Professional wrestling is a business of experimentation. We've seen it time and time again, and idea or gimmick is tested in front of the fan base and if it works, they'll let you know. However, if it's a bad idea, they will let you know as well.
Sometimes, the creative team simply has to take things back to the drawing board and simply start over. That was the case with the persona now infamously known as Husky Harris. Even with the success of The Nexus, Husky was just a terrible idea, absolutely terrible.
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The name alone reminds me of an oversized pair of blue jeans. It was blatantly obvious that Windham Rotunda was very uncomfortable in his own skin, as Husky.
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After being written off TV, thanks to a punt to the dome courtesy of Randy Orton, Husky was sent back to FCW, which was the developmental brand at the time. During this time, things were highly unstable for Windham.
As he was in search of an identity, he was forced to stand by idly, while other developmental talent was coming and going, some being elevated to the main roster, others were wished well on their future endeavors.
Needless to say, it was a trying time for the third generation star.
Finally, after several failed personas, the Bray Wyatt character was born. During an interview with radio personality Peter Rosenberg, Rotunda explained how Bray Wyatt was created. He stated that it was a culmination of several factors went into the birth of this character, such as his personal beliefs on religion, politics and world issues, just to name a few.
Bray Wyatt was an organic creation of something that fit who Windham Rotunda was as a person. Regardless of the process, it would prove to be one of the greatest repackaging of any gimmick in wrestling history.
To take a character that was essentially dead in the water, and turn it into something as creatively captivating as Bray Wyatt, it's an amazing feat.
Over the course of the next few months, The Wyatt Family was born, Eli Cottonwood was brought into the fold and then promptly exiled, only to eventually make way for Luke Harper and Erick Rowan.
Together, the trio dismantled and dominated everything in their path before finally being summoned to the main roster, which is truly where Bray Wyatt began to shine.
As you probably recall, some fans were hesitant to embrace, or even give Wyatt a chance, until something magical happened.... He opened his mouth. Promos are a part of the business, but not since the days of superstars such as The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and guys of that caliber has a person come along with mic skills as incredibly flawless as Bray Wyatt.
The legendary Hall of Famer Jake 'The Snake' Roberts once said that "if a man has enough power, he can speak softly and everyone will listen." Well, my friends, Bray Wyatt has that kind of power.
When he speaks, everyone shuts theory mouths and opens their ears. There are no "WHAT?!" chants and all of those Husky Harris chants seemed to quickly disappear as well, once fans realized that this wasn't Husky anymore.
He was now Bray Wyatt, The Eater of Worlds and yes, he had the whole world in his hands.
Bray Wyatt captivated an entire wresting world. When Husky Harris was written off TV, no one could've predicted what would soon follow. As the Bray Wyatt run progressed, so to would the following.
What we know now as "fireflies" began to fill arenas all over the world, as Bray made his slow, steady entrance towards the ring, lantern in tow. Fans were truly following the buzzards and Bray Wyatt had become a phenomenon.
So, now we have entered into this whole new era. The roster has been divided into two brands, headed by power hungry siblings, wanting to show the world why they are daddies dominate offspring.
As we know, Wyatt has been drafted to the Smackdown brand, under the leadership of Shane McMahon. He joins the likes of John Cena, AJ Styles and the WWE Champion, Dean Ambrose, just to name a few.
So where does Bray Wyatt fall in line, when it comes to a shot at the gold?
Some will argue that the legacy of Bray Wyatt will not be defined by championships and while I can respect that notion, I must in turn, ask why not Bray? If Dolph Ziggler is suddenly worthy of a main event spot at an event as prominent as SummerSlam, why would Bray not be just as deserving?
I'm not knocking Ziggy, but ask yourself which match you'd rather see as a co-main event at SummerSlam- Ziggler vs. Ambrose, or would you rather see The Lunatic Fringe defend his title against Bray Wyatt? Which match would be the bigger sell of the two?
Sure, there are some who prefer Dolph over Wyatt, but at the end of the day, I can't help but feel that one is way more appealing than the other and it doesn't include being a "show-off."
Since arriving on the main roster, Bray has defeated Kane in a Ring of Fire match at the 2013 SummerSlam, together with the Family, he defeated The Shield at the 2014 Elimination Chamber and he's had Wrestlemania showdowns with John Cena and The Undertaker, plus an encounter with The Rock at Wrestlemania 32 in Dallas.
Not to mention a huge win over the tag team champions The New Day at Battleground. Needless to say, Wyatt is certainly battle-tested and proven to be worthy of a spot atop the Smackdown roster.
Bray Wyatt is one of the most unique, creative characters in the history of wrestling. He's versatile as a heel or babyface and it's obvious that fans love the guy, regardless which side he stands on.
From the time he hits the curtain and the fireflies ignite the arena, until the opponent is planted with a deadly kiss from Sister Abigail, Bray Wyatt comes to deliver and that's exactly what he does...deliver.
It's been a long time since we've witnessed something as fresh and as charismatic as Bray Wyatt.
This is a guy who was born to be a professional wrestler. With the same blood flowing through his veins as Barry and Kendall Windham, his father Mike Rotunda, better known as I.R.S. and of course the patriarch, his grandfather, the late Hall of Fame legend BlackJack Mulligan, Bray has the genetic makeup to be successful in this industry.
At this point, it's all a matter of opportunities. Will he get his shot to prove how far he can make it? I guess time will tell, but as of right now, I cannot think of one legitimate reason why this guy isn't worthy of being in the main event picture.
The stage is set, it's time to put the whole world in his hands.
