Bray Wyatt, The Eater of Worlds, a man who claims he is a god and destroyer of the ordinary men he shares the ring with. But have we seen this. No. We have seen this man drop a majority of main feuds he has had. And honestly at any point if handled properly those feuds could have made this man live up to every thing that has been said about him. Seriously imagine Wrestlemania 30 Bray Wyatt pinning John Cena on the same night that The Undertaker lost for the first time, that would have been monumental. It would have a true statement of the changing of the guard. Nonetheless this didn’t happen and Bray Wyatt has gone on a very unpleasing WWE run.
Look at the numbers. According to Internet Wrestling Database Wyatt has a win percentage of 30.39% in his main roster time and on top of that he has 19-15 pay-per-view win-loss record (most of which are multi-man matches with the Wyatt Family).
So now Wyatt has been re-positioned on RAW and WWE has given us hints that his next feud will be with “The Demon King” Finn Balor. This has already given me the impression that Bray Wyatt will be losing this feud as well because they aren’t going to have Finn Balor lose in his first major feud since returning. I just can not make heads nor tails of WWE’s creative direction for Wyatt. In fact I believe they have booked themselves into a corner that they will be stuck in unless there is a big push in Wyatt’s future.
So for the first time since starting WWE REcreative I will be doing a REBOOK. I am going to be discussing three matches for Bray Wyatt that if booked properly would have given us a far better superstar today.
MATCH #1: Bray Wyatt vs John Cena at WRESTLEMANIA 30
So as wrestling fans I am assuming that we are all fairly knowledgeable on the build-up that was done for this match. I believe this was fantastic storytelling. In fact the scene with all the children singing around the ring is still one of my favourite moments of the modern era. The match on the other hand left much to be wanted. I understand that this statement will break “WWE’s Law” but John Cena doesn’t always need to win. One loss is not going to stop the lil’ ones from purchasing his wristbands and hats. So in order to put over what could possibly be the next big heel of WWE Cena needed to take that pin.
So as Cena would start is flurry of signature moves in the later portion of the contest then the lights start flickering as children start walking down the aisle. Each child would be wearing a sheep mask as well as a shirt resembling Cena’s merchandise at the time but it reads “Flock. Follow. Blindly.”. Cena turns around into a kick to the gut, a mocking “You Can’t See US!” and a Sister Abigail for the pin. After the match we see the children leave the ramp and wrap around the ring. The referee goes to raise Wyatt’s hand he pulls it away and continues to attack Cena with the assistance of Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. Wyatt delivers a second Sister Abigail. He then drops to his knees with his arms open and the Wyatt Family behind him and the children singing “He’s got the whole world…” from ringside as we cut to darkness.
The commentators can even up the dramatic expression with statements like,”Did we just see the death of Cenation”, “What does this mean for John Cena?”, ETC. This would add to the mystery of what this win actually means for John Cena and more importantly Bray Wyatt.
The Aftermatch:
In true WWE ways John Cena isn’t allowed to look weak for an extended amount of time so he would end up getting the best of Bray Wyatt. I would be completely fine with this due to the fact that the “damage” would already be done. John Cena would have a moment of weakness on the grandest stage of them all which would give Bray Wyatt a huge spotlight for future storylines.
After Wrestlemania 30 the creative team had this feud go through two mores matches; A steel cage match at Extreme Rules and a Last Man Standing match at Payback. Instead of having Wyatt go over in the steel cage match I would have Cena being shaken from the top of the cage by the Wyatt Family. Have it a victory wrapped in chance and nothing concrete leading to the Last Man Standing match. Cena could go over in this match after a hard hitting affair. After the match Braun Stroman would debut taking out Cena after the match and helping Wyatt to the back. Their feud would successfully fizzle out after the Money in the Bank pay-per-view the next month. John Cena could still go on with his WWE Title reign into Summerslam. Bray Wyatt should graduate into a mid-card title reign with either the US or Intercontinental Championship.
MATCH #2: Bray Wyatt vs The Undertaker at WRESTLEMANIA 31
This match should have been booked as one thing, the final days of the Undertaker reign over the WWE Universe. Bray Wyatt should make a point that “The Streak” was only part of the Deadman’s power. He would come across envious of the Undertaker’s power. This would be imperative to building Bray Wyatt as the next “entity of the unknown”. Undertaker would remain on the defence that Bray Wyatt is not ready to step in the realm of the Deadman. This build would be the best way to book this match, all psychological with “little to none” face-to-face altercations. The week before Wrestlmania Bray Wyatt should preach the end of an era, the end of the reign of the Deadman. The Undertaker should interrupt this segment saying that Bray is not strong enough to end his reign and it will not be until Bray takes control of the darkness within that he will realize this.
This match needs to be very physical to build the ora that each man is taking his opponent to the limit. There would have to be a major spot from Wyatt such as a table smash or a big move on to the metal stairs. This would lead to Bray Wyatt getting the upper hand. He would deliver a Sister Abigail and crossing the arms of the Undertaker for the classic pin and Undertaker kicks out just before a 3-count. Wyatt then picks up the Undertaker sets him up for a second Sister Abigail, Undertaker spins out and delivers a chokeslam. He picks up Wyatt and delivers a Tombstone Piledriver for the 1-2-3. Undertaker would then pose on one knee raise his hand and lightning strikes the ring the light comes up Undertaker is gone and Bray Wyatt sits up quickly almost looking like he is coming back to life.
