The late Windham Rotunda, better known to the wrestling world as Bray Wyatt, is being honored by the school where his athletic journey began. Hernando High School in Brooksville, Florida — Wyatt’s alma mater — has renamed its annual wrestling tournament the Windham Rotunda Memorial Invitational, celebrating the life and legacy of one of its most accomplished former students.

The announcement came via social media from the Hernando High School Wrestling Club, which also revealed plans to establish an annual scholarship in Rotunda’s name. The award will be presented each year to a senior wrestler during the tournament finals, beginning with this year’s event on December 5–6.

“With the blessing of the Rotunda family and the Brooksville Kiwanis, we are changing the name of the long-standing Kiwanis Invitational to the Windham Rotunda Memorial Invitational,” said David Pritz, who now oversees the wrestling club and was once a teammate of Rotunda’s at Hernando. “Windham was my teammate and one of the most memorable athletes to ever wear the Purple and Gold. I hope this can be a small tribute to his lasting legacy. He is a true legend and someone we will never forget.”

Rotunda’s sister Mika shared that the gesture moved her and their father, WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda, to tears. Mike is currently recovering from a major heart attack suffered in September, which left him in a coma for a week and required a lengthy hospital stay.

Before captivating millions as Bray Wyatt in WWE — where he became a three-time world champion and one of the most creative minds in modern wrestling — Windham Rotunda was a standout athlete at Hernando High, excelling in both wrestling and football.

Wyatt tragically passed away on August 24, 2023, at just 36 years old after suffering a heart attack in his sleep. His influence, however, continues to be felt across the wrestling world — and now, through the halls of his hometown high school.

The renaming of the tournament and the creation of the scholarship ensure that Windham Rotunda’s legacy of passion, creativity, and perseverance will inspire young athletes for generations to come.

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Last year, WWE star Windham Rotunda, known onscreen as Bray Wyatt, died of a heart attack at the age of 36. As the wrestling world continues to mourn the late performer, WWE is preparing to release a documentary focusing on Rotunda’s career, titled “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal.” The first trailer offers a glimpse at what audiences can expect to see.

The doc is set to include interviews from Paul “Triple H” Levesque, John Cena, Braun Strowman, Rotunda’s partner Joseann “JoJo” Offerman, and more. Additionally, Mark Callaway, better known as The Undertaker, will narrate the feature. “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal” is also set to include never-before-seen footage and interviews with the late performer.

“Becoming Immortal” is scheduled to debut on Peacock on April 1, 2024 — just a few days before the annual WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. Wyatt is rumored to be included as an inductee into the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame class, but his inclusion has yet to be officially confirmed by the promotion.

Levesque, WWE’s booker and Chief Content Officer, took to social media to comment on the upcoming Wyatt documentary.

“Windham Rotunda had a brilliant mind,” Levesque said. “There was no wall he wouldn’t break down in the name of storytelling. You had no choice but to believe in him. He was just that good. It’s time for his story to be the one that’s told.”

Rotunda — whose father, grandfather, uncle, and younger brother were all wrestlers — first signed with WWE in 2009. The documentary will detail Rotunda’s rise as the Wyatt character as well as some of the struggles he faced throughout his time in the promotion.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Bray Wyatt tragically passed away at the age of 36 last Thursday after suffering a heart attack.

According to a report from TMZ, Wyatt had been experiencing a series of heart complications in the months leading up to his passing. At least one doctor had recommended that he wear a heart defibrillator at all times.

The official police report from the incident states that Windham Rotunda (Bray Wyatt) told his girlfriend (JoJo Offerman) that he was going to take a nap. After about an hour, his alarm clock went off and she became concerned when it wasn’t stopping. JoJo then entered the bedroom and found Bray on his bed and not breathing. The report also noted that he was turning blue at that point.

JoJo Offerman immediately called 911, while her mother attempted to perform CPR.

The family told police that Wyatt had battled a case of COVID-19 in March 2023 and developed heart complications. The family said he became incredibly sick and it caused him to have a “weak lower part of his heart.”

TMZ is also reporting that Windham was hospitalized for a heart issue just one week before his passing. On the day he died, he had a follow-up appointment with doctors and they encouraged him to continue to wear an external heart defibrillator.

As far as that external heart defibrillator is concerned, Rotunda was not wearing it at the time of his death. Police later found it in his vehicle that was parked in the driveway of his residence.

We continue to keep the family and friends of Windham “Bray Wyatt” Rotunda in our thoughts and prayers.

Source: eWn

Windham Rotunda, known to WWE fans as Bray Wyatt since 2012, has died. The news was broken on Twitter by Rotunda’s employer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who says he received the news from Rotunda’s father. Rotunda was 36 years old.

Just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda who informed us of the tragic news that our WWE family member for life Windham Rotunda – also known as Bray Wyatt – unexpectedly passed earlier today. Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their…

— Triple H (@TripleH) August 24, 2023

According to a report from Fightful, Windham Rotunda battled a case of COVID-19 earlier this year that exacerbated a previous heart issue he’s been dealing with for awhile now.

