1 00:00:12,221 --> 00:00:15,141 [soft music] 2 00:00:15,183 --> 00:00:21,189 * * 3 00:00:21,230 --> 00:00:23,941 - Wrestling is not a love story. 4 00:00:23,983 --> 00:00:25,693 It's much more. 5 00:00:25,735 --> 00:00:29,655 * * 6 00:00:29,697 --> 00:00:31,032 It's hope. 7 00:00:31,074 --> 00:00:35,078 * * 8 00:00:35,119 --> 00:00:37,288 An excuse to be a kid again. 9 00:00:37,330 --> 00:00:38,873 * * 10 00:00:38,915 --> 00:00:41,626 And nothing matters except the moment we are in. 11 00:00:41,667 --> 00:00:46,631 * * 12 00:00:46,672 --> 00:00:50,927 A great man once said that. 13 00:00:50,968 --> 00:00:54,180 That man is my brother, 14 00:00:54,222 --> 00:00:56,140 Windham Rotunda. 15 00:00:56,182 --> 00:00:58,142 [cheers and applause] 16 00:00:58,184 --> 00:01:01,813 But you know him as Bray Wyatt. 17 00:01:01,854 --> 00:01:04,315 [dramatic music] 18 00:01:04,357 --> 00:01:07,110 Tell me this wasn't meant to be. 19 00:01:07,151 --> 00:01:08,986 * * 20 00:01:09,028 --> 00:01:12,073 He knew where he was going from the beginning. 21 00:01:12,115 --> 00:01:15,118 * * 22 00:01:15,159 --> 00:01:17,078 - There's something going on. 23 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,957 - Is that--you know who it is. 24 00:01:20,998 --> 00:01:22,250 [cheers, laughter] 25 00:01:22,291 --> 00:01:24,127 It's Bray Wyatt! 26 00:01:24,168 --> 00:01:25,878 * * 27 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,172 - Bray Wyatt was chaos. 28 00:01:28,214 --> 00:01:29,507 The ultimate villain. 29 00:01:29,549 --> 00:01:33,010 - I am Bray Wyatt, the new face of fear. 30 00:01:33,052 --> 00:01:36,514 - He had the charisma that so many guys don't have. 31 00:01:36,556 --> 00:01:38,141 - Can you feel that? [laughs] 32 00:01:38,182 --> 00:01:39,517 - That "it" quality. 33 00:01:39,559 --> 00:01:42,186 - You hold 100,000 people in the palm of your hand. 34 00:01:42,228 --> 00:01:44,147 - You've got it all. 35 00:01:44,188 --> 00:01:45,648 * * 36 00:01:45,690 --> 00:01:49,152 - When it comes to creativity, Windham had no peers. 37 00:01:49,193 --> 00:01:50,403 - Can I see what that looks like? 38 00:01:50,445 --> 00:01:52,238 - He was not scared to push the limits. 39 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:53,781 - Yowie-wowie! 40 00:01:53,823 --> 00:01:55,241 - He was a genius. 41 00:01:55,283 --> 00:01:58,494 - Dreaming of all these ideas, it's such a cool feeling. 42 00:01:58,536 --> 00:02:00,621 - He changed a whole industry. 43 00:02:00,663 --> 00:02:02,540 - [laughs] 44 00:02:02,582 --> 00:02:05,835 - He put his heart and soul out on his sleeve. 45 00:02:05,877 --> 00:02:07,879 It's one of the geniuses of him, but it's also 46 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,214 one of the things that was difficult to work with him on. 47 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,055 - When you hit creative roadblocks, you reform. 48 00:02:17,096 --> 00:02:18,181 And that's what he did. 49 00:02:18,222 --> 00:02:19,849 * * 50 00:02:19,891 --> 00:02:23,019 - It's time to rewrite my own story. 51 00:02:23,061 --> 00:02:26,105 [dramatic music] 52 00:02:26,147 --> 00:02:29,233 The ridiculously hard times are what strengthened me. 53 00:02:29,275 --> 00:02:33,780 When I was weak, when I was vulnerable, when I was down, 54 00:02:33,821 --> 00:02:35,156 you were there. 55 00:02:35,198 --> 00:02:36,532 [cheers and applause] 56 00:02:36,574 --> 00:02:38,284 This is the best I've ever felt. 57 00:02:38,326 --> 00:02:40,536 * * 58 00:02:40,578 --> 00:02:45,875 - He was bigger than life, and he was loved by millions. 59 00:02:45,917 --> 00:02:48,961 - He had so much more that he wanted to do. 60 00:02:49,003 --> 00:02:52,215 - I want to leave a legacy behind for everyone 61 00:02:52,256 --> 00:02:53,966 that ever loved me. 62 00:02:54,008 --> 00:02:55,885 * * 63 00:02:55,927 --> 00:03:01,849 - * He's got the whole world in his hands * 64 00:03:06,437 --> 00:03:08,272 - Creativity. 65 00:03:08,314 --> 00:03:12,443 It comes from many places and takes many shapes. 66 00:03:12,485 --> 00:03:17,240 The place is Western Pennsylvania. 67 00:03:17,281 --> 00:03:23,454 The shape is a character forever known as Bray Wyatt. 68 00:03:25,540 --> 00:03:28,501 [soft music] 69 00:03:28,543 --> 00:03:30,753 * * 70 00:03:30,795 --> 00:03:31,629 - Jason. 71 00:03:31,671 --> 00:03:34,090 - What's going on, buddy? 72 00:03:34,132 --> 00:03:35,633 * * 73 00:03:35,675 --> 00:03:37,218 My name is Jason Baker. 74 00:03:37,260 --> 00:03:40,722 I'm a special makeup effects artist and film director. 75 00:03:40,763 --> 00:03:42,640 - Wild looking at all this. 76 00:03:42,682 --> 00:03:44,267 - I know. 77 00:03:44,308 --> 00:03:47,770 I had the honor of creating most of Windham's costumes 78 00:03:47,812 --> 00:03:50,648 and all of his insane ideas. 79 00:03:50,690 --> 00:03:52,859 - You look and see all the things he's done 80 00:03:52,900 --> 00:03:54,402 and accomplished. 81 00:03:54,444 --> 00:03:57,071 - I wish he was here to share it with us. 82 00:03:57,113 --> 00:04:00,658 - Now it's up to us to give him something 83 00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:04,412 he deserves that will let him live on forever. 84 00:04:05,496 --> 00:04:07,165 We owe him something big. 85 00:04:07,206 --> 00:04:08,583 - It's going to be wild. 86 00:04:08,624 --> 00:04:12,670 - Something to truly honor his legacy. 87 00:04:16,215 --> 00:04:19,135 [tense music] 88 00:04:19,177 --> 00:04:26,350 * * 89 00:04:34,901 --> 00:04:37,570 - I grew up in a little town called Brooksville, Florida. 90 00:04:37,612 --> 00:04:40,531 Small little town. 91 00:04:40,573 --> 00:04:42,116 You know, everybody knows your business. 92 00:04:42,158 --> 00:04:43,785 Everybody knows who you are. 93 00:04:43,826 --> 00:04:46,245 Everybody knew who my family was growing up, obviously. 94 00:04:46,287 --> 00:04:47,830 - Come on and let's fight. 95 00:04:47,872 --> 00:04:50,750 - Blackjack Mulligan is my grandfather. 96 00:04:50,792 --> 00:04:52,168 - Blackjack Mulligan. 97 00:04:52,210 --> 00:04:54,003 What a monster. 98 00:04:54,045 --> 00:04:56,839 - My uncles are Barry and Kendall Windham. 99 00:04:56,881 --> 00:04:58,800 - Barry Windham. Kendall Windham. 100 00:04:58,841 --> 00:05:00,510 Two second-generation wrestlers. 101 00:05:00,551 --> 00:05:03,679 - And my father is Mike Rotunda. 102 00:05:03,721 --> 00:05:05,765 - Outstanding athlete out of Syracuse. 103 00:05:05,807 --> 00:05:07,558 A tremendous wrestler. 104 00:05:10,019 --> 00:05:11,938 - I was wrestling down in Florida, 105 00:05:11,979 --> 00:05:13,689 and Dusty Rhodes was the booker. 106 00:05:13,731 --> 00:05:16,943 And he put Barry and I as a tag team together. 107 00:05:18,736 --> 00:05:23,032 - Barry Windham joining Mike Rotunda. 108 00:05:23,074 --> 00:05:26,577 - His sister Stephanie came down to visit. 109 00:05:27,745 --> 00:05:30,206 - My sister had come to stay with me. 110 00:05:30,248 --> 00:05:33,376 Mike, of course, being my best friend, was always over. 111 00:05:33,418 --> 00:05:34,627 You know, I noticed that 112 00:05:34,669 --> 00:05:37,797 they were kind of eyeballing each other. 113 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,675 - I wasn't supposed to really be around the wrestlers. 114 00:05:40,717 --> 00:05:42,719 Said I wasn't interested. 115 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,139 And then I married him six months later. 116 00:05:46,180 --> 00:05:49,267 And we've been married 40 years. 117 00:05:49,308 --> 00:05:51,936 - Over the next few years, the couple 118 00:05:51,978 --> 00:05:56,649 traveled the world together as Mike became a champion. 119 00:05:56,691 --> 00:05:57,650 - Over the hip. 120 00:05:57,692 --> 00:05:59,986 Shoulders down. 121 00:06:00,027 --> 00:06:01,612 Yes, indeed! 122 00:06:01,654 --> 00:06:03,698 We have new tag team champions, 123 00:06:03,740 --> 00:06:07,285 Barry Windham, Mike Rotunda. 124 00:06:07,326 --> 00:06:10,163 - And competed in the first-ever WrestleMania 125 00:06:10,204 --> 00:06:12,915 in New York City. 126 00:06:12,957 --> 00:06:15,293 - Rotunda now gets the Sheik up. 127 00:06:15,334 --> 00:06:18,463 Well-executed suplex. 128 00:06:19,255 --> 00:06:21,466 - Eventually, they settled in Brooksville. 129 00:06:21,507 --> 00:06:25,636 And on May 23, 1987, 130 00:06:25,678 --> 00:06:28,681 Windham Lawrence Rotunda was born. 131 00:06:28,723 --> 00:06:29,932 - I was wrestling in 132 00:06:29,974 --> 00:06:31,809 Championship Wrestling of Florida, 133 00:06:31,851 --> 00:06:34,479 and I wrestled Ric Flair that night. 134 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,397 So I get home, nobody's at the house. 135 00:06:36,439 --> 00:06:40,651 My mother-in-law and Steph were at the hospital. 136 00:06:40,693 --> 00:06:43,362 They ended up doing an emergency C-section 137 00:06:43,404 --> 00:06:46,532 because Windham was a big kid. 138 00:06:46,574 --> 00:06:48,493 - He was almost 10 pounds. 139 00:06:48,534 --> 00:06:51,162 Windham was named from the beginning 140 00:06:51,204 --> 00:06:52,914 'cause it's my maiden name. 141 00:06:52,955 --> 00:06:55,708 He was like the little Gerber baby. 142 00:06:55,750 --> 00:06:57,794 Bright, blue eyes and smiley 143 00:06:57,835 --> 00:07:01,172 and curly little blonde ringlets of hair. 144 00:07:01,214 --> 00:07:02,673 He was beautiful. 145 00:07:04,509 --> 00:07:07,136 When he was a little bitty, like, two and three, 146 00:07:07,178 --> 00:07:09,180 he would stand in front of the TV, 147 00:07:09,222 --> 00:07:12,392 and he knew "Ghostbusters," 148 00:07:12,433 --> 00:07:15,645 "Beetlejuice" line-for-line. 149 00:07:15,686 --> 00:07:18,272 - He would watch these movies, 150 00:07:18,314 --> 00:07:22,485 and he would voice pretty much the whole movie 151 00:07:22,527 --> 00:07:24,612 at that young age. 152 00:07:24,654 --> 00:07:27,490 - I remember when he read all the Goosebumps books. 153 00:07:27,532 --> 00:07:30,618 He was addicted to 'em. 154 00:07:30,660 --> 00:07:32,203 But he was just such an imaginative, 155 00:07:32,245 --> 00:07:34,831 imaginative character, and he was always 156 00:07:34,872 --> 00:07:37,500 the center of attention wherever he went. 157 00:07:37,542 --> 00:07:39,335 [soft music] 158 00:07:39,377 --> 00:07:42,505 - Windham wouldn't be an only child for long. 159 00:07:42,547 --> 00:07:47,510 When he was three years old, he got a brother, Taylor. 160 00:07:47,552 --> 00:07:49,762 * * 161 00:07:49,804 --> 00:07:53,182 - Windham was always somebody I looked up to. 162 00:07:53,224 --> 00:07:56,269 Most little brothers do look up to a bigger brother. 163 00:07:56,310 --> 00:07:58,896 But Windham... 164 00:07:58,938 --> 00:08:01,649 I wanted to be just like him. 165 00:08:01,691 --> 00:08:03,693 - And three years later, 166 00:08:03,735 --> 00:08:07,321 he got a little sister too: Mika. 167 00:08:08,781 --> 00:08:11,701 - Brothers are awesome, and I had the two best. 168 00:08:11,743 --> 00:08:14,036 I have felt that way my whole life. 169 00:08:14,078 --> 00:08:15,872 Windham and Taylor were my protectors 170 00:08:15,913 --> 00:08:18,875 and they were my friends and my confidants. 171 00:08:18,916 --> 00:08:20,501 - We were all really, really close. 172 00:08:20,543 --> 00:08:22,670 But in our younger years, me and Windham 173 00:08:22,712 --> 00:08:24,172 played practical jokes. 174 00:08:24,213 --> 00:08:26,507 We convinced her at one point that there was 175 00:08:26,549 --> 00:08:29,385 an invisible man living in her closet. 176 00:08:29,427 --> 00:08:31,888 Anytime she was about to tell on us, we'd be like, 177 00:08:31,929 --> 00:08:35,349 do you want us to call on--hmm? 178 00:08:35,391 --> 00:08:37,602 - Those kids played hard with each other. 179 00:08:37,643 --> 00:08:38,811 I remember them, like, roughhousing 180 00:08:38,853 --> 00:08:40,104 in our living room. 181 00:08:40,146 --> 00:08:42,774 We were really close to Mike and Stephanie 182 00:08:42,815 --> 00:08:44,734 and Windham and Taylor growing up. 183 00:08:44,776 --> 00:08:47,737 Mike was one of my dad's best friends. 184 00:08:47,779 --> 00:08:50,031 Those kids, they were vibrant. 185 00:08:50,073 --> 00:08:52,617 They, all three, have so much personality. 186 00:08:55,787 --> 00:08:57,538 [cheers and applause] 187 00:08:57,580 --> 00:09:01,084 - As the Rotunda children grew up, their father 188 00:09:01,125 --> 00:09:04,253 developed a new identity in the ring. 189 00:09:04,295 --> 00:09:07,048 - My dad was IRS, Irwin R. Schyster. 190 00:09:09,008 --> 00:09:14,097 - I told you tax cheats before, everyone pays their taxes! 