Windham Rotunda, known as WWE star Bray Wyatt, died suddenly at age 36 on Thursday and it has left his family and fans in complete shock.
Details of Rotunda’s death were scarce initially, but Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com reported that Rotunda suffered a heart attack due to other heart issues “exacerbated” by a bout with COVID-19.
The news did not only shock fans, but also his former co-workers as one legendary wrestler found out about the news in real time while on a podcast taping.
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T was left stunned while taping his “Hall of Fame” show and discussing the death of legendary pro wrestler Terry Funk, when his co-host, Brad Gilmore, cut in and said, “Oh my God.”
Booker T was in disbelief, stating, “You’re saying Bray Wyatt’s passed away?”
“I don’t even have words man. I don’t even know what to say. I’m at a loss,” he said.
“He had kids, and that’s the first thing you think about — especially for me, I lost my dad when I was 10 months old,” Booker T said.
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“Something that I have lived with my whole my life. That’s where my heart goes — to his kids, his [fiancée JoJo Offerman] and his family. Hopefully, they can get through this. I know it’s gonna be hard.”
Rotunda began his WWE career in its developmental system, Florida Championship Wrestling. Rotunda, then known as Husky Harris, was a part of the Nexus storyline in 2010.
Rotunda’s true rise to fame came shortly after a rebranding in the wake of the Nexus story. Rotunda won five championships throughout his career, including the WWE Championship and WWE Universal Championship (twice), the company’s top two individual titles.
He is survived by his partner, former WWE ring announcer JoJo Offerman, their two children together, his brother Taylor Rotunda), father Mike Rotunda, uncles Barry and Kendall Windham, and two children from a previous marriage.