The Aftermatch:
So coming out of this match we should see Bray Wyatt almost reborn. He would come into a more aggressive ring style. Shortly after Wrestlemania he would renounce the Wyatt Family causing Braun Stroman leading Luke Harper and Erick Rowan against Bray Wyatt. This would fill most of the year with Bray Wyatt slowly taking on more of a face role as he battles back against the “Orphan Wyatts” (Stroman, Harper & Rowan). During this transformation of Bray Wyatt we should see a shift in his presentation as well maybe different music and a more “Deadman” type attire. This period should focus on Bray Wyatt starting to embrace “the darkness” and attempt to control it. He would shed the security of the Wyatt Family and become a dominant force in the WWE.
Bray Wyatt could even tie into some of the storyline with Brock Lesner and The Undertaker. Even have him defending the Undertaker from a Brock Lesner beat down. This would tie into Bray Wyatt wanting to avenge The Undertaker’s loss at the hands of the conqueror, Brock Lesner.
MATCH #3: Bray Wyatt vs Brock Lesner at WRESTLEMANIA 32
It seemed at Royal Rumble 2016 that WWE was building towards an eventual showdown with The Beast and The Eater of Worlds but unfortunately for some reason this was scrapped. The alternative was Brock Lesner vs Dean Ambrose in a match that led nowhere with either man and Bray Wyatt jobbing out to The Rock and John Cena. So basically both men were part of matches that did nothing for future stories and left the audience wanting more.
This match could still be seeded in Bray Wyatt eliminating Brock Lesner at the Royal Rumble. Have Wyatt in the Triple Threat match with Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns at Fastlane in stead of Lesner but Lesner would return at the pay-per-view costing Bray Wyatt his chance at the title shot. Paul Heyman would be well utilized in this feud because of his level of “bull-slinging” mixed with Bray Wyatt’s theatrical style would build this feud fantastically from a promo standing. Throughout the build I would also hint at The Undertaker’s involvement in this match. Brock Lesner would get into many face-to-face stand-offs with Wyatt but have Wyatt standing tall and Lesner almost looking spooked and leaving. Finally the week before Wrestlemania have Lesner jump Wyatt and beat him down in the middle of the ring. Wyatt would get to his knees spread his arms lightning hits the ring and Wyatt is gone.
The match at Wrestlemania would be billed as the attempt of Wyatt to control the darkness and defeat the conqueror. Bray Wyatt would continuously come back in this match no matter what Lesner throws at him. But at the same time Lesner is too strong and continues to be on the offensive and Wyatt remaining on the defensive. Finally as Lesner has Wyatt up for an F-5 the Undertakers Gong would hit and the arena fills with the ominous purple light and it almost looks like a silhouette of The Undertaker standing on the stage. Lights come back on the figure is gone and Lesner turns into a Sister Abigail but this is reversed into the F-5 and the pin. Brock Lesner and Paul Heyman exit to the back as Bray Wyatt is seen on his knees apologizing to no one. He would just keep screaming “I will control it”.
The Aftermatch
This would continue into a 2-3 month program with Lesner concluding in some sort of a stipulation match between Lesner and Bray Wyatt. Through this feud have Wyatt seen often talking to someone, almost as a child would speak to an imaginary friend. This would come across as him talking to who believes to be the Undertaker’s presence and this would also give the impression that Wyatt is going insane. I would have Wyatt get the final win in this series over Lesner finally getting retribution for The Undertaker. As Wyatt kneels in the ring after his win he would seem to be boasting his accomplishment. “I did it. I have defeated the conqueror and have reclaimed our darkness”. But no one would be where he is facing. Finally the lights go out the gong hits and the purple light fills the arena as the Undertaker stands in front of a knelled Bray Wyatt. Into the microphone Undertaker would say, “The darkness is not yours to possess until you defeat the man that controls it”. Bray Wyatt would rise to his feet and stand face-to-face with the Undertaker only to have Undertaker kick him and deliver and a Tombstone and the arena goes to darkness when the move connects leaving Bray alone in the ring when the lights return and this would close the pay-per-view.
The Conclusion:
This rebooking to meant for one thing; Have Bray Wyatt become the new “darkness” of the WWE. I think it should have been Wyatt to finish the Undertakers career. Wyatt’s gimmick is though provoking and can withstand time much as The Undertaker made his do. I believe this path would have lead to a showdown between the two at Wrestlemania in a stipulation made famous by The Undertaker such as; Hell in the Cell, a Casket Match or even a Buried Alive Match. Having Wyatt defeating The Undertaker to me is the best example of a “passing of the torch” and would truly set Bray Wyatt up for a strong future. Wyatt would be set-up into title contention and with such a strong run over the three years mentioned he would be in a position to better help talent coming in such as Finn Balor, Shinske Nakamura and others. The Undertaker was a brand the rarley needed repackaging and withstood time and fads and in my opinion with proper booking Bray Wyatt has that ability as well.
WWE RE:creative 