Bray Wyatt’s dad opens up on his son’s tragic death after the WWE star passed away in his sleep due to heart issues at age 36: ‘We miss him every day… it’s so hard to wake up out of this nightmare’

Nearly four months after WWE superstar Bray Wyatt’s passing, his father Mike Rotunda spoke about the grief that their family has been dealing with since his death in August. 

The 65-year-old Rotunda, whose wrestling career spanned decades, shared how life has been a ‘nightmare’ since Wyatt (real name Windham Rotunda) died at the early age of 36. 

‘It’s been really hard, we miss him every day’ Rotunda shared on the Wrasslin Talk with Mayor McCall podcast. 

‘[My kids] would come with me and stay on the road, wherever I was wrestling and it’s so hard to wake up out of this nightmare and he’s still not there.’ 

Wyatt died of a heart attack while asleep in his Claremont, Florida residence. WWE chief Triple H announced his passing after receiving a call from Rotunda. 

Wyatt’s father, Mike Rotunda, wrestled for decades with notable stints in the WWF and WCW 

Rotunda explained that Wyatt was supposed to get married to his partner, Jojo, before he passed away, which makes the grieving period even more difficult. He also shared how, contrary to his WWE in-ring persona, Wyatt was a very happy and joyful person. 

‘He was a jolly fellow,’ Rotunda added. ‘He loved to laugh, he was loud, always laughing and he lit up a room. He lit up the wrestling business. 

‘People come up to me and have a story with Windham and say, ‘He took the time to sit there and bulls*** with me for 10 or 15 minutes when he’s supposed to be signing autographs.’ So many people come up and support him by wearing Windham’s stuff, and they have a story about him. He was that kind of person.’  

Rotunda’s pro wrestling career spanned from 1981 to 2004, with notable stints in the WWF and WCW under his real name and the alias Irwin R. Schyster (IRS). His sons Windham and Taylor (known under the ring name Bo Dallas) inevitably got drawn into the business. 

Wyatt’s villainous cult leader persona was voted as the WWE’s best gimmick in 2013 and 2019 

Rotunda expressed his gratitude towards the WWE for signing Wyatt into a Legends contract, allowing him and his siblings to make money from merchandise sales. 

After spending time in the WWE’s NXT program under the name ‘Husky Harris’, the WWE debuted the Bray Wyatt character in 2012. Wyatt immediately became a fan favorite and emerged as a regular main event act by 2015. 

Despite playing the heel, Wyatt’s villainous cult leader persona was beloved by fans who played a huge part in the gimmick. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter gave Wyatt the award for Best Gimmick in 2013 and 2019. He was also named the WWE’s Male Wrestler of the Year in 2019.

As for his in-ring work, Wyatt held the WWE Championship, Universal Championship and both Raw and Smackdown Tag Team Championships before his sudden and tragic death.