5 feuds Bray Wyatt could have in AEW 

Is Bray Wyatt going to AEW? Fans have been asking this question since Wyatt was shockingly released from his WWE contract. It's still unclear what Bray Wyatt's plans are. Going by his Twitter profile, it's shrouded in mystery like his character.

Wyatt has been notorious for leaving 'bread crumbs' in tweets. Fans have eaten it up and speculated for months. You would think we were talking about The Riddler, but that valley of fandom is reserved for another time.

There's no clear indication that Bray Wyatt has even signed with AEW. Recent reports suggest that he might want to focus on a Hollywood project instead of another pro wrestling promotion.

Tony Khan has mentioned that he has only met Wyatt in passing and has not really spoken to him. But let's assume that Khan is just plain lying in anticipation of a surprise debut. While it's true that Wyatt didn't show up at Full Gear as some fans hoped, it's fair to think that he may eventually arrive in AEW.

If he does, here are five feuds Wyatt could have:

#5 Bray Wyatt vs. Malakai Black

Bray Wyatt portrayed a dark, almost fiendish, character at the end of his WWE run. Malakai Black is bringing all that, and more, to AEW. For the most part, AEW has characters based on reality rather than fantasy.

The Dark Order was initially an attempt at that, but they morphed into something entirely too wholesome to be mystical. Wyatt's success in WWE was embracing the weird and creepy, and it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility that he would engage in a feud with Black.

In a sense, having both these wrestlers go at it would introduce AEW audiences to the paranormal. Most wrestlers in AEW have characters grounded in actuality, while fantastical characters are not necessarily the norm. This feud would normalize those character types to be embraced in the future.

#4 Bray Wyatt vs. Sting

Is Bray Wyatt hunting down a legend? Vince McMahon would probably sue for copyright infringement as it seems like a direct lift of The Fiend's character in WWE. But let's think about this for a second. Sting's arrival in AEW was unheard of until it happened.

Shockingly, Sting can still go inside the squared circle, given his career ended in WWE with a horrifying neck injury. Coming back to wrestling in AEW, albeit in a limited capacity, is still a triumph in itself. Sting was a great character, and he's still proving to be one in AEW.

Now, why would he serve as a great opponent for Bray Wyatt? He was eating WWE Legends for breakfast as The Fiend attacked them and left them 'for dead.' To get The Fiend over, WWE had The Fiend attack legends to show how dangerous he could be and the threat he posed to others.

This booking will be the reverse of that. While some fans would probably love to see Darby Allin take on Wyatt, a feud with Sting would present more storyline opportunities.

At the same time, it would showcase why AEW has done so well in booking their legacy talent and allow Sting to showcase his skills in a cinematic presentation.

#3 Bray Wyatt vs. Eddie Kingston

Bray Wyatt taking on a relentless Eddie Kingston? Now, fans would be puzzled at this match-up. Eddie Kingston is probably enjoying a career-high right now, given that he struggled on the independents for several years before becoming one of the more prominent stars in AEW.

His recent feud with CM Punk is a testament to the years of hard work put in and being able to compete with one of the biggest stars in the company is a huge win for him. The Mad King defines 'REAL.' He's not a 'BODY' guy and would certainly get chastized for his look if he ever stepped foot inside a WWE ring.

He's a tough guy who may lose the fight but will put you in the hospital when it's all said and done. Now, what does that have to do with a wrestler like Bray Wyatt? Wyatt isn't known for his realism but rather his horror-influenced persona, which is fantastic, weird, and creepy.

But perhaps that is the endearing quality of this match-up. Both men have unique characteristics that could gel inside the squared circle. Eddie Kingston is the guy from Yonkers who has had a troubled past and can go with the best of them. Bray Wyatt could be that different opponent that Kingston has never really faced before. It would be a psychological battle that few witness in wrestling.

What would it mean for an AEW audience? It would be a captivating story told by two of the best in the business. Also, can you just imagine what an unscripted promo with the content of Kingston and delivery of Wyatt would be like? It would be everything that is beautiful about professional wrestling.

#2 Bray Wyatt vs. Matt Hardy

Bray Wyatt taking on Matt Hardy in AEW? Sure, they have teamed together and fought each other before in the halls of WWE. But was it the way it should have been booked? It depends on who you ask, but most fans and even Hardy were disappointed that their feud was a missed opportunity in WWE.

Speaking of fantastical characters, Broken Matt Hardy was originally how Hardy came into AEW, but the character didn't resonate. He quickly switched to a heelish Big Money Matt and now has his own staple. That has more to do with his ability to innovate and improvise his character.

Now, if there were more characters like him, say a Bray Wyatt, in AEW, it would give him reason to resurrect his 'Broken' persona. He could engage in a cinematic match with Wyatt; their WWE run moved into self-parody territory and more of a letdown for Wyatt himself, who some saw as the next coming of The Undertaker.

A feud between the pair in AEW would be an opportunity to explore far more dangerous exploits of their characters that few thought possible. AEW allows their wrestlers to express themselves and be genuine characters on TV. Hardy and Wyatt could take AEW to another level when it comes to their extravaganze, and it would be a missed opportunity on Tony Khan's part if it didn't happen.

#1 Bray Wyatt vs. Cody Rhodes

Bray Wyatt has a history with Cody Rhodes. On the second season of NXT, he was Cody's 'rookie' when he was Husky Harris. Bray Wyatt is a highly talented and creative individual, which the American Nightmare has acknowledged in the past.

Their families go way back in the wrestling business. Cody is the son of Dusty Rhodes, while Wyatt is the son of Mike Rotunda, who some older WWE fans may remember as Irwin R. Schyster, abbreviated to I.R.S. Both men have their roots in the wrestling business.

Now, forget the creepy angle, which Bray is most comfortable in. Cody Rhodes is currently suffering a dilemma at the moment. He is a babyface who is getting booed out of buildings. In interviews, he has stated that he doesn't want to turn heel and would prefer to stay a face. Of course, AEW might be playing the long game, and he will eventually turn heel. The question is -- how does he get there?

Now, for those who are comic book enthusiasts, the story of The Killing Joke comes to mind. In it, the Joker kidnaps Commissioner Gordon and tortures him. As he tries to drive Gordon insane, the Joker insinuates in the form of a back story that he was just a regular guy who had 'one bad day' and became the Clown Prince of Crime.

What if Bray Wyatt could do the same to Cody Rhodes? What if he brought him down to his level? What if The American Nightmare was no longer a cool nickname but a sheer embodiment of a killer on the loose. It's fascinating to think about as Cody believes himself to be the hero. Most villains do.

A feud with Bray Wyatt would help Cody bring new life to his character that few thought possible. Imagine this - when AEW was launched, Cody was the hero the fans saw. But as Harvey Dent said in The Dark Knight:

“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

Perhaps Wyatt will be responsible for doing just that to The American Nightmare and give AEW audiences the heel they want to see. After all, Cody Rhodes may be the hero that AEW fans deserve, but he's not the Cowboy they need right now.