191 00:09:14,138 --> 00:09:18,810 No one will rest in peace until all your taxes are paid. 192 00:09:18,851 --> 00:09:20,853 [crowd booing] 193 00:09:20,895 --> 00:09:26,192 - Even I shared the ring with IRS. 194 00:09:26,234 --> 00:09:27,443 - Look at this! 195 00:09:27,485 --> 00:09:28,820 Yeah! 196 00:09:31,906 --> 00:09:34,325 - I remember seeing young Bray Wyatt 197 00:09:34,367 --> 00:09:36,119 just hanging out back watching his dad, 198 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,788 just mesmerized, you know, watching his dad stretch 199 00:09:38,830 --> 00:09:40,456 and work out in the ring. 200 00:09:40,498 --> 00:09:43,668 You know, you could tell he wanted to be in the ring. 201 00:09:43,710 --> 00:09:46,879 - I remember one time in particular, 202 00:09:46,921 --> 00:09:50,466 I saw my dad was in a tag match with Ted DiBiase 203 00:09:50,508 --> 00:09:51,968 against The Nasty Boys. 204 00:09:52,009 --> 00:09:54,470 - Oh, God. Look at this. Uh-oh. 205 00:09:54,512 --> 00:09:55,763 - Will it be the pit stop? 206 00:09:55,805 --> 00:09:58,015 - I wanna see this. 207 00:09:58,057 --> 00:09:59,976 - They put my dad in the corner, 208 00:10:00,017 --> 00:10:02,520 and they stuck their armpits in his face. 209 00:10:02,562 --> 00:10:04,272 And I remember being backstage 210 00:10:04,313 --> 00:10:06,357 and my mom having to hold me back 211 00:10:06,399 --> 00:10:08,276 because I was a little 7-year-old kid 212 00:10:08,317 --> 00:10:10,486 and I was about to run in this ring. 213 00:10:10,528 --> 00:10:11,821 That's where it started. 214 00:10:11,863 --> 00:10:13,322 I knew that I had to get in there. 215 00:10:13,364 --> 00:10:15,158 I wanted to be just like my dad. 216 00:10:15,199 --> 00:10:17,285 I wanted to be in the WWE. 217 00:10:20,246 --> 00:10:24,751 - By the early 2000s, Windham used his size 218 00:10:24,792 --> 00:10:27,545 to excel in high school sports. 219 00:10:27,587 --> 00:10:30,173 - Growing up, especially if you're heavyset like I was 220 00:10:30,214 --> 00:10:31,674 when I was a kid, you had to learn 221 00:10:31,716 --> 00:10:34,010 how to be tough at a real young age. 222 00:10:34,052 --> 00:10:36,345 As soon as I was old enough, any contact sport 223 00:10:36,387 --> 00:10:39,182 I could get my hands on, I was into it. 224 00:10:39,223 --> 00:10:40,641 - He was a good football player. 225 00:10:40,683 --> 00:10:41,726 Played both ways. 226 00:10:41,768 --> 00:10:44,353 Made all-star teams. 227 00:10:44,395 --> 00:10:46,814 - He really, really was an unbelievable athlete. 228 00:10:46,856 --> 00:10:49,192 He ran a 4.8 40. 229 00:10:49,233 --> 00:10:51,944 And the strength he had and the agility for the size 230 00:10:51,986 --> 00:10:54,489 that he had, just unbelievable. 231 00:10:54,530 --> 00:10:57,575 - Windham was an anomaly-- everything, but especially 232 00:10:57,617 --> 00:10:59,202 amateur wrestling and high school. 233 00:10:59,243 --> 00:11:01,496 By the time it was time for his match, 234 00:11:01,537 --> 00:11:03,331 the gym would quiet down. 235 00:11:03,372 --> 00:11:05,458 And when he would wrestle, the whole gymnasium 236 00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:07,835 would just stop to watch what he was doing. 237 00:11:07,877 --> 00:11:11,381 He was a draw at 17. 238 00:11:11,422 --> 00:11:14,592 - Windham won the heavyweight wrestling state title 239 00:11:14,634 --> 00:11:17,387 and was all-state in football. 240 00:11:17,428 --> 00:11:21,808 In 2005, he graduated and chose to continue 241 00:11:21,849 --> 00:11:26,145 playing football 3,000 miles away. 242 00:11:26,187 --> 00:11:27,647 - I went and played junior college football 243 00:11:27,688 --> 00:11:31,776 at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California. 244 00:11:31,818 --> 00:11:34,570 - Windham excelled and was named an All-American 245 00:11:34,612 --> 00:11:36,406 offensive lineman. 246 00:11:36,447 --> 00:11:39,075 Two years later, he transferred to Division I 247 00:11:39,117 --> 00:11:43,287 Troy University in Alabama. 248 00:11:43,329 --> 00:11:45,331 - I think that's where I really learned to be tough. 249 00:11:45,373 --> 00:11:46,958 You know, it pushed me to the edge. 250 00:11:46,999 --> 00:11:49,711 To play in Division I football ain't no joke. 251 00:11:49,752 --> 00:11:52,588 - Being a college athlete was incredibly challenging. 252 00:11:52,630 --> 00:11:54,298 It's a full-time job. 253 00:11:54,340 --> 00:11:56,050 When you're coming up in a family 254 00:11:56,092 --> 00:11:57,552 of professional athletes 255 00:11:57,593 --> 00:12:00,096 and you see this devotion, you don't know anything 256 00:12:00,138 --> 00:12:02,557 other than to give everything you've got. 257 00:12:02,598 --> 00:12:05,059 He dreamt of playing for the Oakland Raiders. 258 00:12:05,101 --> 00:12:07,270 And like, that's where he wanted to be, 259 00:12:07,311 --> 00:12:09,480 and that's what he wanted to do. 260 00:12:09,522 --> 00:12:13,776 - While Windham worked towards a future in the NFL, 261 00:12:13,818 --> 00:12:18,030 he often made the 6.5-hour drive home to see his family 262 00:12:18,072 --> 00:12:20,074 in Brooksville. 263 00:12:20,116 --> 00:12:22,368 - I was 15, and I was very self-conscious 264 00:12:22,410 --> 00:12:24,078 because I was really overweight. 265 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,206 And the only thing that made it better was Windham. 266 00:12:27,248 --> 00:12:29,000 And I called him and I told him, 267 00:12:29,041 --> 00:12:30,877 I'm the only freshman on homecoming court. 268 00:12:30,918 --> 00:12:33,755 And I said, I know you're in the middle of football season. 269 00:12:33,796 --> 00:12:35,048 It would mean everything if you could just 270 00:12:35,089 --> 00:12:37,300 walk me down the field. 271 00:12:37,341 --> 00:12:39,093 He showed up with a bouquet of flowers. 272 00:12:39,135 --> 00:12:40,636 And I was so scared. 273 00:12:40,678 --> 00:12:42,972 But when your big brother, who's your hero, 274 00:12:43,014 --> 00:12:45,058 who's your favorite icon, shows up 275 00:12:45,099 --> 00:12:48,436 just to walk you down the field, it vanishes. 276 00:12:48,478 --> 00:12:50,438 - When I was a senior in high school, 277 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,815 I was going to the state championships. 278 00:12:52,857 --> 00:12:54,817 And my brother was a state champion. 279 00:12:54,859 --> 00:12:57,028 And I wanted to be just like him. 280 00:12:57,070 --> 00:12:58,529 He wanted to come and see me. 281 00:12:58,571 --> 00:13:01,282 But he said, I'm only going to come and see you 282 00:13:01,324 --> 00:13:04,077 in the finals because I know you're going to make it 283 00:13:04,118 --> 00:13:06,162 to the finals and I know you're going to win. 284 00:13:06,204 --> 00:13:08,122 And that's all I need to see. 285 00:13:08,164 --> 00:13:11,417 So long story short, I went into the tournament 286 00:13:11,459 --> 00:13:14,962 and I suffered an injury and I was unable to compete. 287 00:13:15,004 --> 00:13:16,714 And the only thing running through my head 288 00:13:16,756 --> 00:13:18,925 was I let my brother down. 289 00:13:18,966 --> 00:13:20,468 * * 290 00:13:20,510 --> 00:13:22,845 Finally got home, and Windham was already 291 00:13:22,887 --> 00:13:24,180 waiting in the driveway 292 00:13:24,222 --> 00:13:25,932 sitting on the back of his tailgate. 293 00:13:25,973 --> 00:13:27,475 And before I even made it to him, 294 00:13:27,517 --> 00:13:32,522 he made it to me with a big hug. 295 00:13:32,563 --> 00:13:34,190 And... 296 00:13:36,901 --> 00:13:39,112 He whispered into my ear... 297 00:13:43,324 --> 00:13:46,327 "None of that shit matters." 298 00:13:46,369 --> 00:13:48,746 None of that shit matters. 299 00:13:48,788 --> 00:13:50,832 That's really who Windham was. 300 00:13:50,873 --> 00:13:54,252 It was the love of his family and making sure 301 00:13:54,293 --> 00:13:59,006 I felt OK after I felt like I let him down. 302 00:13:59,048 --> 00:14:02,218 That's what mattered to him. 303 00:14:02,260 --> 00:14:05,430 - By 2008, Windham was relegated 304 00:14:05,471 --> 00:14:08,391 to a backup role on the Troy University football team, 305 00:14:08,433 --> 00:14:12,812 and his playing time was limited. 306 00:14:12,854 --> 00:14:15,982 - That was kind of a hard time for him because, of course, 307 00:14:16,023 --> 00:14:18,234 his aspirations were pro football. 308 00:14:18,276 --> 00:14:23,406 And it dawned on him that that wasn't going to happen. 309 00:14:23,448 --> 00:14:26,492 - That same year, his 18-year-old brother Taylor 310 00:14:26,534 --> 00:14:31,247 signed with WWE and joined their developmental system. 311 00:14:31,289 --> 00:14:32,707 - I was having my first match, 312 00:14:32,749 --> 00:14:35,585 and Windham drove down from Troy. 313 00:14:35,626 --> 00:14:38,755 I got done and went and met him after. 314 00:14:38,796 --> 00:14:41,716 And he's like, "I'm not going back to school. 315 00:14:41,758 --> 00:14:44,135 I want to do this with you." 316 00:14:44,177 --> 00:14:47,638 - That decision would change the course of Windham's life. 317 00:14:52,143 --> 00:14:55,063 [tense music] 318 00:14:55,104 --> 00:14:57,732 * * 319 00:15:00,943 --> 00:15:03,154 - In 2008, Windham walked away 320 00:15:03,196 --> 00:15:04,989 from the Troy University's football team 321 00:15:05,031 --> 00:15:06,616 and joined his brother Taylor 322 00:15:06,657 --> 00:15:09,952 in WWE's developmental system, FCW. 323 00:15:09,994 --> 00:15:12,288 all: FCW! FCW! - Slow down, folks. 324 00:15:12,330 --> 00:15:14,540 - Windham came from college football. 325 00:15:14,582 --> 00:15:17,668 And then kind of overnight, was just with FCW. 326 00:15:17,710 --> 00:15:20,713 And yeah, everything was new and everything 327 00:15:20,755 --> 00:15:22,757 was scary and exciting. 328 00:15:22,799 --> 00:15:24,509 But I think what gave him comfort 329 00:15:24,550 --> 00:15:26,719 was that his brother was there. 330 00:15:26,761 --> 00:15:29,639 - He moved down to Tampa, and we got a house together. 331 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,058 And we loved it. 332 00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:35,061 It was one of my favorite times of my life. 333 00:15:35,103 --> 00:15:37,146 We did everything together. 334 00:15:37,188 --> 00:15:38,314 We went to work together. 335 00:15:38,356 --> 00:15:39,690 We talked about work. 336 00:15:39,732 --> 00:15:42,110 And we ended up starting to tag together. 337 00:15:42,151 --> 00:15:43,986 And we were Bo and Duke Rotundo. 338 00:15:44,028 --> 00:15:47,240 And that was our life. 339 00:15:47,281 --> 00:15:48,783 - I was 16. 340 00:15:48,825 --> 00:15:50,201 I got my driver's license. 341 00:15:50,243 --> 00:15:51,869 And the first place I ever drove 342 00:15:51,911 --> 00:15:55,998 was to the Brooksville armory to watch my brothers. 343 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,918 - From Brooksville, Florida, 344 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:03,339 Bo and Duke Rotundo! 345 00:16:03,381 --> 00:16:05,508 [cheers and applause] 346 00:16:05,550 --> 00:16:07,635 - Proud papa. Proud mama. 347 00:16:07,677 --> 00:16:10,221 My parents were both really proud of the boys. 348 00:16:10,263 --> 00:16:12,223 - They didn't get any roads paved for them 349 00:16:12,265 --> 00:16:13,641 or silver spoon handed to them. 350 00:16:13,683 --> 00:16:16,394 They had to come in like everybody else. 351 00:16:16,436 --> 00:16:18,396 - What an opportunity here to see two 352 00:16:18,438 --> 00:16:20,523 homegrown guys, man, right here. 353 00:16:20,565 --> 00:16:22,191 Duke and Bo, man, this is going to be 354 00:16:22,233 --> 00:16:23,693 a really special outing for them. 355 00:16:23,735 --> 00:16:25,737 Big ol' Duke just a roughhouse. 356 00:16:25,778 --> 00:16:29,198 He's a little green still, but he's got the get-go will. 357 00:16:31,451 --> 00:16:33,369 - This is a really, really tough business. 358 00:16:33,411 --> 00:16:35,246 But to have someone 359 00:16:35,288 --> 00:16:37,707 that you can trust with absolutely anything 360 00:16:37,749 --> 00:16:40,668 is unheard of in this business, and I had that. 361 00:16:40,710 --> 00:16:43,171 You are looking at the most explosive tag team 362 00:16:43,212 --> 00:16:47,300 in FCW, the Rotundo Brothers. 363 00:16:47,341 --> 00:16:50,303 - And it's high time that we bring those titles back 364 00:16:50,344 --> 00:16:54,891 to their new rightful home, Brooksville, Florida. 365 00:16:54,932 --> 00:16:58,811 - We have new tag team champions, 366 00:16:58,853 --> 00:17:01,898 the Rotundos, Bo and Duke. 367 00:17:01,939 --> 00:17:04,233 - Right away, the Rotundo Brothers 368 00:17:04,275 --> 00:17:07,361 impressed a WWE legend. 