made in terms of his recovery and return. Tragically, he suffered a heart attack today and succumbed.”

Bray Wyatt leaves behind his fiancée and former WWE ring announcer, Joseann Offerman, as well as their four children. He is also survived by his brother Bo Dallas (Taylor Rotunda) and sister Mika. The wrestling world is mourning the loss of a charismatic and impactful talent who deeply touched the lives of many.

The post Bray Wyatt, Three-Time WWE Champion, Passes Away at 36. first appeared on bimaloan.net.