Bray Wyatt leaving this world at just 36 has been the most devastating news from the pro wrestling industry in a long time. The former Universal Champion was among the most creative minds in the Triple-H-led promotion’s history, and it helped him attain immense popularity throughout his WWE career.
However, in his decade-long stint with the Stamford-based promotion, The Fiend faced some weird booking decisions and even left the company at one point. The former Universal Champion’s exit was a result of budget cuts, as he was released from the company in July 2021. Bray returned to WWE at Extreme Rules 2022 but wasn’t really able to recover from the loss of momentum his exit had caused.
His 2021 departure wasn’t the only occasion when the decisions of Triple H’s company had a bad effect on Bray’s career, as his momentum was also derailed by some important matches he lost. So, let’s take a look at five matches that completely ruined Wyatt’s momentum in the company.
Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena at WrestleMania 30
Bray made his WrestleMania debut against John Cena at WrestleMania 30, which was expected to be the late star’s best chance to make a statement to the world. However, things didn’t turn out to be in Wyatt’s favor, as the 16-time WWE Champion defeated him despite interference from other members of the Wyatt family.
A victory in this match could have done wonders for the leader of the heel faction, but the Stamford-based promotion decided to do the complete opposite. WWE made John look like a superhero in this match, and a loss in his first-ever match on the grandest stage ruined Bray’s momentum.
Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania 33
The next match that The Eater of Worlds shouldn’t have lost was his WrestleMania 33 match against rival Randy Orton. This wasn’t just a normal match, as Bray was defending his world title against The Viper. But the match turned out to be an unforgettable memory for the leader of The Wyatt Family as he lost the championship gold, thus ending his title reign in just 49 days.
Losing to Randy in this match was Wyatt’s third consecutive loss at WrestleMania and further extended his winless streak at the event. As Bray was trying to make a place at the top of the division, ending his championship run after such a short period was a big mistake by the promotion, and it affected Windham’s momentum badly.
Bray Wyatt vs. Finn Balor at SummerSlam 2017
In this rivalry, both Finn Balor and Bray Wyatt gave exceptional performances, and their characters got to showcase their best work throughout the feud. Their encounter at SummerSlam 2017 had everything a match requires to be a masterclass, as both fighters gave exceptional performances, but Wyatt ended up losing.
In this match, Balor came out to compete under The Demon King persona, and it was probably the best opportunity for Bray to claim that he’s the best creative character in the company. However, the WWE had other plans, and the first-ever Universal Champion ended up being victorious. This loss took a massive toll on Bray’s momentum.
The Fiend vs. Goldberg at WWE Super ShowDown February 2020
Bray Wyatt defended his Universal Championship against Goldberg at WWE Super ShowDown in February 2020, and he was squashed by the WWE veteran. This was a very controversial decision by the Triple-H-led promotion and also received a lot of backlash from the fans, but that’s what the company did.
Wyatt losing his title to a part-time performer like Goldberg was arguably not a wise decision, as it ruined the credibility the former leader of The Wyatt Family built throughout his title reign. Bray was competing in this match under The Fiend persona, and this loss absolutely derailed the character’s momentum in WWE, as it was its first loss in the company.
The Fiend vs. Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman at WWE Payback 2020
After starting his second run with the Universal Championship at SummerSlam 2022, The Fiend defended his title against Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns at WWE Payback 2020. The match was expected to be a successful defense for Wyatt, but in an unexpected turn of events, it ended his title reign.
In the final moments of the triple-threat match, Roman pinned Strowman to win the title, thus dethroning Bray from the top prize in the Stamford-based promotion. Even though Bray wasn’t pinned directly in the encounter, his title run coming to an end at the event turned out to be a setback for him and ruined all the momentum he carried.
Even after going through a number of character changes, Bray Wyatt wasn’t able to win a title in the Triple H-led promotion after this loss. Over the years, Bray remained an on-and-off performer on television due to his health issues and was last seen in early 2023.
Around SummerSlam 2023, there were reports that he was nearing an in-ring return, but fate had something else to offer. It was announced on August 24, 2023, by Triple H, that Bray passed away after suffering a heart attack, leaving the entire pro wrestling industry devastated.