369 00:17:07,403 --> 00:17:09,822 - I had offered my gym Hard Nocks South 370 00:17:09,864 --> 00:17:13,159 as the first developmental strength territory. 371 00:17:13,201 --> 00:17:15,286 So I used to see Windham all the time. 372 00:17:16,162 --> 00:17:17,872 We separated them into groups 373 00:17:17,914 --> 00:17:19,415 based on their athletic ability, 374 00:17:19,457 --> 00:17:21,334 and Windham was in the top group. 375 00:17:21,375 --> 00:17:23,169 But he was the only guy that would have 376 00:17:23,211 --> 00:17:25,838 everyone laughing all the time. 377 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:30,259 He would come up with sketches in the gym, bring costumes. 378 00:17:30,301 --> 00:17:32,387 - It puts the lotion on its skin, 379 00:17:32,428 --> 00:17:34,138 or else it gets the hose again. 380 00:17:34,180 --> 00:17:35,807 - Do you want to get dipped in water? 381 00:17:35,848 --> 00:17:37,016 - Yeah. 382 00:17:37,058 --> 00:17:38,142 - You can't swim with Saran wrap on. 383 00:17:38,184 --> 00:17:40,395 - Bad boys don't get headbands. 384 00:17:40,436 --> 00:17:42,146 - It's one of those things you see on and be like, 385 00:17:42,188 --> 00:17:43,898 he's on to something. 386 00:17:43,940 --> 00:17:45,441 - Look into these eyes, boy. 387 00:17:45,483 --> 00:17:48,236 A demon lives behind these eyes. 388 00:17:48,277 --> 00:17:51,239 A demon that you created. 389 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:54,367 - I mean, you could go back and find old tapes of Windham 390 00:17:54,409 --> 00:17:55,660 at promo class. 391 00:17:55,701 --> 00:17:57,328 You could take any one of those characters 392 00:17:57,370 --> 00:17:59,789 and put them right on TV. 393 00:17:59,831 --> 00:18:02,500 - Windham's magnetic personality and work ethic 394 00:18:02,542 --> 00:18:04,752 didn't go unnoticed. 395 00:18:04,794 --> 00:18:07,797 Within a year, the 23-year-old would be 396 00:18:07,839 --> 00:18:11,217 featured on a new show called "NXT." 397 00:18:12,593 --> 00:18:15,054 - "NXT" was a game show where, essentially, 398 00:18:15,096 --> 00:18:17,557 you had up-and-coming wrestlers who would compete 399 00:18:17,598 --> 00:18:19,642 to be the next breakout star. 400 00:18:19,684 --> 00:18:21,728 And then we had a group of what were termed to be 401 00:18:21,769 --> 00:18:24,689 pros who were acting as judges. 402 00:18:24,731 --> 00:18:28,025 - And Windham got a new name. 403 00:18:28,067 --> 00:18:30,653 - I don't believe Cody Rhodes is that enthused 404 00:18:30,695 --> 00:18:34,323 about his rookie Husky Harris. 405 00:18:34,365 --> 00:18:36,200 - Well, he was called Husky Harris. 406 00:18:36,242 --> 00:18:38,286 - I thought it was a little-- you know, 407 00:18:38,327 --> 00:18:41,456 it wasn't complimentary by any means. 408 00:18:41,497 --> 00:18:43,791 - I know Windham really didn't like the name. 409 00:18:43,833 --> 00:18:45,793 He felt it was poking fun at his physique 410 00:18:45,835 --> 00:18:46,586 more than anything. 411 00:18:46,627 --> 00:18:47,920 - What can you say about 412 00:18:47,962 --> 00:18:49,922 Husky Harris that you can't see? 413 00:18:49,964 --> 00:18:51,090 - He's husky. 414 00:18:51,132 --> 00:18:52,467 - Come on, baby! 415 00:18:52,508 --> 00:18:54,802 - Husky Harris? 416 00:18:54,844 --> 00:18:56,262 I don't know, man. 417 00:18:56,304 --> 00:18:57,680 I can only imagine how frustrated 418 00:18:57,722 --> 00:18:58,973 he must have been with that. 419 00:18:59,015 --> 00:19:01,225 I don't know if, in my most creative hour, 420 00:19:01,267 --> 00:19:02,477 could I have made this work. 421 00:19:02,518 --> 00:19:04,395 - She wants me. Hmm. 422 00:19:07,732 --> 00:19:08,858 - Oh, God. 423 00:19:08,900 --> 00:19:10,234 - Terrible. 424 00:19:10,276 --> 00:19:12,904 When I look back at the Husky Harris, 425 00:19:12,945 --> 00:19:15,907 I just see that sad little boy. 426 00:19:15,948 --> 00:19:18,076 It was just a terrible, terrible time. 427 00:19:18,117 --> 00:19:20,995 And it was a figment of someone else's imagination 428 00:19:21,037 --> 00:19:23,623 that they tried to push on a person. 429 00:19:23,664 --> 00:19:26,542 - I feel like he knew in his heart that wasn't what 430 00:19:26,584 --> 00:19:28,586 his destiny was supposed to be. 431 00:19:28,628 --> 00:19:31,089 That Husky Harris character, it allowed him to want more. 432 00:19:31,130 --> 00:19:33,174 It drove him to want more. 433 00:19:34,092 --> 00:19:36,427 - While Windham wanted more professionally, 434 00:19:36,469 --> 00:19:39,639 personally, he was thriving. 435 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:41,933 Windham had been dating his girlfriend Samantha 436 00:19:41,974 --> 00:19:44,060 for three years. 437 00:19:44,102 --> 00:19:47,146 And on November 14, 2010, 438 00:19:47,188 --> 00:19:50,983 they welcomed their first daughter, Cadyn. 439 00:19:52,276 --> 00:19:54,362 - He was on the European Tour. 440 00:19:54,404 --> 00:19:56,656 And it started getting closer and closer. 441 00:19:56,697 --> 00:19:59,450 And I called him and said, I'm going to go to the hospital. 442 00:19:59,492 --> 00:20:01,994 I'm going. He's like, oh, God. 443 00:20:02,036 --> 00:20:04,914 It was hours that he was just on the phone with me. 444 00:20:04,956 --> 00:20:07,750 Sorry. 445 00:20:07,792 --> 00:20:10,753 And she was born. 446 00:20:10,795 --> 00:20:13,297 And he heard the whole thing. 447 00:20:13,339 --> 00:20:16,676 I refused to let anybody see her until he saw her. 448 00:20:16,718 --> 00:20:18,636 And she was about two, three days old. 449 00:20:18,678 --> 00:20:20,263 And he was like, oh, my God. 450 00:20:20,304 --> 00:20:21,889 He didn't know how to hold her. 451 00:20:21,931 --> 00:20:22,932 I said, like a football. 452 00:20:22,974 --> 00:20:24,809 You're good. 453 00:20:24,851 --> 00:20:28,229 - She was a happy-go-lucky little girl and beautiful. 454 00:20:28,271 --> 00:20:31,733 And she looked just like him. 455 00:20:31,774 --> 00:20:33,735 - For sure, it changed his life. 456 00:20:33,776 --> 00:20:36,779 It gave him direction and a purpose 457 00:20:36,821 --> 00:20:38,865 because it wasn't just about him anymore. 458 00:20:38,906 --> 00:20:41,284 It was about his beautiful child. 459 00:20:41,325 --> 00:20:43,119 [soft music] 460 00:20:43,161 --> 00:20:46,914 - At that time, Paul Levesque, also known as Triple H, 461 00:20:46,956 --> 00:20:50,668 was head of creative for WWE Developmental. 462 00:20:50,710 --> 00:20:53,880 - Windham was in the company as Husky Harris. 463 00:20:53,921 --> 00:20:55,465 Didn't feel like it was working. 464 00:20:55,506 --> 00:20:57,717 Didn't feel like it was going to work. 465 00:20:57,759 --> 00:20:59,635 I think we have him miscast. 466 00:20:59,677 --> 00:21:02,055 He's really talented. 467 00:21:02,096 --> 00:21:05,892 Let me take him, put him back down in Florida, 468 00:21:05,933 --> 00:21:10,438 and let me see what I can get out of him. 469 00:21:13,149 --> 00:21:16,486 - He didn't want to be this cookie-cutter--little tights. 470 00:21:16,527 --> 00:21:18,863 Windham from day one was like, no [bleep] way, man. 471 00:21:18,905 --> 00:21:21,491 That's not my stuff. I'm different. 472 00:21:21,532 --> 00:21:24,368 And he was sent back to FCW. 473 00:21:24,410 --> 00:21:28,748 He got in the car smiling, laughing like, listen, listen. 474 00:21:30,917 --> 00:21:34,087 The entire 3 1/2-hour ride, he was just showing me videos 475 00:21:34,128 --> 00:21:37,048 and telling me ideas and all this stuff. 476 00:21:37,090 --> 00:21:40,093 It was crazy and all over the place. 477 00:21:40,134 --> 00:21:42,762 And I'm like, what are you even talking about, man? 478 00:21:42,804 --> 00:21:44,847 And he was telling me about Waylon Mercy 479 00:21:44,889 --> 00:21:46,682 and we were watching videos of that. 480 00:21:46,724 --> 00:21:49,811 - Waylon Mercy, he's a peaceful man. 481 00:21:49,852 --> 00:21:52,980 He likes his peaceful surroundings. 482 00:21:53,022 --> 00:21:55,608 - Those are the eeriest, strangest-looking eyes 483 00:21:55,650 --> 00:21:56,901 I've ever seen. 484 00:21:56,943 --> 00:21:59,070 Look at this. 485 00:21:59,112 --> 00:22:01,989 - And he's telling me about Robert De Niro's demeanor 486 00:22:02,031 --> 00:22:03,950 from "Cape Fear." 487 00:22:03,991 --> 00:22:07,286 The next week rolled around and we had promo class, 488 00:22:07,328 --> 00:22:11,457 and it blew everybody's mind. 489 00:22:11,499 --> 00:22:15,503 - Because I am like God, and God like me. 490 00:22:15,545 --> 00:22:17,296 You know, I'm as large as him. 491 00:22:17,338 --> 00:22:20,091 He is as small as I. 492 00:22:20,133 --> 00:22:21,884 [chuckles] 493 00:22:21,926 --> 00:22:26,973 - And just like that, Bray Wyatt was born. 494 00:22:27,014 --> 00:22:29,350 - He really attributed a lot of Bray 495 00:22:29,392 --> 00:22:31,310 to growing up in Brooksville. 496 00:22:31,352 --> 00:22:33,646 - He had a really, really close friend growing up, 497 00:22:33,688 --> 00:22:35,231 Brae White. 498 00:22:35,273 --> 00:22:38,860 Still to this day, the craziest mother[bleep] I've ever met. 499 00:22:38,901 --> 00:22:40,236 And this is a real person. 500 00:22:40,278 --> 00:22:42,196 He got in a car wreck when he was younger 501 00:22:42,238 --> 00:22:43,531 and his head went through the windshield 502 00:22:43,573 --> 00:22:45,116 and he lost all feeling in his face, 503 00:22:45,158 --> 00:22:46,701 so he'd just headbutt anything. 504 00:22:46,743 --> 00:22:50,705 And a lot of his characteristics 505 00:22:50,747 --> 00:22:53,291 were taken and put into the Bray Wyatt character. 506 00:22:53,332 --> 00:22:58,379 - I have never seen so clearly in all my life. 507 00:22:58,421 --> 00:22:59,756 [laughs] 508 00:22:59,797 --> 00:23:02,091 - Windham's cousin's name is Wyatt. 509 00:23:02,133 --> 00:23:05,386 So Windham kind of mixed it up and came up with Bray Wyatt. 510 00:23:05,428 --> 00:23:08,431 - And they say, Bray Wyatt, well, he's crazy, man. 511 00:23:08,473 --> 00:23:11,225 He's a psychopath. 512 00:23:11,267 --> 00:23:12,769 - He came out, and everything about it-- 513 00:23:12,810 --> 00:23:15,688 the presentation and just the energy-- 514 00:23:15,730 --> 00:23:18,524 we were like, oh, this is good. 515 00:23:18,566 --> 00:23:19,984 This jumps off the page. 516 00:23:20,026 --> 00:23:22,528 - [laughs] 517 00:23:22,570 --> 00:23:24,489 - It blew everybody away. 518 00:23:24,530 --> 00:23:26,115 You wouldn't even know if he was there. 519 00:23:26,157 --> 00:23:28,242 And then all of a sudden, Bray Wyatt would emerge. 520 00:23:28,284 --> 00:23:30,328 And it was truly like he walked into a phone booth 521 00:23:30,369 --> 00:23:32,288 and came out as Superman. 522 00:23:32,330 --> 00:23:33,790 - A lot of times, those promos on promo day 523 00:23:33,831 --> 00:23:34,791 will be 60 seconds. 524 00:23:34,832 --> 00:23:36,626 90 if you ask for it. 525 00:23:36,667 --> 00:23:37,960 Windham would go up there sometimes 526 00:23:38,002 --> 00:23:39,670 for, like, six or seven minutes. 527 00:23:39,712 --> 00:23:42,298 I think Dusty gave him just a lot of room 528 00:23:42,340 --> 00:23:44,300 to explore and to find that character 529 00:23:44,342 --> 00:23:46,344 and to find the voice. 530 00:23:46,386 --> 00:23:49,847 - Dusty knew there was something special there, 531 00:23:49,889 --> 00:23:51,849 and he wasn't going to let it go. 532 00:23:51,891 --> 00:23:54,268 He knew Windham had something that was 533 00:23:54,310 --> 00:23:56,813 going to change the business. 534 00:23:56,854 --> 00:23:58,815 - Said he was Bray. 535 00:23:58,856 --> 00:24:00,733 As we started to enlighten the world 536 00:24:00,775 --> 00:24:03,277 who this Bray Wyatt character was, 537 00:24:03,319 --> 00:24:07,240 Windham is such a unique kid that he understands-- 538 00:24:07,281 --> 00:24:08,533 he believes that. 539 00:24:08,574 --> 00:24:10,326 That's who he is. 540 00:24:10,368 --> 00:24:12,120 That's what makes him so good. 541 00:24:19,919 --> 00:24:21,754 - Dusty called me one day and he said, 542 00:24:21,796 --> 00:24:23,297 "Kid, remember Husky?" 543 00:24:23,339 --> 00:24:24,716 And I was like, yeah. 544 00:24:24,757 --> 00:24:26,342 And he goes, "He's got a new character. 545 00:24:26,384 --> 00:24:27,468 "You're going to love it. 546 00:24:27,510 --> 00:24:28,845 You got to come check it out." 547 00:24:28,886 --> 00:24:32,724 And he cut this promo, and it was so bizarre. 548 00:24:32,765 --> 00:24:35,685 And Dusty said, "What do you think?" 549 00:24:35,727 --> 00:24:38,646 And I'm like, this is a movie character. 550 00:24:40,273 --> 00:24:43,109 - Within months, Windham had an idea. 551 00:24:43,151 --> 00:24:46,154 He wanted an on-screen family. 