Bray Wyatt's legacy is in good hands with Uncle Howdy

Bray Wyatt's death last year cast a shadow over the wrestling world, leaving fans and colleagues in uncertainty and despair. 

Windham Rotunda, known for his creativity and boundless imagination, left behind a storied yet polarizing and incomplete legacy. Before his removal from television following the Feb. 17, 2023, episode of SmackDown and his untimely passing six months later, Wyatt was introducing a new character to his expanding roster of alter egos and "family" members.

The character, Uncle Howdy, was portrayed by Wyatt's brother Taylor Rotunda, better known to fans as Bo Dallas. Uncle Howdy made a few notable appearances during Wyatt's brief WWE return, most prominently in the Pitch Black match against LA Knight at the 2023 Royal Rumble. He also appeared on episodes of SmackDown leading up to a proposed match with Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania 39, which never materialized. 

However, the development of Uncle Howdy was cut short when Wyatt was taken off TV, leaving fans to speculate about his full vision for the character, which seemed destined to remain incomplete forever.

Since Wyatt's passing, WWE has given Taylor Rotunda creative control to continue the Uncle Howdy character in Bray's honor and to finish the story his brother could not complete. Uncle Howdy returned to television, and the debut of the Wyatt Sicks faction on the July 17, 2024, episode of Raw set the stage for their first major feud. Chad Gable, who had recently left his "family" in the Alpha Academy, became the faction's initial target.

For several weeks, Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks relentlessly pursued Gable and his new allies, the Creed Brothers. The feud culminated in a six-man tag team match featuring Gable and the Creeds, known as American Made, against the Wyatt Sicks team of Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis. The Wyatt Sicks emerged victorious in their debut, but their rivalry with Gable continued. This confrontation led to Uncle Howdy's first match in WWE and Bo Dallas' first televised match since 2019.

The match, held on the Aug. 26, 2024, episode of Raw, was an emotional spectacle that captivated fans. Although there were concerns about Uncle Howdy wrestling sanctioned matches and appearing too vulnerable against Gable, the match achieved its intended purpose. 

Rotunda performed well in his first match in 1,748 days, blending his old moves as Bo Dallas with new power moves and numerous tributes to his brother. He applied a Mandible Claw to Gable and finished with a Sister Abigail, both signature moves of Wyatt. After the match, he pointed to the sky, a gesture that many interpreted as a touching tribute to his late brother.