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The Fiend was last seen on WWE programming in December 2020 at the TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs pay-per-view. There, he lost the first-ever Firefly Inferno match to Randy Orton.
After the match, Orton also set The Fiend on fire and left him to burn alive. It's unclear if WWE's plan at the time was to write The Fiend off TV for several months or if the company backed itself into a corner with his booking.
One could argue that it seems like the company is struggling to find ways to bring The Fiend back without ruining his feud with Orton.
At this point, it has been almost three months since The Fiend last appeared on WWE programming. But Orton and Alexa Bliss have been able to continue the storyline on Monday Night RAW in his place.
With just under four weeks until WrestleMania next month, it's likely that WWE could be keeping The Fiend away from TV until the biggest show of the year.
#5. It appears that WWE doesn't actually have a plan for The Fiend's return
The Fiend is a character that Bray Wyatt created himself, and he has been able to push it forward on WWE TV over the past two years. While there are aspects of the gimmick that still don't make sense, the former Universal Champion has been able to deliver some compelling storylines.
Still, it has become quite clear over the past few weeks that WWE is running out of ideas when it comes to prolonging this storyline without The Fiend. But the company continues to push Alexa Bliss as the main villain in his absence, as she has been targeting Randy Orton.
Did WWE not have a way to bring The Fiend back when he was being burned in the center of the ring at TLC? In that case, perhaps he shouldn't return until The Showcase of the Year. After all, WrestleMania would be the perfect stage for his first appearance of the year.
The Fiend is out for revenge, so he should walk into WrestleMania, destroy Orton and become unstoppable once again.
#4. The Fiend's return could easily steal the show at WWE WrestleMania
As of writing, there are only two matches officially on the card for this year's WWE WrestleMania, an event that is just a few weeks away.
Various rumors suggest that The Fiend is expected to go one-on-one with Randy Orton in a Firefly Fun House match. This stipulation would allow the fans to watch The Viper live through the distinct phases of his WWE career.
Orton has been in the company for almost two decades, and given the reception that last year's Fun House Match with John Cena received, WWE will surely aim to replicate it. Plus, it would be fitting to have Orton participate in the bout, as he once had a legendary rivalry with Cena.
The Fiend has been one of the most interesting, popular stars in the company in recent years. Due to the lackluster build to this year's Showcase of the Immortals, the company definitely needs him right now.
If WWE can hold off on bringing Wyatt back until WrestleMania, his clash with Orton could be one of the most anticipated matches of the night.
#3. WWE WrestleMania could conclude The Fiend's feud with Randy Orton
Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt have a lot of history together on WWE TV. Naturally, their memorable past has been used as the foundation of The Viper's feud with The Fiend in recent months.
The two men were once partners in The Wyatt Family, but they came to blows when Orton won the 2017 Royal Rumble. He then went on to challenge Wyatt at WrestleMania for the WWE Championship.
Orton subsequently set fire to the Wyatt Family compound, seemingly destroying Sister Abigail's body in the process. Fire has been brought into this current storyline between The Viper and The Fiend, and Orton has taken it a step further by burning a man alive.
If The Fiend is able to return as a different entity, it would make sense to end the feud once and for all at WrestleMania. The former Universal Champion would probably be seen as the babyface in the match, and his potential victory could help reignite his momentum as a dominant force in WWE.
#2. The Fiend could decide that he no longer needs Alexa Bliss by his side on WWE TV
Over the past few weeks, Alexa Bliss has been seen inside a pentagram on WWE programming. She has seemingly hinted that she has some magical powers that could bring back The Fiend.
This development is bad news for Randy Orton, who thought that his feud with Bray Wyatt came to end at TLC. But this progression could also spell doom for Bliss.
If The Fiend comes back with even more power, he will be aware that the person who summoned him will be the only person who can then destroy him.
As a result, it's likely that Wyatt will want to end his current alliance with Bliss and destroy the former Women's Champion.
Bliss has been seen as the sidekick of The Fiend on WWE programming for several months. But her potential ability to bring him back would mean that she is actually more powerful than he is. For this reason, The Fiend might choose to get rid of her upon his return.
#1.WWE WrestleMania could be The Fiend's chance to unveil his new look
Since The Fiend was burned alive at WWE TLC, most fans have expected him to come back with a new mask or an otherwise altered appearance.
WrestleMania would be the ideal time to debut this fresh look, whiich could include a melted or charred mask and a different wardrobe.
WrestleMania is the best place for an unveiling of this magnitude, given the fact that WWE has been building towards The Fiend's return for several months now. When he finally comes back, it needs to come across like a major moment.
A new appearance would also help The Fiend intimidate Randy Orton because The Viper won't be prepared for this evolved version of the monster. This advantage could make all the difference in their match.
Having The Fiend debut a frightening wardrobe change would be a perfect WrestleMania moment for Bray Wyatt. He has been able to make some interesting memories on the Grandest Stage of Them All in WWE in recent years, but WrestleMania 37 could be his best one yet.
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