552 00:24:46,195 --> 00:24:48,823 But his brother Taylor was already an established singles 553 00:24:48,865 --> 00:24:52,827 competitor known as Bo Dallas. 554 00:24:52,869 --> 00:24:58,875 Enter John Huber, also known as Luke Harper. 555 00:24:58,916 --> 00:25:01,002 - I had flown to FCW for the tryout. 556 00:25:01,044 --> 00:25:03,171 And then I get a call from Windham. 557 00:25:03,212 --> 00:25:05,923 And about 10 minutes later, I hang up the phone. 558 00:25:05,965 --> 00:25:07,258 I hadn't said a word. 559 00:25:07,300 --> 00:25:08,926 And this guy had-- 560 00:25:08,968 --> 00:25:11,596 Bray--had rattled off about a million different things. 561 00:25:11,637 --> 00:25:13,639 And I was like, oh, my God, that dude's nuts. 562 00:25:13,681 --> 00:25:15,099 Like, wow. 563 00:25:16,976 --> 00:25:19,562 - Windham and Luke had an immediate bond. 564 00:25:19,604 --> 00:25:21,105 They just connected. 565 00:25:21,147 --> 00:25:24,233 So initially, it just started as Bray and Luke. 566 00:25:24,275 --> 00:25:27,528 We created this environment where, 567 00:25:27,570 --> 00:25:30,656 is he really talking to people or is this all in his mind? 568 00:25:30,698 --> 00:25:31,699 - Here we go. 569 00:25:31,741 --> 00:25:34,160 In three, two, one. 570 00:25:34,202 --> 00:25:35,244 Action. 571 00:25:35,286 --> 00:25:36,704 - Can you feel that? 572 00:25:36,746 --> 00:25:41,375 Come with me, and I will show you a love that is power. 573 00:25:41,417 --> 00:25:44,087 - The first shoot, he's on the river. 574 00:25:44,128 --> 00:25:46,589 It's in the forest right down from our house. 575 00:25:46,631 --> 00:25:49,717 And the guys had to go back in with the alligators 576 00:25:49,759 --> 00:25:52,178 and the mosquitoes and everything. 577 00:25:52,220 --> 00:25:53,971 - I almost fell on that one, buddy. 578 00:25:54,013 --> 00:25:55,306 [laughs] 579 00:25:55,348 --> 00:25:57,558 - Our first house was on 10 acres, and we 580 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:00,228 were next to a zoo that had lions and big cats 581 00:26:00,269 --> 00:26:02,105 and started hearing, like, lion roars at night. 582 00:26:02,146 --> 00:26:04,273 So unique stuff would happen. 583 00:26:04,315 --> 00:26:05,525 And he pulled from that. 584 00:26:05,566 --> 00:26:08,736 - I wish you'd quit lying to your children, 585 00:26:08,778 --> 00:26:11,072 telling them that there's things out there that 586 00:26:11,114 --> 00:26:13,616 won't go bump in the night. 587 00:26:13,658 --> 00:26:15,284 What they going to do, man? 588 00:26:15,326 --> 00:26:19,247 What you going to do to something like me? 589 00:26:19,288 --> 00:26:21,666 What can they do? 590 00:26:21,707 --> 00:26:23,292 Run. 591 00:26:23,334 --> 00:26:24,627 [tense music] 592 00:26:24,669 --> 00:26:26,212 - There was something special 593 00:26:26,254 --> 00:26:29,799 and something interesting there that could resonate. 594 00:26:29,841 --> 00:26:32,844 - My name is Bray Wyatt. 595 00:26:32,885 --> 00:26:34,637 Pleased to meet you, man. 596 00:26:34,679 --> 00:26:37,306 Help me welcome the first son 597 00:26:37,348 --> 00:26:42,019 of the Wyatt family, Luke Harper. 598 00:26:42,061 --> 00:26:44,063 - This is getting weirder by the second. 599 00:26:44,105 --> 00:26:45,898 - What is happening? 600 00:26:45,940 --> 00:26:48,067 - At the time, I got this Viking gimmick. 601 00:26:48,109 --> 00:26:50,194 And I remember being called into an office like, 602 00:26:50,236 --> 00:26:53,406 "OK, we want you as the second son." 603 00:26:53,448 --> 00:26:55,658 And I was like, that's cool. 604 00:26:55,700 --> 00:26:57,326 What am I wearing? 605 00:26:57,368 --> 00:26:59,412 - Bray wanted Rowan to wear a mask. 606 00:26:59,454 --> 00:27:02,165 So Rowan had a duffel bag full of masks. 607 00:27:02,206 --> 00:27:05,043 And he pulls out this sheep's mask. 608 00:27:05,084 --> 00:27:06,794 And Bray was like, oh, I love it. 609 00:27:06,836 --> 00:27:08,671 That's perfect. 610 00:27:08,713 --> 00:27:10,339 - We are strong. 611 00:27:10,381 --> 00:27:12,300 We are dangerous. 612 00:27:12,341 --> 00:27:14,343 We are family. 613 00:27:14,385 --> 00:27:17,305 [laughs] 614 00:27:17,346 --> 00:27:19,766 - I would bring home these big rocking chairs, 615 00:27:19,807 --> 00:27:21,601 and he and I and Taylor and Mike 616 00:27:21,642 --> 00:27:22,894 would just mess them all up 617 00:27:22,935 --> 00:27:24,187 and make them look rough and beat up. 618 00:27:24,228 --> 00:27:25,813 And that's the one they'll see 619 00:27:25,855 --> 00:27:27,231 in the scene in the barn. 620 00:27:29,859 --> 00:27:31,360 - We were having a blast. 621 00:27:31,402 --> 00:27:33,362 Sometimes, we would watch old interviews 622 00:27:33,404 --> 00:27:35,156 with people that were on death row 623 00:27:35,198 --> 00:27:37,450 because we're trying to see how they speak. 624 00:27:37,492 --> 00:27:39,368 Why do they think they're right? 625 00:27:39,410 --> 00:27:40,536 Just their mindset. 626 00:27:40,578 --> 00:27:42,455 And I think a lot of that plays into, like, 627 00:27:42,497 --> 00:27:43,956 what he was able to create. 628 00:27:43,998 --> 00:27:46,375 [soft music] 629 00:27:46,417 --> 00:27:51,214 - At age 26, Bray Wyatt was an immediate hit. 630 00:27:51,255 --> 00:27:55,802 As Windham's stardom grew, so did his family. 631 00:27:55,843 --> 00:27:57,762 He got married to Samantha. 632 00:27:57,804 --> 00:28:02,975 And on February 7, 2013, his second daughter, Kendyl, 633 00:28:03,017 --> 00:28:05,395 was born. 634 00:28:05,436 --> 00:28:08,231 - Because he had missed the first birth, 635 00:28:08,272 --> 00:28:09,899 I wanted to do everything I could 636 00:28:09,941 --> 00:28:11,734 so he could be there and experience it. 637 00:28:11,776 --> 00:28:13,194 Because I feel like that's something 638 00:28:13,236 --> 00:28:14,570 that you have to experience. 639 00:28:14,612 --> 00:28:18,282 So we elected to be induced with our second. 640 00:28:18,324 --> 00:28:20,910 That way, he could be there. 641 00:28:20,952 --> 00:28:23,830 - Windham was born to do a lot and to be a lot of things. 642 00:28:23,871 --> 00:28:25,748 But being a daddy was number one. 643 00:28:25,790 --> 00:28:27,917 When he loved, he loved massively. 644 00:28:27,959 --> 00:28:31,587 And he had a whole heart to give to his babies. 645 00:28:31,629 --> 00:28:34,215 - We all knew Windham was going to be a great father. 646 00:28:34,257 --> 00:28:38,428 I mean, one of his strongest qualities is how much he loves. 647 00:28:38,469 --> 00:28:41,639 And he already had plans on where he was going 648 00:28:41,681 --> 00:28:43,516 and what he was going to do, but his children, 649 00:28:43,558 --> 00:28:48,604 they just further instilled more and more drive in him. 650 00:28:48,646 --> 00:28:51,315 - Three, two... 651 00:28:52,233 --> 00:28:53,109 [laughter] 652 00:28:53,151 --> 00:28:54,485 - Good. Good. Good. 653 00:28:54,527 --> 00:28:55,486 Tell them. 654 00:28:55,528 --> 00:28:56,612 Tell them, Bray. 655 00:28:56,654 --> 00:28:57,655 - There we go. 656 00:28:57,697 --> 00:29:00,032 Deep in the woods. 657 00:29:00,074 --> 00:29:01,284 - Real deep dive. 658 00:29:01,325 --> 00:29:02,285 - [laughs] 659 00:29:02,326 --> 00:29:03,745 - Come on, guys. 660 00:29:03,786 --> 00:29:05,496 Start it over. 661 00:29:06,372 --> 00:29:09,459 - Preparations were underway to get the Wyatt family 662 00:29:09,500 --> 00:29:12,295 ready for an even bigger stage. 663 00:29:12,336 --> 00:29:14,964 - As you talk about bringing Bray Wyatt 664 00:29:15,006 --> 00:29:18,134 and the family up to Raw or to SmackDown and up 665 00:29:18,176 --> 00:29:19,969 into the big show, now, how do you 666 00:29:20,011 --> 00:29:22,305 take that, put that into an arena? 667 00:29:22,346 --> 00:29:23,473 Let me talk to you 'cause I want you 668 00:29:23,514 --> 00:29:24,724 to understand the psychology of it. 669 00:29:24,766 --> 00:29:25,808 - Let's go right now. I'm ready. 670 00:29:25,850 --> 00:29:27,060 - It's subtle. 671 00:29:27,101 --> 00:29:28,603 That's where the lantern came to be. 672 00:29:28,644 --> 00:29:30,813 I think, when I threw it at him, he loved-- 673 00:29:30,855 --> 00:29:32,356 like, all the lights should go out 674 00:29:32,398 --> 00:29:34,942 and this creepy ass dude comes out 675 00:29:34,984 --> 00:29:36,861 of the swamp holding a lantern. 676 00:29:36,903 --> 00:29:38,946 And just slightly beneath your face. 677 00:29:38,988 --> 00:29:40,615 But it would give me enough light to see that. 678 00:29:40,656 --> 00:29:43,618 Those were the things that we sort of collaborated on 679 00:29:43,659 --> 00:29:46,079 a lot and put the character together. 680 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:48,748 - That's fun. I like that. 681 00:29:48,790 --> 00:29:53,336 - In the summer of 2013, Bray Wyatt was ready 682 00:29:53,378 --> 00:29:55,671 to make his debut on the national stage. 683 00:29:55,713 --> 00:29:57,173 [dramatic music] 684 00:29:57,215 --> 00:29:59,300 - This is Monday Night Raw. 685 00:29:59,342 --> 00:30:04,013 The WWE fans in Baltimore are on their feet. 686 00:30:04,055 --> 00:30:05,765 - We finally got the call-up. 687 00:30:05,807 --> 00:30:09,852 And I don't know if we really understood what we had. 688 00:30:09,894 --> 00:30:13,898 We knew the "NXT" crowd had responded so well to us. 689 00:30:13,940 --> 00:30:15,650 We never in a million years thought 690 00:30:15,691 --> 00:30:18,861 it was going to explode the way it did. 691 00:30:18,903 --> 00:30:20,571 We're here. 692 00:30:26,577 --> 00:30:28,621 [dramatic music] 693 00:30:28,663 --> 00:30:30,706 - [roaring, grunting] 694 00:30:30,748 --> 00:30:32,792 - Bray Wyatt's emergence on Monday Night Raw 695 00:30:32,834 --> 00:30:36,045 as the leader of the cult-like Wyatt Family 696 00:30:36,087 --> 00:30:41,718 was unlike anything the WWE Universe had seen before. 697 00:30:41,759 --> 00:30:44,178 - He was just such a captivating talker. 698 00:30:44,220 --> 00:30:47,056 And he was doing stuff that no one else was doing. 699 00:30:47,098 --> 00:30:49,267 Because in wrestling, you get so much bombast 700 00:30:49,308 --> 00:30:51,728 and you're taught to, like, play to the nosebleeds. 701 00:30:51,769 --> 00:30:54,689 But the way he could just deliver something very softly 702 00:30:54,731 --> 00:30:56,899 and it would, like, send chills up your spine-- 703 00:30:56,941 --> 00:30:58,901 - Tomorrow morning when you wake up, 704 00:30:58,943 --> 00:31:00,987 you go back to being just another one 705 00:31:01,028 --> 00:31:03,573 of those anonymous souls. 706 00:31:03,614 --> 00:31:05,032 [laughs] 707 00:31:05,074 --> 00:31:06,576 - That stuff, I think, was mesmerizing. 708 00:31:06,617 --> 00:31:09,579 And in many ways, he's portraying this cult leader, 709 00:31:09,620 --> 00:31:10,830 but it almost felt real. 710 00:31:10,872 --> 00:31:13,624 Like, he was gathering people's interest. 711 00:31:13,666 --> 00:31:16,294 - He put his whole heart and soul into that character. 712 00:31:16,335 --> 00:31:19,088 And that transcended through the camera and on TV. 713 00:31:19,130 --> 00:31:20,173 And you could feel it. 714 00:31:20,214 --> 00:31:23,176 all: This is awesome! 715 00:31:23,217 --> 00:31:26,679 - It was eerie, but you knew that it was special 716 00:31:26,721 --> 00:31:29,599 because it felt almost like a movie character. 717 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:31,309 It felt like you were watching something 718 00:31:31,350 --> 00:31:33,227 that shouldn't be in professional wrestling-- 719 00:31:33,269 --> 00:31:34,812 that didn't fit. 720 00:31:34,854 --> 00:31:36,689 - Oh, my God! 721 00:31:36,731 --> 00:31:39,442 - It was very interesting to watch him create something 722 00:31:39,484 --> 00:31:42,111 that made sense in our world. 723 00:31:43,946 --> 00:31:46,532 - As soon as I saw Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family, 724 00:31:46,574 --> 00:31:50,036 I was instantly connected to it. 725 00:31:50,078 --> 00:31:56,084 I've always loved characters that have this darkness to it, 726 00:31:56,125 --> 00:32:00,671 but a darkness that is there for a reason. 727 00:32:00,713 --> 00:32:03,925 - Within a few months, Bray Wyatt was 728 00:32:03,966 --> 00:32:09,430 vaulted into a rivalry with a top star, John Cena. 729 00:32:09,472 --> 00:32:12,350 - I could be just like you. 730 00:32:12,392 --> 00:32:16,270 I could sign autographs and kiss babies 731 00:32:16,312 --> 00:32:20,358 and make sure that everyone buys all my merchandise. 732 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:24,362 - The main focus of Bray Wyatt's character was chaos. 