Bray Wyatt's return at Extreme Rules 2022 was another great surprise by WWE Creative in the post-Vince McMahon era. It's a safe assumption that most fans are excited about what could be in store for Bray Wyatt during his new run.
Still, like everything related to the WWE, there are always areas of concern, especially when the content is delivered at a high level. Just because Bray Wyatt had a hot build up does not mean that he's destined to have long-term success in the company. This list will examine all the reasons why fans are both excited and nervous about the return of Bray Wyatt.
8 Why We're Excited: New Creative Regime
Since Triple H has taken over creative at WWE, the television programs have put on some of the best content in recent memory. It seems there's a bigger interest and exploring different aspects of how each wrestler establishes "who they are" and it's paid off in spades.
Bray Wyatt had already cultivated a ton of creative ideas but worked under a different regime at WWE. Because of how well the white rabbit promos were, many fans assume they will see a new marriage between Wyatt and WWE Creative that could lead to some of the best segments WWE audiences have ever seen. Wyatt is no longer being handcuffed by the old guard and that simple change is going to be worth the price of admission alone.
7 Why We're Nervous: The WWE Roster Is Stacked
Since Cody Rhodes returned to the WWE, the roster of wrestlers has only continued to improve. As it currently stands, there are a ton of potential and future world champions on the roster. Every other major wrestling company doesn't have the star power that the WWE has with Wyatt's arrival. Although Becky Lynch and Cody Rhodes are both out of action, that hasn't hindered the main attractions of WWE programming.
The embarrassment of riches at the WWE could easily work against Bray Wyatt. At the end of the day, there's only so much TV time and so many storylines that can be wrapped up in two major shows. The WWE also has a ton of superstars that it must bolster for the future and that could cuff Wyatt since this time around he won't be standing atop the WWE mountain next to Roman alone. Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, Matt Riddle, and Seth Rollins are all worthy of a spot next to him.
6 Why We're Excited: Storytelling Has Been A New Focus
"Dexter Lumis" is the perfect example of how well the WWE is currently telling stories. He arrived from relative obscurity but still hooked general WWE audiences, because he had an arc that actually paid off in the end. His segments with The Miz now are hit or miss but it's hard to debate that the story of his arrival didn't pave a road that led him out of NXT obscurity.
WWE fans gravitate toward top-tier storytelling. The story of Vince McMahon versus Steve Austin was the story of a boss with a huge ego. Daniel Bryan's rise was a story of an ultimate underdog. Rey Mysterio's first world title run was a story about battling through the grief of Eddie Guerrero's passing. The company is currently writing and presenting stories in top form. Wyatt was already a massively great storyteller before this new regime and the expectations for what is next are very exciting.
5 Why We're Nervous: His History With The Company
The Fiend was one of the biggest "high points" turned "letdown" in the history of WWE gimmicks. Sure, his first run does deserve a ton of grace since it was very revolutionary, but everybody saw Wyatt booked into oblivion for no reason. There are new creative people in town, but that doesn't mean that they can fix some of the foundational issues with the gimmick or Wyatt.
It's hard to give the supernatural being a world championship title. It's hard to balance grounded elements of the show when a Fiend segment is the ultimate finish of the program. Many of the reasons for The Fiend's loss of steam (the first time) were not entirely due to WWE Creative and those aspects still leave some room for worry with Wyatt's return.
4 Why We're Excited: Countless Potentially Great Feuds
Wyatt competed in some of the most creative rivalries in the last few decades of wrestling. Many current wrestlers on the WWE roster have not been given the "Bray Wyatt treatment."
Edge and Brock Lesnar clearly have a clear path to great work with Bray Wyatt. Seth Rollins is also performing at his highest level and the mind games between the two of them will easily trump their first run against each other. The potential top-tier matchups (with the currently stacked WWE roster) are endless for Wyatt.
3 Why We're Nervous: It's Still The Roman Reigns Era
Roman Reigns is the top guy at the WWE. He's the undisputed world champion. He's basically booked as indestructible. He shows up when he wants. He's also the person who beat Wyatt to earn the Universal Title almost a thousand days ago. Although a potential Roman and Wyatt feud is intriguing, Reigns has not produced a ton of great rivalries in the recent past.
Not a single person believes that Wyatt will be booked over Roman and that leaves some cause for concern since any time Bray is put into a box, it usually leads to some of his lower-quality moments.
2 Why We're Excited: Unfinished Business
Bray Wyatt had one of the most shocking departures from WWE. The biggest thing that most fans felt when he left was how much he left on the table. One of the most exciting things about his return is the "unfinished business" that could be finally addressed. It will also be interesting to see how his release and absence will be explained.
Sure there is a long list of countless feuds that everyone is also looking forward to but there are plenty of unaddressed issues, in terms of some strange losses, that also could be avenged. All of that makes for very intriguing angles that could elevate Wyatt's return to wrestling.
1 Why We're Nervous: The Wyatt 6
Bray Wyatt has always worked well in factions. The "Wyatt 6" seems to be his next big faction and although there is some excitement, there's also a ton of concern since this will be a group that seems to be an extension of The Fiend. Bray Wyatt's strange creative ideas in small doses work well.
In the past, when Wyatt has begun to open up his creativity to a stable of members (who weren't founders) or wrestlers expected to adapt to his very unique style, it always becomes a cluttered mess. The "Wyatt 6" will either be an exciting top stable at the company or they'll be a hot mess that could hurt Wyatt upon return.