The wrestling world is in shock after the sudden death of WWE superstar Bray Wyatt, whose real name was Windham Rotunda.
Aged just 36, the iconic wrestler passed away on Thursday (August 24), leaving fans and fellow athletes mourning. Now, his cause of death has been revealed.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul 'Triple H' Levasque described the loss as "unexpected" in his heartfelt social media post.
He stated, "Just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda who informed us of the tragic news that our WWE family member for life Windham Rotunda - also known as Bray Wyatt - unexpectedly passed earlier today. Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time."
Wyatt had a remarkable run in WWE, crowned a three-time world champion, including two stints as Universal Champion and one as WWE Champion. After being surprisingly released by WWE in 2021, Wyatt made an electrifying comeback in October 2022. He was on track to battle Bobby Lashley at the upcoming WrestleMania in April until a mysterious illness caused an abrupt halt in his storyline.
Per BBC News, there have been reports the cause of death was a heart attack. Reports suggest that Wyatt had existing heart issues which worsened after contracting COVID, though he had shown signs of recovery prior to his untimely death.
A third-generation wrestler, Wyatt was initially famous as the leader of The Wyatt Family, featuring alongside Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. He later metamorphosed into an alter ego named 'The Fiend,' becoming a beloved and influential figure in professional wrestling.
Outside the ring, Wyatt was engaged to former WWE ring announcer Joseann 'JoJo' Offerman, with whom he shared two children. He also had two children from a previous marriage to ex-wife Samantha. In an interview on The Bellas Podcast, JoJo had expressed their plans to wed sometime in 2023. "We've picked our date and everything. I'm really excited. It's fun, the kids are crazy," she said.
In a touching tribute, WWE announced that all proceeds from Bray Wyatt merchandise sales will be directed to his family. "In the wake of Bray Wyatt's death, WWE will donate all net proceeds to support JoJo Offerman and his children," a note under his merchandise confirmed.
Tributes have been flooding social media, including a heartfelt message from WWE legend Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. He wrote, "I'm heartbroken over the news of Bray Wyatt’s passing. Always had tremendous respect and love for him and the Rotunda family. Loved his presence, promos, in-ring work, and connection with WWE universe."
As wrestling fans worldwide mourn the passing of this incredible talent, the legacy of Bray Wyatt — as a trailblazer in the industry and a dedicated family man — will undoubtedly live on. In this challenging time, our thoughts are with the Rotunda family and all who loved him.