733 00:32:24,404 --> 00:32:28,449 - I am different than anyone you will ever face. 734 00:32:28,491 --> 00:32:30,493 - The ability to just be a person 735 00:32:30,535 --> 00:32:32,870 that wants to see the world burn. 736 00:32:32,912 --> 00:32:35,456 And man, when you start breaking down 737 00:32:35,498 --> 00:32:38,793 the stuff he was saying, it's, like, super deep. 738 00:32:38,835 --> 00:32:43,172 - The loneliest man on Earth is the man who sits alone 739 00:32:43,214 --> 00:32:46,509 atop his empty castle. 740 00:32:46,551 --> 00:32:50,012 Who will be left for you, John? 741 00:32:50,054 --> 00:32:52,306 - But he was so entertaining that if you didn't take 742 00:32:52,348 --> 00:32:54,183 anything away from it, cool. 743 00:32:54,225 --> 00:32:56,144 And if you wanted to dive in the rabbit hole, 744 00:32:56,185 --> 00:32:58,146 you were going to some weird places. 745 00:32:58,187 --> 00:32:59,689 - [laughs] 746 00:32:59,731 --> 00:33:01,816 all: This is awesome! 747 00:33:01,858 --> 00:33:04,986 - So it was like, holy shit, we got something here. 748 00:33:05,027 --> 00:33:09,490 - At WrestleMania, John Cena takes on Bray Wyatt. 749 00:33:09,532 --> 00:33:15,288 - Windham had made it to the big time, WrestleMania. 750 00:33:15,329 --> 00:33:18,708 - New Orleans, a weird voodoo-based town 751 00:33:18,750 --> 00:33:21,836 to get the WrestleMania debut of Bray Wyatt. 752 00:33:21,878 --> 00:33:23,504 It really was special. 753 00:33:23,546 --> 00:33:25,631 - We all had dreams and goals. 754 00:33:25,673 --> 00:33:27,925 And me and Windham talked about them endlessly. 755 00:33:27,967 --> 00:33:30,970 You know, like, if we can make it to WrestleMania 756 00:33:31,012 --> 00:33:34,599 and get a match on that platform, then we had made it. 757 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:37,810 - * You could find him in * 758 00:33:37,852 --> 00:33:39,562 - We all knew he was going to get there, 759 00:33:39,604 --> 00:33:43,232 but we didn't know he was going to get there that fast. 760 00:33:43,274 --> 00:33:46,861 - To see him go from the lowest of lows 761 00:33:46,903 --> 00:33:50,448 to figuring out who he was, catching fire, 762 00:33:50,490 --> 00:33:52,200 and then working with one of the greatest 763 00:33:52,241 --> 00:33:54,327 of all time, John Cena, at WrestleMania, 764 00:33:54,368 --> 00:33:55,745 I mean, it's an incredible story, 765 00:33:55,787 --> 00:33:57,914 and especially in such a short period of time. 766 00:33:57,955 --> 00:33:59,248 - And here we go. 767 00:33:59,290 --> 00:34:01,000 This much-anticipated match underway. 768 00:34:01,042 --> 00:34:02,418 Oh! Wow. 769 00:34:02,460 --> 00:34:04,420 - Growing up watching our dad 770 00:34:04,462 --> 00:34:05,421 and watching our uncles 771 00:34:05,463 --> 00:34:07,048 and watching our grandfather, 772 00:34:07,090 --> 00:34:09,759 the grandest stage of all is going to be WrestleMania. 773 00:34:09,801 --> 00:34:13,429 And I remember sitting there going, that's my big brother. 774 00:34:13,471 --> 00:34:15,473 - Bray Wyatt is trying to sway the masses, 775 00:34:15,515 --> 00:34:16,849 and I'm not sure it's not working. 776 00:34:16,891 --> 00:34:19,394 - The shepherd leading his flock. 777 00:34:19,435 --> 00:34:20,812 - We were all excited for him. 778 00:34:20,853 --> 00:34:23,606 And even Mike and I were just, wow. 779 00:34:23,648 --> 00:34:24,941 Wow. 780 00:34:24,982 --> 00:34:27,026 Because it's your kid, and it's, you know, 781 00:34:27,068 --> 00:34:28,111 that was the first time 782 00:34:28,152 --> 00:34:29,612 I saw him bigger than life. 783 00:34:29,654 --> 00:34:31,280 - Cena, second rope. Caught by Wyatt! 784 00:34:31,322 --> 00:34:32,615 Oh! That could be it! 785 00:34:32,657 --> 00:34:34,033 - What an impact! - Shoulders are down! 786 00:34:34,075 --> 00:34:35,159 - Kick out in two. 787 00:34:35,201 --> 00:34:37,620 - I was very happy for him. 788 00:34:37,662 --> 00:34:40,331 It's a good feeling in your heart as a parent 789 00:34:40,373 --> 00:34:44,627 to see your kid work really hard and get rewarded for it. 790 00:34:44,669 --> 00:34:46,754 - Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 791 00:34:46,796 --> 00:34:48,256 That stopped Cena in his tracks. 792 00:34:48,297 --> 00:34:49,674 - What is that? 793 00:34:49,716 --> 00:34:52,051 - I've never seen a match quite like this. 794 00:34:52,093 --> 00:34:54,846 - 20 years from now, they'll go, wow, this moment 795 00:34:54,887 --> 00:34:56,848 happened with John. 796 00:34:56,889 --> 00:35:00,268 That's what I'm looking forward to. 797 00:35:00,309 --> 00:35:01,769 - AA for Cena. 798 00:35:01,811 --> 00:35:02,895 Hook of the leg. 799 00:35:02,937 --> 00:35:06,566 John Cena's legacy grows. 800 00:35:06,607 --> 00:35:09,652 - It was spectacular. 801 00:35:09,694 --> 00:35:11,320 I'm an advocate for, it takes 10 years 802 00:35:11,362 --> 00:35:12,822 to establish sort of fluency. 803 00:35:12,864 --> 00:35:16,451 And I know Husky Harris didn't work out, but holy shit. 804 00:35:16,492 --> 00:35:19,579 When he came back, it was like fluency in six months. 805 00:35:19,620 --> 00:35:23,082 That is a meteoric rise. 806 00:35:23,124 --> 00:35:24,667 - An incredible scene. 807 00:35:24,709 --> 00:35:27,086 And the sea of Fireflies-- what Bray Wyatt 808 00:35:27,128 --> 00:35:29,714 calls his followers-- lighting the arena. 809 00:35:31,090 --> 00:35:35,011 [soft music] 810 00:35:35,053 --> 00:35:37,513 - The lantern, to me, is like-- this is one of the many things 811 00:35:37,555 --> 00:35:39,057 I loved about your brother is that 812 00:35:39,098 --> 00:35:41,350 he could make anything iconic. 813 00:35:41,392 --> 00:35:42,685 - And this one's, like, the first one too. 814 00:35:42,727 --> 00:35:43,895 So it was much simpler. - Yeah. 815 00:35:43,936 --> 00:35:46,272 This is it. This is the very first one. 816 00:35:46,314 --> 00:35:48,441 * * 817 00:35:48,483 --> 00:35:52,612 - Looking at this, it reminds me 818 00:35:52,653 --> 00:35:55,156 of the birth of the Fireflies. 819 00:35:55,198 --> 00:35:57,283 Like... 820 00:35:57,325 --> 00:36:00,244 to see that as it was happening was-- 821 00:36:04,540 --> 00:36:06,250 I have a memory-- 822 00:36:06,292 --> 00:36:07,627 it was Madison Square Garden-- 823 00:36:07,668 --> 00:36:09,670 and I got to see his entrance. 824 00:36:11,756 --> 00:36:13,341 And... 825 00:36:16,469 --> 00:36:18,012 - I mean, because that's it, right? 826 00:36:18,054 --> 00:36:19,222 Madison Square Garden is the-- 827 00:36:19,263 --> 00:36:21,307 - It's something I'll never forget. 828 00:36:21,349 --> 00:36:25,228 To look out... 829 00:36:25,269 --> 00:36:30,108 and see the sea of lights. 830 00:36:30,149 --> 00:36:34,737 * * 831 00:36:34,779 --> 00:36:38,574 The Fireflies, we had never seen before in WWE. 832 00:36:38,616 --> 00:36:42,620 And I don't know if we'll ever see it again. 833 00:36:45,039 --> 00:36:46,916 [tense music] 834 00:36:46,958 --> 00:36:48,459 - We're here. 835 00:36:49,252 --> 00:36:51,921 It was created by the fans on their own. 836 00:36:51,963 --> 00:36:54,090 You know, they call themselves the Fireflies. 837 00:36:54,132 --> 00:36:55,633 And it became their own thing. 838 00:36:55,675 --> 00:36:57,009 And now it's become a spectacle. 839 00:36:57,051 --> 00:36:59,262 Like, almost a piece of what you pay 840 00:36:59,303 --> 00:37:00,680 to come see at a WWE show 841 00:37:00,722 --> 00:37:02,306 is the Wyatt entrance. 842 00:37:02,348 --> 00:37:07,645 - When you get is not just typical fan participation. 843 00:37:07,687 --> 00:37:10,148 You get this idea that everything this character 844 00:37:10,189 --> 00:37:11,941 is saying is true. 845 00:37:11,983 --> 00:37:14,444 Because every little light that is around 846 00:37:14,485 --> 00:37:16,028 this darkened arena 847 00:37:16,070 --> 00:37:18,823 represents somebody that's buying in 848 00:37:18,865 --> 00:37:22,660 to whatever this malicious character is selling. 849 00:37:22,702 --> 00:37:24,120 - He just found a niche. 850 00:37:24,162 --> 00:37:26,998 And finding a niche is a really hard thing to do, 851 00:37:27,039 --> 00:37:29,792 you know, and make it last for a while. 852 00:37:29,834 --> 00:37:32,253 - The matches, the promos, all of it's 853 00:37:32,295 --> 00:37:36,257 just avenues that we take to do what we're really doing here, 854 00:37:36,299 --> 00:37:37,759 which is connect with the audience. 855 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:38,926 That's it. 856 00:37:38,968 --> 00:37:40,720 So if you find a way to do that, 857 00:37:40,762 --> 00:37:41,971 that's your ticket. 858 00:37:42,013 --> 00:37:43,431 That's how you climb the ladder. 859 00:37:43,473 --> 00:37:45,558 And he clearly did. 860 00:37:48,603 --> 00:37:52,398 [indistinct chatter] 861 00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:54,984 - When people would approach him, they wanted to meet Bray. 862 00:37:55,026 --> 00:37:58,529 And Windham gave them who he was and he took his time. 863 00:37:58,571 --> 00:37:59,781 - Would you like anything else? 864 00:37:59,822 --> 00:38:01,199 Oh, is this for me? - Yeah. 865 00:38:01,240 --> 00:38:02,366 - Oh, thank you. 866 00:38:02,408 --> 00:38:03,451 - I appreciate everything you do. 867 00:38:03,493 --> 00:38:04,869 - Thank you very much. 868 00:38:04,911 --> 00:38:06,287 - Whatever you have going on in your life, 869 00:38:06,329 --> 00:38:07,622 it matters to me. 870 00:38:07,663 --> 00:38:09,707 Even if we have a five-minute interaction, 871 00:38:09,749 --> 00:38:11,542 whatever you want to tell me is important to me 872 00:38:11,584 --> 00:38:13,336 and I'm going to genuinely listen. 873 00:38:13,378 --> 00:38:14,754 And when I walk away from you, 874 00:38:14,796 --> 00:38:16,339 I'm going to leave you better than I found you. 875 00:38:16,381 --> 00:38:17,799 - [laughs] 876 00:38:27,016 --> 00:38:28,059 - Thank you. 877 00:38:28,101 --> 00:38:31,270 - Ready? 1, 2, 3. 878 00:38:31,312 --> 00:38:33,356 - He's my favorite wrestler of all time. 879 00:38:33,398 --> 00:38:36,067 I'm still shaking. 880 00:38:36,109 --> 00:38:37,151 Love you, Bray. 881 00:38:37,193 --> 00:38:38,569 Don't forget your autograph. 882 00:38:39,404 --> 00:38:40,571 - Everything. You really are. 883 00:38:41,489 --> 00:38:42,740 - He just had it. 884 00:38:42,782 --> 00:38:45,618 And not only it, he had everything else 885 00:38:45,660 --> 00:38:46,661 to go along with that. 886 00:38:46,702 --> 00:38:47,703 - I'm blessed to be here. 887 00:38:47,745 --> 00:38:48,955 - Nice to meet you. 888 00:38:48,996 --> 00:38:50,039 All right, man. 889 00:38:51,791 --> 00:38:53,543 - I don't think I've ever seen anyone 890 00:38:53,584 --> 00:38:56,379 so committed to being a character. 891 00:38:56,421 --> 00:38:59,257 And when he was Bray Wyatt, 892 00:38:59,298 --> 00:39:01,759 I don't know if anyone was more believable. 893 00:39:01,801 --> 00:39:04,053 I don't know if anyone immersed you as much, 894 00:39:04,095 --> 00:39:07,598 if anyone made you believe as much as he did. 895 00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:09,684 He was just one of the most cerebral performers 896 00:39:09,726 --> 00:39:12,353 I think that I'd ever met because his preparation 897 00:39:12,395 --> 00:39:13,396 was so real. 898 00:39:13,438 --> 00:39:15,064 - And action. 899 00:39:15,106 --> 00:39:16,858 - I'm here. 900 00:39:16,899 --> 00:39:19,402 You're here. 901 00:39:19,444 --> 00:39:21,446 We're all here. 902 00:39:22,780 --> 00:39:25,575 - I remember being in the backstage one time. 903 00:39:25,616 --> 00:39:28,995 And as I'm walking past, I see, like, Windham 904 00:39:29,036 --> 00:39:31,539 out of the corner of my eye like this 905 00:39:31,581 --> 00:39:33,958 up to the wall in this little alcove. 906 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:36,294 And he's just going over his promo and going over his promo 907 00:39:36,335 --> 00:39:38,046 and going over his promo. 908 00:39:38,087 --> 00:39:41,090 And I remember thinking, wow, I wish I could 909 00:39:41,132 --> 00:39:44,719 have that type of focus and that type of dedication 910 00:39:44,761 --> 00:39:48,181 and that type of commitment to the character. 911 00:39:48,222 --> 00:39:51,100 He's such a creative guy. 912 00:39:51,142 --> 00:39:54,645 - Windham's commitment to his craft caught my eye. 913 00:39:54,687 --> 00:39:56,397 I knew this kid was special. 