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Bray Wyatt represented one of WWE’s most ambitious creative efforts when the character launched in NXT, and all the more so when he arrived on the main roster. As the head of The Wyatt Family, he combined some of the sinister heel mastermind tendencies of Jake Roberts and CM Punk with some mystical pieces that felt like an updated take on an Undertaker-like gimmick.
The original Wyatt gimmick felt stale after years of limited clear direction or purpose. His newer work as a mock children’s television host, and most recently as The Fiend has revitalized the character, however, making him one of WWE ’s most buzz-worthy stars.
But what if the original Bray Wyatt and The Fiend are not so separate from each other, but rather alter egos that run concurrently or in some alternating fashion? This article considers the possibility and what it might mean for Wyatt, as well as his opponents, moving forward.
#5 Finn Balor faces an unexpected rival
WWE has built up Finn Balor’s match with Bray Wyatt at SummerSlam as featuring The Fiend, but what if Wyatt instead returns to the ring in his old visage? This choice could be cast as mind games against The Demon, and Wyatt demonstrating a level of control over his own alter-ego.
Of course, Balor has beaten Wyatt in the past, and their feud didn’t exactly set the world on fire in a series of matches that ultimately seemed to lead to Wyatt’s demotion down the card before he disappeared for a year. The specter of The Fiend lurking, waiting to be unleashed—or perhaps even coming out during this match could offer enough intrigue to make this match feel fresh for the time being, though, while hinting at more monstrous things to come in the months ahead from Wyatt. In addition to saving The Fiend, this choice could make Wyatt look all the stronger for not needing to dig into his bag of tricks to achieve this victory.
#4 Parallels to Balor’s Demon
One of the most unique and intriguing dimensions of Finn Balor’s persona has been the Demon King alter ego that he breaks out in big match situations, not least of all including when he faced Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship at SummerSlam 2016 and when he defeated Bobby Lashley for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 35. The Demon entrance itself is a sight to behold, and while the prospect of Balor wrestling better with the body paint is a little silly, there is some substance to WWE’s suggestion that the intimidating visage lends him a psychological advantage.
Bray Wyatt choosing to dawn The Fiend mask and take on another, more vicious personality when he does so could easily follow a similar logic. Moreover, particularly given Wyatt picked a fight with Balor first thing upon his return, and given speculations that Balor may take some time away, we could be looking at a long term set up for both men dawning their alternative gear and battling it out, Demon vs. Fiend.
#3 The Wyatt Family reunites
Throughout his years in WWE, Bray Wyatt has never strayed too far from leading his Wyatt Family faction. Luke Harper has been his right-hand man as often as not through their shared time in WWE, while Erick Rowan has often been in the mix, WWE fans met Braun Strowman as a part of the gang, and no lesser stars than Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton had their flirtations with the group.
Wyatt’s latest work hasn’t involved his Family, though the Firefly Funhouse segments made references to the past in a mix of subtle and overt ways. If the old Wyatt is back, with The Fiend revealed to be less a character change than a new dimension added, it could offer a great deal of intrigue. Maybe other Wyatt Family members would have alter egos too. At the least, it would be nice to see Harper back on TV, and Rowan’s run as Daniel Bryan’s heater may well have run its course, setting him up to naturally return to the Wyatt fold.
#2 The mask as the subject of intrigue
WWE has thoroughly distinguished Finn Balor from the Demon King, given the degree of preparation The Demon requires in terms of detailed body paint, not to mention a more elaborate entrance, that thus precludes him from making the transition quickly, let alone mid-match. The rules around The Fiend are less clear at this point, however. Both in terms of live appearances and cutaways during Firefly Funhouse, the Fiend’s appearances have been abrupt and defined by the use of the mask.
Could Bray Wyatt make this adjustment as needed during the match, or conceivably even work some extra treachery by appearing concurrently with someone else in the Fiend mask? Or might the mask even become an extra source of mystical power, something less like the Demon visage than The Undertaker’s urn? The possibilities abound if Wyatt hasn’t fully changed over to the Fiend to wrestle, but rather absorbs that gimmick as a part of his larger character.
#1 Toying with a face turn
The Fiend character comes across as naturally heelish, if only because the mask is legitimately scary to look at, and Bray Wyatt has donned it while attacking popular figures like Finn Balor and Mick Foley. There is another side to Wyatt’s work in recent months, however, from Firefly Funhouse to each appearance of the Fiend on TV so far. Fans have loved it.
The Fiend is not a traditional heroic character by any stretch of the imagination. It is, however, unique and at least the present moment comes across as appealing to fans starved for something different out of their WWE Superstars.
There’s no pretending that the Fiend is anything but a heel at the present moment, and the most straightforward presentation for family-friendly WWE would be to toe the line on him being a villainous character. However, if he continues to garner a positive reaction, he may well wind up turning Wyatt face.
