Why WWE fans connect so well with Bray Wyatt and his Fiend

Why does The Fiend connect so well with WWE fans? Is it his fresh content? Use of history & character evolution? His creative control? Maybe its all of it!

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer recently reported that the top merchandising seller within the WWE is now Bray Wyatt’s “The Fiend.” While some fans may have been on the fence earlier this year when Wyatt debuted his Firefly Fun House concept in April, it’s now clear every time the superstar enters an arena, or his FFH segment pops on the titantron, just how over he is with the WWE Universe.

Now those merch dollar amounts prove it as well.

But, why does “The Fiend” connect so well with the WWE Universe? After all, he’s a character that is clearly a heel, which means that fans should necessarily love him as much as they do. But, just like everything in the FFH, the WWE, and life in general, nothing is ever that cut and dry.

I think there is a multitude of reasons as to why Bray Wyatt and his Fiend connect so well with fans. Much like Wyatt’s previous persona, Firefly Fun House and The Fiend are concepts that are fresh and compelling within WWE programs. We as fans look forward to seeing these segments (and seeing The Fiend in the ring) because everything about Bray and FFH is new, shiny, glossy, unexpected, unreal, edgy; content that we gobble up as quickly and joyfully as giddy little Huskus the Pig would when piece of chocolate cake is presented in front of him.

I know for me, the most refreshing part of Bray, post-repackage, was the fact that I felt as if WWE Creative was finally getting Wyatt right. For years, seeing the cult leader not only fail in the squared circle, but fail on the creative side of things – when I knew he deserved more – was disappointing. I think a huge part of Wyatt’s success this second time around is creative control over his gimmick, which is why it is so over with fans. The dollar signs with his merch are the proof in the proverbial pudding that what he is doing is spot on.

No one knows Bray Wyatt like Windham Rotunda, but I think another thing Rotunda is also tuned into is this business and what fans really want. Born and raised on wrestling, he clearly knows fans love suspense, we love being left wondering what will happen next; however, fans also love the history of this business and feeling like we are all part a moment in time.

Unlike most characters in the WWE, where a superstar’s history is often swept under the rug (for the most part, unless they are celebrating a major milestone), Bray Wyatt wears his WWE past on his sleeve and the WWE Universe is reminded consistently of his evolution.

The character’s history, in many ways, has been laced into the PTSD, split-personality victim he is today. We are reminded through Huskus, a puppet that not only teases Bray’s Nexus run, but also dives into the blurred lines of WWE television and what may go on backstage.

We are reminded through Abby the Witch, who has also evolved from Sister Abigail, and was a part of Wyatt’s cult leader persona; the painting in the Firefly Fun House of his original Wyatt House being burnt down.

We are reminded that the old Bray Wyatt is dead and gone and something far more sinister has replaced him, every time The Fiend walks down that aisle for competition, holding his eerie Wyatt-esque lantern. And while all of the above is uber creepy, it’s like an accident along the roadside; you kind of don’t want to slow down and stare – afraid of what you’ll see – but, you also can’t help yourself.

Not to mention the fact that Wyatt himself exemplifies the overarching theme of good (Wyatt’s FFH host) battling evil (The Fiend); not only a concept that rules over WWE storylines, but life in general – and it is no surprise that the WWE Universe has clung onto Wyatt as our new WWE savior; heel or not.

Mix that in with cryptic messages that the masses can understand and some where certain fans spend plenty of time reviewing and analyzing, to get a deeper idea of what Wyatt is saying. When you catch it, you feel like you are part of an inside joke, sparking a connection level that many superstars can’t even dream of reaching with the fans.