914 00:39:56,439 --> 00:40:00,943 And the time was right for us to meet in the ring. 915 00:40:00,985 --> 00:40:02,904 - When I got that message that I was 916 00:40:02,945 --> 00:40:05,448 going to have the luxury and the privilege of competing 917 00:40:05,490 --> 00:40:07,867 against the Undertaker at WrestleMania, 918 00:40:07,909 --> 00:40:09,869 I was immediately like, oh, my God. 919 00:40:09,911 --> 00:40:14,123 I am Bray Wyatt, the new face of fear! 920 00:40:14,165 --> 00:40:16,751 And then I remember he was in the room. 921 00:40:16,793 --> 00:40:18,961 And I remember him kind of-- 922 00:40:19,003 --> 00:40:20,963 you know, when he does his finger. 923 00:40:21,005 --> 00:40:24,425 [laughs] And he called me in. 924 00:40:24,467 --> 00:40:26,469 And he sat me down real calm. 925 00:40:26,511 --> 00:40:29,514 And he was like, are you ready to do this? 926 00:40:29,555 --> 00:40:34,102 And like, you know, I'm like, yeah. 927 00:40:34,143 --> 00:40:36,354 This is everything I've ever trained for. 928 00:40:36,396 --> 00:40:38,815 Of course I'm ready for this. 929 00:40:38,856 --> 00:40:41,692 - It will be a night forever etched in history 930 00:40:41,734 --> 00:40:45,071 and legends will be born. 931 00:40:45,113 --> 00:40:47,615 - It was huge. 932 00:40:47,657 --> 00:40:49,659 Nobody can touch the Undertaker. 933 00:40:49,700 --> 00:40:52,662 I mean, he had his action figures. 934 00:40:52,703 --> 00:40:54,288 - You think Bray Wyatt might be having 935 00:40:54,330 --> 00:40:55,790 second thoughts right now? 936 00:40:55,832 --> 00:40:57,583 - I enjoyed it because it's like watching 937 00:40:57,625 --> 00:41:02,755 the Freddy versus Jason live or Godzilla versus King Kong. 938 00:41:02,797 --> 00:41:04,799 - Bray Wyatt wanted to dance with the devil? 939 00:41:04,841 --> 00:41:06,551 Welcome to hell. 940 00:41:12,348 --> 00:41:15,017 - That night on the grandest stage, 941 00:41:15,059 --> 00:41:18,646 Windham proved he was a legend in the making. 942 00:41:18,688 --> 00:41:20,314 [dramatic music] 943 00:41:20,356 --> 00:41:23,151 - That, indeed, is the new face of fear. 944 00:41:23,192 --> 00:41:25,737 - That WrestleMania match did more for me 945 00:41:25,778 --> 00:41:28,197 than I could ever put into words. 946 00:41:28,239 --> 00:41:29,991 - Oh, what a WrestleMania moment! 947 00:41:30,032 --> 00:41:32,869 - At that time, I was struggling with my confidence. 948 00:41:32,910 --> 00:41:34,996 And that night, Windham helped restore 949 00:41:35,037 --> 00:41:36,706 not only the Undertaker... 950 00:41:36,748 --> 00:41:40,418 - The Undertaker did it! 951 00:41:40,460 --> 00:41:42,795 - But Mark Calaway, as well. 952 00:41:43,963 --> 00:41:45,298 - He's like your father. 953 00:41:45,339 --> 00:41:47,884 And he is responsible for so much 954 00:41:47,925 --> 00:41:49,719 of the progression of this business. 955 00:41:49,761 --> 00:41:51,054 You know, not just in the ring, 956 00:41:51,095 --> 00:41:53,056 but what he did behind the stages 957 00:41:53,097 --> 00:41:57,852 to kind of show everyone and lead by his example. 958 00:41:57,894 --> 00:42:03,566 - By 2015, Bray Wyatt was box office. 959 00:42:03,608 --> 00:42:07,195 And all the while, he was becoming a trusted mentor 960 00:42:07,236 --> 00:42:08,613 behind the scenes. 961 00:42:10,573 --> 00:42:14,118 - I hadn't been into the business for too long. 962 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:17,413 The second he laid eyes on me, he pulled me off to the side 963 00:42:17,455 --> 00:42:20,833 and he was like, "I want you to be a part of us. 964 00:42:20,875 --> 00:42:22,835 I don't know how, when, where." 965 00:42:22,877 --> 00:42:27,173 He was like, "But holy cow, look at you." 966 00:42:27,215 --> 00:42:28,925 - What the-- 967 00:42:28,966 --> 00:42:32,470 [cheers and applause] 968 00:42:32,512 --> 00:42:33,888 This guy is a monster. 969 00:42:33,930 --> 00:42:36,557 Look at the size of him. 970 00:42:36,599 --> 00:42:41,854 - From day one, he treated me like I was like a brother. 971 00:42:41,896 --> 00:42:44,399 He taught me all kinds of stuff in the ring. 972 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:47,527 But honestly, like, I learned more from him about 973 00:42:47,568 --> 00:42:49,529 the real world, I feel like. 974 00:42:49,570 --> 00:42:51,948 You know, him being a third-generation wrestler, 975 00:42:51,989 --> 00:42:53,282 being in this business, 976 00:42:53,324 --> 00:42:54,826 already been on TV, established, 977 00:42:54,867 --> 00:42:57,495 and stuff like that, he'd already navigated 978 00:42:57,537 --> 00:42:59,622 the wolves in the forest. 979 00:42:59,664 --> 00:43:04,585 He was just that guy that just made sure everyone was happy 980 00:43:04,627 --> 00:43:06,796 and everyone was well taken care of 981 00:43:06,838 --> 00:43:09,298 and felt like they belonged. 982 00:43:09,340 --> 00:43:11,884 - I remember coming up and being afraid 983 00:43:11,926 --> 00:43:13,928 and being scared and being away from home. 984 00:43:13,970 --> 00:43:18,182 And the warmth and the humility with which 985 00:43:18,224 --> 00:43:22,353 he talked to you like he was on the same level as you 986 00:43:22,395 --> 00:43:26,274 and with just no pretenses about him. 987 00:43:26,315 --> 00:43:27,692 - I think he really loved people. 988 00:43:27,734 --> 00:43:30,027 And I think he loved positively affecting people. 989 00:43:30,069 --> 00:43:33,489 And he loved seeing people smile or laugh. 990 00:43:33,531 --> 00:43:35,491 - Even when he was like, you know, had been on the road 991 00:43:35,533 --> 00:43:37,994 for two weeks and just wanted to get home and see his kids, 992 00:43:38,035 --> 00:43:40,580 like, he was still always in a good mood. 993 00:43:40,621 --> 00:43:46,044 He was just such a pleasure to be around as a human being. 994 00:43:46,085 --> 00:43:48,212 - Windham's lineage and the fact that the business 995 00:43:48,254 --> 00:43:53,176 is in his blood, not only was he this interesting performer, 996 00:43:53,217 --> 00:43:55,094 but he had a lot of respect for the business. 997 00:43:55,136 --> 00:43:56,512 A lot. 998 00:43:56,554 --> 00:44:01,184 And he had a lot of camaraderie with the superstars. 999 00:44:01,225 --> 00:44:05,354 He was really fun to be around and always wanted everybody 1000 00:44:05,396 --> 00:44:07,106 to have a good time. 1001 00:44:07,148 --> 00:44:08,941 - He could light up a room in an instant. 1002 00:44:08,983 --> 00:44:11,027 He was the guy who was a chameleon. 1003 00:44:11,069 --> 00:44:14,030 He was the guy that everybody was best friends with. 1004 00:44:14,072 --> 00:44:17,033 He had a certain draw to him. 1005 00:44:17,075 --> 00:44:19,118 - He just had a charisma, a zest for life. 1006 00:44:19,160 --> 00:44:20,453 Like, you were drawn to him. 1007 00:44:20,495 --> 00:44:21,746 He was a very magnetic person. 1008 00:44:26,751 --> 00:44:30,713 - This is the greatest night in live entertainment. 1009 00:44:30,755 --> 00:44:33,257 - WrestleMania 32. 1010 00:44:33,299 --> 00:44:36,677 Over 100,000 Fireflies lit up the sky 1011 00:44:36,719 --> 00:44:40,264 for Bray Wyatt, a spectacle that was recognized 1012 00:44:40,306 --> 00:44:43,768 by one of the greatest WWE superstars of all time, 1013 00:44:43,810 --> 00:44:47,939 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. 1014 00:44:47,980 --> 00:44:49,232 - The Rock's had his eye on you 1015 00:44:49,273 --> 00:44:51,275 ever since you came into the WWE. 1016 00:44:51,317 --> 00:44:54,320 You got it all. 1017 00:44:54,362 --> 00:44:56,447 You hold people in the palm of your hands. 1018 00:44:56,489 --> 00:44:58,366 When the lights went out, you came down, 1019 00:44:58,408 --> 00:45:00,618 100,000 people had their phones up. 1020 00:45:00,660 --> 00:45:03,287 100,000 people. 1021 00:45:03,329 --> 00:45:05,415 - He was almost bulletproof at that point. 1022 00:45:05,456 --> 00:45:08,084 I never saw him exhibit any nerves 1023 00:45:08,126 --> 00:45:10,712 as he's lining up for these huge main events. 1024 00:45:10,753 --> 00:45:13,256 You simply couldn't take your eyes off him. 1025 00:45:13,297 --> 00:45:15,925 - After four years on the main roster, 1026 00:45:15,967 --> 00:45:22,140 there was a milestone that Bray Wyatt had yet to achieve. 1027 00:45:22,181 --> 00:45:24,267 - When everything is said and done, 1028 00:45:24,308 --> 00:45:30,565 I will be leaving the new WWE champion! 1029 00:45:30,606 --> 00:45:31,816 - Phenomenal form. 1030 00:45:31,858 --> 00:45:33,735 No, it's blocked by Wyatt. 1031 00:45:33,776 --> 00:45:36,654 Sister Abigail on AJ Styles. 1032 00:45:36,696 --> 00:45:38,614 - One, two, three! 1033 00:45:38,656 --> 00:45:42,577 [cheers and applause] 1034 00:45:42,618 --> 00:45:44,579 - Bray Wyatt has done it. 1035 00:45:44,620 --> 00:45:48,291 In the soul-stealing structure known as the Elimination 1036 00:45:48,332 --> 00:45:52,503 Chamber, Bray Wyatt has won his first WWE Championship. 1037 00:45:54,505 --> 00:45:57,717 - The company had put their stamp on him and said, 1038 00:45:57,759 --> 00:45:59,302 this is going to be our guy. 1039 00:45:59,343 --> 00:46:02,847 I mean, there's not many better feelings 1040 00:46:02,889 --> 00:46:07,018 from a performer's perspective when you finally get that. 1041 00:46:07,060 --> 00:46:10,354 - In this hellacious match, Bray Wyatt rose from the ashes 1042 00:46:10,396 --> 00:46:13,149 to taste the ultimate glory. 1043 00:46:13,191 --> 00:46:17,153 The era of Wyatt is here. 1044 00:46:17,195 --> 00:46:19,489 - He was the first in the family to win, 1045 00:46:19,530 --> 00:46:23,034 which is pretty good considering your grandfather 1046 00:46:23,076 --> 00:46:25,953 did it, your uncles did it, your dad did it. 1047 00:46:25,995 --> 00:46:27,080 And you were the first. 1048 00:46:27,121 --> 00:46:28,956 So that's cool. 1049 00:46:28,998 --> 00:46:31,501 - Out of all of us, that I'm the one that did it-- 1050 00:46:31,542 --> 00:46:34,337 my whole entire life, no matter what accolade, 1051 00:46:34,379 --> 00:46:36,881 what thing I did great, the first paragraph 1052 00:46:36,923 --> 00:46:38,674 was about everyone else in my family 1053 00:46:38,716 --> 00:46:40,843 that was not me and all the things they had done. 1054 00:46:40,885 --> 00:46:44,222 And now it's like, when you look at anything about them, 1055 00:46:44,263 --> 00:46:47,183 it's a whole paragraph about me. 1056 00:46:47,225 --> 00:46:48,976 - When you're working with talent, 1057 00:46:49,018 --> 00:46:50,395 you form a bond with them 1058 00:46:50,436 --> 00:46:52,188 and you know the human being behind it 1059 00:46:52,230 --> 00:46:54,941 and you know how hard they work at it. 1060 00:46:54,982 --> 00:46:59,570 Windham winning a title that had eluded his entire family, 1061 00:46:59,612 --> 00:47:02,115 that was so special. 1062 00:47:02,156 --> 00:47:03,241 - I was there. 1063 00:47:03,282 --> 00:47:05,159 It was huge. I cried. 1064 00:47:05,201 --> 00:47:08,246 It was very, very cool. 1065 00:47:08,287 --> 00:47:10,164 - If I go back and look at the landscape 1066 00:47:10,206 --> 00:47:14,127 of my life and my career here, the ridiculously hard times 1067 00:47:14,168 --> 00:47:16,212 are kind of what strengthened me. 1068 00:47:16,254 --> 00:47:18,381 I knew that sooner or later I'd get to it, 1069 00:47:18,423 --> 00:47:22,051 it was just a matter of how and when. 1070 00:47:22,093 --> 00:47:23,219 - It was huge for him. 1071 00:47:23,261 --> 00:47:24,470 Getting on top was one thing. 1072 00:47:24,512 --> 00:47:26,180 To stay there... 1073 00:47:28,891 --> 00:47:31,936 - Being on top means numerous appearances, 1074 00:47:31,978 --> 00:47:37,775 new responsibilities, and more time away from home. 1075 00:47:37,817 --> 00:47:41,362 - Me and Bray were very close, especially for that stint. 1076 00:47:41,404 --> 00:47:43,906 We were working so closely together 1077 00:47:43,948 --> 00:47:45,491 and we were really telling some good stories 1078 00:47:45,533 --> 00:47:47,577 and having a lot of fun on TV. 1079 00:47:47,618 --> 00:47:49,662 - I feel like we're shooting a [bleep] movie 1080 00:47:49,704 --> 00:47:50,872 for SyFy channel right now. 1081 00:47:50,913 --> 00:47:52,165 [laughter] 1082 00:47:52,206 --> 00:47:53,916 - But being on the road, it's tough. 1083 00:47:53,958 --> 00:47:57,587 When guys start having kids and we get a little older, 1084 00:47:57,628 --> 00:48:00,298 you know, things change. 1085 00:48:00,339 --> 00:48:02,925 It's very hard to balance, especially when 1086 00:48:02,967 --> 00:48:04,343 you're a young man. 1087 00:48:04,385 --> 00:48:08,681 The work and home life balance, if you will. 1088 00:48:08,723 --> 00:48:11,893 It's virtually impossible. 1089 00:48:11,934 --> 00:48:14,103 - Oh! RKO! 1090 00:48:14,145 --> 00:48:17,023 Randy Orton is champion! 1091 00:48:17,065 --> 00:48:19,150 [tense music] 1092 00:48:19,192 --> 00:48:23,446 - It was just after WrestleMania in Orlando. 