Bray Wyatt will face WWE Champion Randy Orton at Payback on Sunday, April 30. The Eater of Worlds is seeking redemption for his loss at WrestleMania 33 against the man he once called a brother. While many fans don’t believe Wyatt will walk away with the title, some are wondering if the title will be on the line at all.
WWE.com is not billing the bout as a title match and is instead emphasising on the House of Horrors gimmick. Despite the potential confusion surrounding the match, there is no confusion when it comes to the fact that Wyatt needs a great showing versus The Viper.
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Though Orton’s win at ‘Mania was perhaps the most obvious bit of booking that fans could imagine, it didn’t change the desire to see Bray retain the gold. It’s not as though fans necessarily had a problem with Orton becoming Champion for the 13th time, but it was nothing new.
Wyatt worked a long time to move up the ladder, and when he finally reached the top, no one really wanted to see him fall. But working a main event match on the Grandest Stage of Them All was perhaps his consolation prize. All things considered, he did pretty well.
But Payback is about much more than just a Championship, which could be the reason why the company is not promoting the belt. Payback is about Wyatt getting a spotlight in which he can thrive, and eventually master.
The House of Horrors concept is a mystery at this point. WWE has not divulged much information in regards as to what the match is, or what will be involved. The idea of the bout is interesting and seems as though it should be in Wyatt’s wheelhouse.
The Undertaker had Hell in a Cell. Mick Foley had the Japanese Death Match. Now Bray Wyatt has The House of Horrors Match. It could be a signature moment for Wyatt, even if the match doesn’t live up those other infamous battles.
But WWE really doesn’t have a choice here. Wyatt’s match should be intense, it should be dangerous, and it should be brutal. Bray should be right at home in this gimmick, and fans should immediately know he’s completely in his element.
It’s the only way to get the match over, and it’s the best way to get Wyatt over. He may not win the Championship, but he could very well win the night. It’s a move that has to happen because WWE has not always been on point when it comes to booking Bray the right way.
Utilising Wyatt should be easy. His character is one of the most intriguing that WWE has ever seen. Bray took the concept of the cult leader made famous by Kevin Sullivan and to a lesser extent Waylon Mercy, and spun it into something all his own.
Bray is as comfortable in his own skin as any legend that’s ever worked in WWE. He’s captivating on the mic, he’s good in the ring, and he’s capable of doing great things. The most important part is that he’s over, and fans have been more accepting of him than many of his peers over the years.
Indeed Wyatt’s supporters have surely been wondering why he’s yet to fully realise his potential. His win in the Elimination Chamber for the WWE Championship was the highest point of his career thus far, but it was odd because it seemed to come from out of nowhere.
There was no build, no road to the title, no connection between Bray and anything going on around him. His placement in the match was random, and the Orton angle that followed afterwards was convoluted at best. It soon became apparent that Wyatt’s Championship win was a way to get Orton to WrestleMania.
That’s not to say Wyatt didn’t deserve a run; he just deserved so much more. Now WWE has a chance to put him back on track with a match that should feature him in the best possible light. The question is what happens after that match ends?
The Viper will take his title back to SmackDown Live, but The Eater of Worlds will return to his new home on Monday Night Raw. When he gets there, he could be on the hunt for his next opponent and that next opponent shares his flair for the theatrical.
Finn Balor is the perfect choice to face Wyatt. The two should have immediate chemistry from the moment they stand in the same ring together, and it should continue throughout their entire rivalry. This won’t be about titles or their standing in the company. This will be about telling a great story.
Wyatt versus The Demon King is the match that fans want to see, and when it takes place, it will be epic. Once again WWE will have the opportunity to book Bray in a top storyline with a top notch talent, and once again fans will be waiting for him to come out of it looking like the main event guy he is.
It’s the same fate fans expect after Payback. Now it’s up to the WWE to deliver. Wyatt is ready to shine, and now the company must give him the chance to make it happen.
Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Sportskeeda. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone, and online at www.boinkstudios.com
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