While there had been a lot of “positive progress” in recent months, Wyatt suffered a massive heart attack on Thursday and passed away.

I was given permission to reveal that earlier this year Windham Rotunda (Bray Wyatt) got COVID that exacerbated a heart issues.

There was a lot of positive progress towards a return and his recovery. Unfortunately today he suffered a heart attack and passed away.

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) August 25, 2023

WWE issued the following statement on their website:

Windham Rotunda, also known as Bray Wyatt, passes away
WWE is saddened to learn that Windham Rotunda, also known as Bray Wyatt, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 24, at age 36.

Known for his captivating performances and incredible in-ring presence, Wyatt was a defining Superstar of his generation and accomplished many feats in WWE, including becoming WWE Champion in 2017.

From his leadership of The Wyatt Family alongside Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, and Braun Strowman to his enthralling time as “The Fiend,” Wyatt embarked on an incredible career and saw several iconic rivalries with Superstars such as John Cena, Randy Orton and The Undertaker.

WWE extends its condolences to Rotunda’s family, friends and fans.

All Elite Wrestling has issued a statement on the tragic death of Bray Wyatt, who passed away at the age of 36 on Thursday after suffering a massive heart attack.

You can check out the official statement from AEW below:

“AEW joins the entire wrestling world in mourning the loss of Windham Rotunda, aka Bray Wyatt. A third-generation wrestler, Windham proudly carried on his family’s legacy by forging his own incredible path to superstardom. Windham’s unique style and persona showcased his passion for the industry and desire for innovation.

AEW sends its deepest condolences to Windham’s family, friends and fans. We are forever grateful for all his incredible contributions to the industry.”

Rotunda worked in WWE from 2009 to 2021, when he was released. He returned to the company a year later, to much fanfare, at the Extreme Rules premium live event, where he began performing an intricate storyline involving a character called Uncle Howdy (portrayed by his brother, former WWE star Bo Dallas) and Alexa Bliss. The story was apparently tabled, however, following Rotunda’s match with LA Knight at the 2023 Royal Rumble. Afterward, Rotunda began a feud with Bobby Lashley prior to WrestleMania 39, but was removed from television due to an undisclosed illness, which was later said to have threatened both his career and his life. Until this news, the worst seemed to have passed; as recently as August 10, wrestling media outlets were reporting that Wyatt was recovering and moving in the direction of being medically cleared to return.

Rotunda’s televised WWE career began in 2010, when he joined the cast of the original “NXT” as Husky Harris, competing in the second season of the original “reality show” format of the program. As Husky Harris, he joined the “NXT”-centric heel stable The Nexus on the main roster, but was written off television and sent back to WWE’s developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling, in 2011. He was repackaged as the sinister cult figure Bray Wyatt in 2012 and was a major part of the re-branded “WWE NXT” when it functionally replaced FCW, becoming one of the show’s most popular acts alongside his cohorts, Erick Rowan and the late Luke Harper, aka The Wyatt Family. This incarnation would take him back to the main roster, where his career had numerous ups and downs; Rotunda seemed almost constantly in the act of re-inventing himself, a process that culminated in 2019, when he debuted both his Firefly Funhouse segments and his alter ego The Fiend, who notoriously wrestled under a terrifying mask and obtrusive red lights. Over the course of his career, he won the WWE Championship, the WWE Universal Championship, and two tag team championships.

Sources: Wrestling Inc. and Fightful

It’s been more than a year since WWE released Bray Wyatt from his contact, but is a return on the horizon?

Bray Wyatt (real name Windham Rotunda) is reportedly among the former WWE superstars who could soon return to the company.

On July 31 of last year, WWE stunningly announced that they had released the former WWE and Universal Champion from his contract. Here we are just over a year later, and the 35-year-old Wyatt hasn’t stepped into a wrestling ring since his WWE release. But that could all change in the not-so-distant future.

More details will be released sometime today. But Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com tweeted on Wednesday evening that “some WWE higher ups believe they are more likely to regain Bray Wyatt now than before.”

Vince McMahon was in charge of the company when WWE released Wyatt from his contract. But the longtime WWE chairman announced his retirement after four decades at the helm three weeks ago, and Triple H (Paul Levesque) was subsequently named the new Head of Talent Relations and the new leader of the creative team.

Triple H brought back Dakota Kai (released in April) on a new contract, and she made her return at SummerSlam two weeks ago. Karrion Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux, who were both released in November, also signed new deals and returned to WWE on last week’s episode of SmackDown.

Wyatt was one of WWE’s most creative, accomplished and beloved superstars during his run on the main roster. That’s what made his release especially surprising, but it may just be a matter of time until he returns to the company under Triple H’s guidance.

Wyatt’s last WWE match took place against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 37. In a surprise, Orton quickly defeated his former Wyatt Family leader after Wyatt was betrayed by Alexa Bliss. On the post-WrestleMania edition of Raw, Wyatt stated that he was seeking a fresh start in a “Firefly Fun House” segment. That “fresh start” was never revealed, as WWE kept Wyatt off of company programming for nearly four months before announcing his release.

Source: TheSportster