1093 00:48:23,488 --> 00:48:27,283 Things were not what they used to be. 1094 00:48:27,325 --> 00:48:29,577 He was on the road and traveling 1095 00:48:29,619 --> 00:48:31,621 and I was at home with the kids. 1096 00:48:31,662 --> 00:48:35,875 And we ultimately got divorced. 1097 00:48:35,917 --> 00:48:39,670 Our lives just grew apart. 1098 00:48:39,712 --> 00:48:43,716 - He was absent. 1099 00:48:43,758 --> 00:48:46,052 Mind, body, and soul. 1100 00:48:46,094 --> 00:48:50,139 The divorce in that time of his life was a devastating ordeal. 1101 00:48:50,181 --> 00:48:53,476 [somber music] 1102 00:48:53,518 --> 00:48:58,189 - Windham's frustrations affected his focus. 1103 00:48:58,231 --> 00:48:59,941 - So, guys, remember long at the beginning. 1104 00:48:59,982 --> 00:49:01,150 - Just [bleep]--let's go. 1105 00:49:01,192 --> 00:49:03,361 - Yep. In five. 1106 00:49:03,403 --> 00:49:06,614 - Windham was very emotionally attached to his work. 1107 00:49:06,656 --> 00:49:09,492 When things went great, they were great. 1108 00:49:09,534 --> 00:49:12,495 And when they went not so great and they were frustrating, 1109 00:49:12,537 --> 00:49:15,832 they were exaggeratedly frustrated. 1110 00:49:15,873 --> 00:49:18,042 - You going to cut me? 1111 00:49:18,084 --> 00:49:21,671 - Sometimes the hardest thing to talk him into was, OK, yeah, 1112 00:49:21,713 --> 00:49:23,923 but how do we make that work in the ring? 1113 00:49:23,965 --> 00:49:26,050 I get it. That shit is crazy. 1114 00:49:26,092 --> 00:49:27,385 It seems genius. 1115 00:49:27,427 --> 00:49:29,804 It's like, man, I'm intrigued by that. 1116 00:49:29,846 --> 00:49:32,348 OK. But now, ding ding. 1117 00:49:32,390 --> 00:49:34,308 And that was sometimes the trick. 1118 00:49:34,350 --> 00:49:37,437 He was so creative and so outside the box 1119 00:49:37,478 --> 00:49:40,273 that pulling it back into a particular genre 1120 00:49:40,314 --> 00:49:42,817 was hard for him to do. 1121 00:49:42,859 --> 00:49:45,236 - While Windham's brother Taylor was finding success 1122 00:49:45,278 --> 00:49:50,658 as a WWE tag team champion, Bray's on-screen Wyatt family 1123 00:49:50,700 --> 00:49:54,537 was no more. 1124 00:49:54,579 --> 00:49:56,581 - Harper and Rowan had branched off 1125 00:49:56,622 --> 00:49:57,915 and become a tag team on their own 1126 00:49:57,957 --> 00:49:59,917 called The Bludgeon Brothers. 1127 00:49:59,959 --> 00:50:01,836 Braun Strowman had become 1128 00:50:01,878 --> 00:50:04,797 a bona fide main-event superstar. 1129 00:50:04,839 --> 00:50:07,759 The Bray Wyatt character kind of found himself 1130 00:50:07,800 --> 00:50:10,845 in a neutral position. 1131 00:50:10,887 --> 00:50:14,223 He was on TV, but he wasn't really prominently featured. 1132 00:50:18,686 --> 00:50:20,480 - When I was working with Harper and Rowan 1133 00:50:20,521 --> 00:50:22,440 doing the Bludgeon Brothers stuff, 1134 00:50:22,482 --> 00:50:24,859 he'd come and check it out and give the classic, like, 1135 00:50:24,901 --> 00:50:26,569 oh, baby. 1136 00:50:26,611 --> 00:50:28,404 Oh, you guys look good. Sexy. 1137 00:50:28,446 --> 00:50:30,406 You know, cracking jokes. 1138 00:50:30,448 --> 00:50:33,242 But you'd see every time he'd see something artistic 1139 00:50:33,284 --> 00:50:35,078 and creative--like, we'd make these things 1140 00:50:35,119 --> 00:50:36,412 for Harper and Rowan-- 1141 00:50:36,454 --> 00:50:38,331 he'd be like, oh, I want that. 1142 00:50:38,372 --> 00:50:39,665 What can I do? 1143 00:50:39,707 --> 00:50:40,792 And you'd see the gears start turning. 1144 00:50:40,833 --> 00:50:42,210 - And that's the thing with Windham. 1145 00:50:42,251 --> 00:50:44,420 And like you said, this was around 2018. 1146 00:50:44,462 --> 00:50:47,131 And behind the scenes, there was a lot 1147 00:50:47,173 --> 00:50:48,591 going on in Windham's life. 1148 00:50:48,633 --> 00:50:51,511 And a normal person, with everything 1149 00:50:51,552 --> 00:50:54,639 that he was dealing with, could have let everything go 1150 00:50:54,680 --> 00:50:56,682 and kind of lost the grip of it all. 1151 00:50:56,724 --> 00:51:01,312 But he's always been able to find inspiration 1152 00:51:01,354 --> 00:51:04,190 in places I don't think anybody else could. 1153 00:51:05,900 --> 00:51:08,486 - As Windham dealt with the stress, 1154 00:51:08,528 --> 00:51:11,030 he leaned on his friends. 1155 00:51:11,823 --> 00:51:15,284 - We were together four or five days a week. 1156 00:51:15,326 --> 00:51:16,369 We cried together. 1157 00:51:16,411 --> 00:51:17,453 We laughed together. 1158 00:51:17,495 --> 00:51:19,956 We did everything together. 1159 00:51:19,997 --> 00:51:22,250 The WWE, it's such a family. 1160 00:51:22,291 --> 00:51:23,459 It really is. 1161 00:51:23,501 --> 00:51:24,752 Like, we're all together so much. 1162 00:51:24,794 --> 00:51:26,379 We're all away from our families and stuff 1163 00:51:26,421 --> 00:51:29,215 like that-- our real blood families. 1164 00:51:29,257 --> 00:51:31,342 We all have a really cool relationship. 1165 00:51:34,345 --> 00:51:35,722 - My name is JoJo. 1166 00:51:35,763 --> 00:51:39,517 And originally, I started off as a wrestler. 1167 00:51:39,559 --> 00:51:44,647 And then I transitioned into a role of the ring announcer. 1168 00:51:44,689 --> 00:51:47,400 The following No Holds Barred match 1169 00:51:47,442 --> 00:51:51,362 will begin in Bray Wyatt's House of Horrors. 1170 00:51:51,404 --> 00:51:53,364 We respected each other's work. 1171 00:51:53,406 --> 00:51:57,326 And we slowly became really, really great friends 1172 00:51:57,368 --> 00:51:59,954 through that time. 1173 00:51:59,996 --> 00:52:05,043 And so when we were both able to, we started dating. 1174 00:52:05,084 --> 00:52:08,337 - I lived with JoJo when I was in "NXT." 1175 00:52:08,379 --> 00:52:12,175 I never pictured JoJo and Windham together. 1176 00:52:12,216 --> 00:52:13,509 Not for a single second. 1177 00:52:13,551 --> 00:52:15,636 Like, it never dawned on me. 1178 00:52:15,678 --> 00:52:18,931 But then you see them together and you're like, oh, yeah. 1179 00:52:18,973 --> 00:52:20,308 Oh, that makes sense. 1180 00:52:20,349 --> 00:52:24,103 They're just these two beautiful souls. 1181 00:52:24,145 --> 00:52:27,482 - JoJo made Windham happy, and that's all 1182 00:52:27,523 --> 00:52:29,859 you can ask for is to be happy in this world, 1183 00:52:29,901 --> 00:52:31,569 you know? 1184 00:52:31,611 --> 00:52:34,864 - It's just that old saying, you can't fight fate. 1185 00:52:34,906 --> 00:52:37,325 And I think fate was just-- it just took a little while 1186 00:52:37,366 --> 00:52:38,868 for them to find each other. 1187 00:52:38,910 --> 00:52:43,873 - He loved her so much and she meant the world to him. 1188 00:52:43,915 --> 00:52:46,834 [light guitar music] 1189 00:52:46,876 --> 00:52:48,044 * * 1190 00:52:48,086 --> 00:52:51,714 - In 2019, Windham and JoJo welcomed 1191 00:52:51,756 --> 00:52:57,512 their first child, a son, Knash. 1192 00:52:57,553 --> 00:52:59,138 - When we found out it was a boy-- 1193 00:52:59,180 --> 00:53:01,724 [laughs] He was so happy. 1194 00:53:01,766 --> 00:53:03,851 He goes, "I didn't think I could have boys. 1195 00:53:03,893 --> 00:53:07,271 I thought I was destined for girls my whole life." 1196 00:53:07,313 --> 00:53:11,901 - Knash boy is the sweetest little human 1197 00:53:11,943 --> 00:53:13,152 that I've ever met. 1198 00:53:13,194 --> 00:53:14,529 He looks more like JoJo, 1199 00:53:14,570 --> 00:53:17,532 but he has Windham's personality. 1200 00:53:17,573 --> 00:53:22,703 - Two years later, they would welcome a little girl, Hyrie. 1201 00:53:22,745 --> 00:53:23,996 - We got the yin and yang. 1202 00:53:24,038 --> 00:53:26,749 We've got the one that's Windham, the firstborn. 1203 00:53:26,791 --> 00:53:30,878 And then the second one is just full of fire. 1204 00:53:30,920 --> 00:53:32,964 - One of the things that I loved the most about Windham 1205 00:53:33,005 --> 00:53:38,302 in general was how wonderful a father he always was. 1206 00:53:38,344 --> 00:53:39,971 - Just going over to their house, 1207 00:53:40,012 --> 00:53:42,682 it was like a scene out of a movie. 1208 00:53:42,724 --> 00:53:46,477 Just loud and happy always. 1209 00:53:48,813 --> 00:53:52,150 - She changed his life for the better. 1210 00:53:52,191 --> 00:53:55,278 all: * Happy birthday to you * 1211 00:53:55,319 --> 00:53:56,404 - Yay! 1212 00:53:56,446 --> 00:53:57,572 Time to blow this out. 1213 00:53:57,613 --> 00:53:58,823 - Blow it out. - Make a wish. 1214 00:53:58,865 --> 00:54:01,826 [laughter] 1215 00:54:03,995 --> 00:54:06,706 - Yay! 1216 00:54:06,748 --> 00:54:09,917 - Windham's happiness inspired his creative side. 1217 00:54:09,959 --> 00:54:13,671 By early 2019, the idea for a new character 1218 00:54:13,713 --> 00:54:16,466 started to develop. 1219 00:54:16,507 --> 00:54:19,969 - He always joked about how every time he's had a child, 1220 00:54:20,011 --> 00:54:24,057 it boosted his confidence to come back even harder. 1221 00:54:24,098 --> 00:54:25,641 So we would be at home. 1222 00:54:25,683 --> 00:54:29,062 And we're laying in bed and he's like, 1223 00:54:29,103 --> 00:54:31,105 "So I have this idea." 1224 00:54:34,984 --> 00:54:39,655 - Windham's journey took him to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 1225 00:54:39,697 --> 00:54:41,324 - For years, Windham was always like, 1226 00:54:41,365 --> 00:54:42,700 "Hey, we got to do something. 1227 00:54:42,742 --> 00:54:43,993 Let's do something. Let's do something." 1228 00:54:44,035 --> 00:54:45,703 And I'm like, well, you have my number. 1229 00:54:45,745 --> 00:54:46,954 Call me. 1230 00:54:46,996 --> 00:54:48,498 And then out of the blue at, like, 2:00 AM, 1231 00:54:48,539 --> 00:54:50,249 I finally got the call from Windham, 1232 00:54:50,291 --> 00:54:52,168 in classic Windham fashion. 1233 00:54:52,210 --> 00:54:55,671 And he was like, hey, man, I've been sent home. 1234 00:54:55,713 --> 00:54:57,465 Creative has nothing for me. 1235 00:54:57,507 --> 00:54:58,966 I know what that means. 1236 00:54:59,008 --> 00:55:02,095 I got to do something drastic, and I need your help. 1237 00:55:02,136 --> 00:55:04,597 * * 1238 00:55:08,142 --> 00:55:11,062 [tense music] 1239 00:55:11,104 --> 00:55:13,731 * * 1240 00:55:17,193 --> 00:55:19,987 - In the spring of 2019, 1241 00:55:20,029 --> 00:55:23,282 Windham had an idea for a new character. 1242 00:55:23,324 --> 00:55:26,035 - I've always been a huge fan of, like, horror movies. 1243 00:55:26,077 --> 00:55:27,662 So naturally, the progression was-- 1244 00:55:27,703 --> 00:55:29,831 you know, when I started watching wrestling, 1245 00:55:29,872 --> 00:55:32,333 it was the horror characters that always caught my eye. 1246 00:55:32,375 --> 00:55:34,627 One of my earliest memories was Papa Shango 1247 00:55:34,669 --> 00:55:36,629 and The Ultimate Warrior. 1248 00:55:36,671 --> 00:55:38,005 - Well, take a look at Papa Shango's face. 1249 00:55:38,047 --> 00:55:38,840 He's in a trance. 1250 00:55:38,881 --> 00:55:40,425 He's in another world. 1251 00:55:40,466 --> 00:55:44,178 And the curse is affecting The Ultimate Warrior. 1252 00:55:44,220 --> 00:55:45,722 - That type of stuff is the stuff 1253 00:55:45,763 --> 00:55:47,598 that really sticks in my head, you know? 1254 00:55:47,640 --> 00:55:49,892 I think that wrestling needs 1255 00:55:49,934 --> 00:55:53,604 that kind of dark entity in it. 1256 00:55:53,646 --> 00:55:55,690 - When we were children, we weren't hearing 1257 00:55:55,732 --> 00:55:58,317 the stereotypical bedtime stories. 1258 00:55:58,359 --> 00:56:00,862 We were hearing Stephen King. 1259 00:56:00,903 --> 00:56:03,156 - They needed their daily update of where my book was 1260 00:56:03,197 --> 00:56:04,407 and what it was doing. 1261 00:56:04,449 --> 00:56:06,367 And they would both come to the table 1262 00:56:06,409 --> 00:56:11,539 with these, like, characters all with a Stephen King basis. 1263 00:56:11,581 --> 00:56:15,376 They have that influence. 1264 00:56:15,418 --> 00:56:16,878 I didn't mean to do it, but I did. 1265 00:56:16,919 --> 00:56:18,171 [laughs] 1266 00:56:19,797 --> 00:56:22,425 - We both were huge fans of horror movies 1267 00:56:22,467 --> 00:56:25,928 and the contrast between good and evil. 1268 00:56:25,970 --> 00:56:29,932 But not only that, to make what you would think to be good 1269 00:56:29,974 --> 00:56:33,686 seem evil and what you'd think to be evil seem good. 1270 00:56:33,728 --> 00:56:37,190 * * 1271 00:56:37,231 --> 00:56:38,274 - So yeah. 1272 00:56:38,316 --> 00:56:40,651 There's a bunch of our old concept. 1273 00:56:40,693 --> 00:56:42,278 Good thing I'm a hoarder. 1274 00:56:42,320 --> 00:56:43,404 [laughter] 1275 00:56:43,446 --> 00:56:44,614 So yeah, man. 1276 00:56:44,655 --> 00:56:45,948 Again, working with your brother is 1277 00:56:45,990 --> 00:56:47,784 the funnest time I've ever had 1278 00:56:47,825 --> 00:56:49,786 professionally and personally. 1279 00:56:49,827 --> 00:56:51,537 I remember he just called and he was like, yeah, 1280 00:56:51,579 --> 00:56:53,122 I want to come up with this idea. 1281 00:56:53,164 --> 00:56:54,373 I want this mask. 1282 00:56:54,415 --> 00:56:55,625 - We both loved wrestling, 1283 00:56:55,666 --> 00:56:58,294 but I was The Rock and Stone Cold, 1284 00:56:58,336 --> 00:57:01,381 and he was Kane and Undertaker and Papa Shango. 1285 00:57:01,422 --> 00:57:02,673 You know, anything weird. 1286 00:57:02,715 --> 00:57:06,386 He was always attracted to that, I think 1287 00:57:06,427 --> 00:57:09,263 because if you look at him, he looks like a monster. 1288 00:57:09,305 --> 00:57:12,016 But he had the biggest and best heart. 1289 00:57:12,058 --> 00:57:13,893 - I'm obviously paraphrasing, but I remember 1290 00:57:13,935 --> 00:57:16,479 he said one time that the only way to judge darkness 1291 00:57:16,521 --> 00:57:18,314 is through the absence of light. 1292 00:57:18,356 --> 00:57:20,942 So you know, just doing that was like this beautiful thing. 1293 00:57:20,983 --> 00:57:23,903 Then he's like, no, let's show the world if you use something 1294 00:57:23,945 --> 00:57:26,197 that's dark, you can show the world how beautiful 1295 00:57:26,239 --> 00:57:27,448 it is by contrast. 1296 00:57:27,490 --> 00:57:30,034 [indistinct chatter] 1297 00:57:34,831 --> 00:57:36,040 - Are we ready, Bray? 1298 00:57:36,082 --> 00:57:37,166 - I'm ready. 1299 00:57:37,208 --> 00:57:38,418 - All right. Let's do it. 1300 00:57:38,459 --> 00:57:43,047 - This new character needed a new world. 1301 00:57:43,089 --> 00:57:44,841 - And action. 1302 00:57:44,882 --> 00:57:48,678 - This is the Firefly Fun House. 1303 00:57:48,720 --> 00:57:49,971 [dramatic music] 1304 00:57:50,012 --> 00:57:51,180 - I had the opportunity to work 1305 00:57:51,222 --> 00:57:54,183 on the first Firefly Fun Houses. 1306 00:57:54,225 --> 00:57:59,147 The Firefly Fun House only existed in Bray's mind. 1307 00:57:59,188 --> 00:58:00,732 It was not a real place. 1308 00:58:00,773 --> 00:58:04,152 He would allow us inside that head. 1309 00:58:04,193 --> 00:58:07,864 And you can accept it because it was fantasy. 1310 00:58:07,905 --> 00:58:09,991 When you walk in, you want to just say, really. 1311 00:58:10,032 --> 00:58:10,992 - Really. 1312 00:58:11,033 --> 00:58:12,243 - Then you'll go, really. - Really. 1313 00:58:12,285 --> 00:58:13,536 - And then look back at the camera. 1314 00:58:13,578 --> 00:58:15,163 [soft music] 1315 00:58:15,204 --> 00:58:17,290 - Shooting the Fun House was unlike anything 1316 00:58:17,331 --> 00:58:18,583 WWE has done before. 1317 00:58:18,624 --> 00:58:19,834 And that was always our intention 1318 00:58:19,876 --> 00:58:21,044 was to do something completely different. 1319 00:58:21,085 --> 00:58:22,378 And in wrestling, that's tough because 1320 00:58:22,420 --> 00:58:23,963 everybody's done everything at some point. 1321 00:58:24,005 --> 00:58:24,922 - I'm trying to make it different. 1322 00:58:24,964 --> 00:58:26,132 - Yeah. Follow the leader. 1323 00:58:26,174 --> 00:58:27,967 Follow the leader. Follow the leader. 1324 00:58:28,009 --> 00:58:30,803 - I was blown away by how talented he was. 1325 00:58:30,845 --> 00:58:35,141 - See you later! Bye! [laughs] 1326 00:58:35,183 --> 00:58:37,185 Can I see what that looks like real quick? 1327 00:58:37,226 --> 00:58:41,814 - Windham's brain is just like a tornado of ideas. 1328 00:58:41,856 --> 00:58:44,358 - Could it be warped somehow? 1329 00:58:44,400 --> 00:58:46,527 - He has so many different things he wants to do, 1330 00:58:46,569 --> 00:58:47,945 wants to say. 1331 00:58:47,987 --> 00:58:49,989 And it's just so many different things at once 1332 00:58:50,031 --> 00:58:52,742 that the hard part is kind of containing it. 1333 00:58:52,784 --> 00:58:54,911 - What about if I deliver the line before 1334 00:58:54,952 --> 00:58:56,621 while I'm standing and then the next thing is 1335 00:58:56,662 --> 00:58:58,206 the music's playing and it's just 1336 00:58:58,247 --> 00:59:00,333 da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da at the end? 1337 00:59:00,374 --> 00:59:04,212 - All you have to do is... - Let me in. 1338 00:59:04,253 --> 00:59:06,672 - His range of interests were so wide. 1339 00:59:06,714 --> 00:59:08,341 He knew something about everything 1340 00:59:08,383 --> 00:59:09,967 and he drew inspiration from everything. 1341 00:59:10,009 --> 00:59:11,469 - Oh. 1342 00:59:11,511 --> 00:59:13,930 And I want to introduce you to some very special friends 1343 00:59:13,971 --> 00:59:15,890 that I've met along the way. 1344 00:59:17,266 --> 00:59:19,477 - A key component of Windham's vision 1345 00:59:19,519 --> 00:59:23,606 included multiple puppets that would enhance his character. 1346 00:59:23,648 --> 00:59:26,901 This is my friend Huskus the Pig Boy. 1347 00:59:26,943 --> 00:59:29,404 - Join us. Join us. 1348 00:59:29,445 --> 00:59:32,657 - Huskus was obviously a representation of Bray 1349 00:59:32,698 --> 00:59:35,952 and the stuff that he'd gone through with his weight. 1350 00:59:35,993 --> 00:59:39,956 The Ramblin' Rabbit was sort of the personification 1351 00:59:39,997 --> 00:59:41,999 of people's opinion of Bray-- of him rambling 1352 00:59:42,041 --> 00:59:44,043 too much in his promos. 1353 00:59:44,085 --> 00:59:45,670 - Oh, OK. 1354 00:59:45,712 --> 00:59:47,004 Yeah. 1355 00:59:47,046 --> 00:59:49,340 - Mercy was a little bit of an homage 1356 00:59:49,382 --> 00:59:51,426 to Waylon Mercy, the character that 1357 00:59:51,467 --> 00:59:54,137 Bray drew so much influence from. 1358 00:59:54,178 --> 00:59:56,597 Abby was Sister Abigail, an imaginary sister 1359 00:59:56,639 --> 00:59:59,142 of Bray Wyatt in his story. 1360 00:59:59,183 --> 01:00:01,310 - After several weeks of preparation, 1361 01:00:01,352 --> 01:00:04,897 the Firefly Fun House premiered in prime time 1362 01:00:04,939 --> 01:00:07,525 on Monday Night Raw. 1363 01:00:07,567 --> 01:00:10,862 [cheers and applause] 1364 01:00:10,903 --> 01:00:13,030 - Did you miss me? 1365 01:00:13,072 --> 01:00:17,076 Oh, how I have missed you. 1366 01:00:17,118 --> 01:00:18,953 - When I first saw the Firefly Fun House, 1367 01:00:18,995 --> 01:00:21,956 I remember texting one of the writers saying, 1368 01:00:21,998 --> 01:00:23,249 this is brilliant. 1369 01:00:23,291 --> 01:00:25,460 - Hi. 1370 01:00:25,501 --> 01:00:27,712 Did you enjoy my little secret? 1371 01:00:27,754 --> 01:00:30,006 - Really enjoyed the Pee-wee's Playhouse 1372 01:00:30,048 --> 01:00:33,217 take of the Firefly Fun House. 1373 01:00:33,259 --> 01:00:36,304 - Sociopath is the word of the day. 1374 01:00:36,345 --> 01:00:38,806 Sociopath. 1375 01:00:38,848 --> 01:00:40,850 - He thought of all that stuff himself. 1376 01:00:40,892 --> 01:00:44,437 Puts himself in the genius category. 1377 01:00:44,479 --> 01:00:46,147 - Let me in. 1378 01:00:46,189 --> 01:00:49,776 - It was like Mister Rogers meets Tales from the Crypt. 1379 01:00:52,153 --> 01:00:55,114 - Whenever there was a Firefly Fun House going on, 1380 01:00:55,156 --> 01:00:58,076 on a screen in the back as the show is going, 1381 01:00:58,117 --> 01:01:01,204 there would always be a sellout at one of those monitors 1382 01:01:01,245 --> 01:01:04,415 to see what Bray was going to do in that Fun House that week. 1383 01:01:04,457 --> 01:01:08,294 - Today, I have something super serious to talk to you about. 1384 01:01:13,800 --> 01:01:17,261 Exercise! 1385 01:01:17,303 --> 01:01:19,889 - For him to be able to pivot and all of a sudden go, 1386 01:01:19,931 --> 01:01:21,015 hi, welcome to the Fun House. 1387 01:01:21,057 --> 01:01:22,392 We're going to work out. 1388 01:01:22,433 --> 01:01:26,354 He had the charisma that so many guys don't have. 1389 01:01:26,396 --> 01:01:29,232 - I really appreciated the Firefly Fun House 1390 01:01:29,273 --> 01:01:31,651 because it was the public eye's first opportunity 1391 01:01:31,692 --> 01:01:33,277 to see Windham be silly. 1392 01:01:33,319 --> 01:01:34,487 - Yowie-wowie! 1393 01:01:34,529 --> 01:01:36,614 You found me. 1394 01:01:36,656 --> 01:01:39,659 - Knowing Windham, you knew it was going to go dark. 1395 01:01:39,700 --> 01:01:41,744 - I will always light the way. 1396 01:01:41,786 --> 01:01:46,582 And all you have to do is let me in. 1397 01:01:46,624 --> 01:01:48,793 - And it was going to be scary. 1398 01:01:48,835 --> 01:01:51,587 - After months of hosting the bizarre program, 1399 01:01:51,629 --> 01:01:55,508 in the summer of 2019, Windham would introduce 1400 01:01:55,550 --> 01:01:58,511 the WWE Universe to his darker side. 1401 01:01:58,553 --> 01:02:00,346 - As tight as it can go. 1402 01:02:00,388 --> 01:02:01,681 That's perfect. 1403 01:02:01,723 --> 01:02:03,891 Let's go make some nightmares. 1404 01:02:03,933 --> 01:02:05,309 - The Fiend. 1405 01:02:05,351 --> 01:02:07,311 [dramatic music] 1406 01:02:07,353 --> 01:02:09,939 - Yowie-wowie! 1407 01:02:09,981 --> 01:02:14,026 - It was a brand-new character that lived in Bray's head. 1408 01:02:14,068 --> 01:02:17,780 However, it could take over Bray's body. 1409 01:02:17,822 --> 01:02:20,283 And then The Fiend became real. 1410 01:02:20,324 --> 01:02:22,994 - The dichotomy of this sadistic character 1411 01:02:23,035 --> 01:02:26,080 in the children's setup, it was so bizarre, 1412 01:02:26,122 --> 01:02:27,623 and it felt wrong. 1413 01:02:27,665 --> 01:02:29,459 But it was one of those things you couldn't look away from. 1414 01:02:30,626 --> 01:02:33,171 - Coming up next here at SummerSlam, 1415 01:02:33,212 --> 01:02:35,923 it is the in-ring debut of The Fiend. 1416 01:02:35,965 --> 01:02:38,176 It's Finn Bálor versus Bray Wyatt, 1417 01:02:38,217 --> 01:02:41,179 who went through this bizarre transformation 1418 01:02:41,220 --> 01:02:45,850 in a place called the Firefly Fun House. 1419 01:02:45,892 --> 01:02:48,019 - He showed up on the day of SummerSlam, 1420 01:02:48,061 --> 01:02:50,646 and I seen what the character was. 1421 01:02:50,688 --> 01:02:51,898 I just said, oh, wow. 1422 01:02:51,939 --> 01:02:53,483 This is cool. 1423 01:02:53,524 --> 01:02:55,359 - We're seeing so many different forms 1424 01:02:55,401 --> 01:02:57,987 of intimidation from The Fiend. 1425 01:02:58,029 --> 01:03:00,740 - This is just disturbing. 1426 01:03:00,782 --> 01:03:02,658 - The thing about professional wrestling 1427 01:03:02,700 --> 01:03:04,911 is it's one of the only forms of entertainment 1428 01:03:04,952 --> 01:03:08,498 where you have to do it live in front of an audience 1429 01:03:08,539 --> 01:03:11,417 with no CGI, no camera effects. 1430 01:03:11,459 --> 01:03:14,253 So when The Fiend shows up in the arena 1431 01:03:14,295 --> 01:03:17,840 and he's literally a horror movie monster, 1432 01:03:17,882 --> 01:03:20,635 I was like, this is unbelievable. 1433 01:03:20,676 --> 01:03:21,594 - I love it. 1434 01:03:22,595 --> 01:03:23,554 - That's cool. 1435 01:03:24,931 --> 01:03:25,973 - Awesome. 1436 01:03:26,015 --> 01:03:27,016 Happy for you, brother. 1437 01:03:27,058 --> 01:03:28,684 [tense music] 1438 01:03:28,726 --> 01:03:32,814 - The Fiend is my favorite character 1439 01:03:32,855 --> 01:03:34,565 in WWE, of all time. 1440 01:03:34,607 --> 01:03:39,821 Someone had finally pulled off a split-personality character. 1441 01:03:39,862 --> 01:03:41,406 - I was like, you genius. 1442 01:03:41,447 --> 01:03:43,783 You just printed $10 million worth of merchandise overnight. 1443 01:03:43,825 --> 01:03:45,243 [laughs] 1444 01:03:45,284 --> 01:03:49,372 - I'm really excited to see The Fiend, Bray Wyatt. 1445 01:03:49,414 --> 01:03:51,874 - Seeing all these kids wearing the mask, 1446 01:03:51,916 --> 01:03:55,294 just the way it captivated the audience, it was awesome. 1447 01:03:56,504 --> 01:03:58,881 - Within months, The Fiend's popularity 1448 01:03:58,923 --> 01:04:02,885 skyrocketed and had him on a collision course 1449 01:04:02,927 --> 01:04:06,889 with an old foe, John Cena. 1450 01:04:06,931 --> 01:04:09,308 [cheers and applause] 1451 01:04:10,768 --> 01:04:13,104 - WrestleMania was scheduled to take place 1452 01:04:13,146 --> 01:04:15,690 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa 1453 01:04:15,732 --> 01:04:17,275 where the Buccaneers play. 1454 01:04:17,316 --> 01:04:21,154 Due to COVID, we were not able to have the audience 1455 01:04:21,195 --> 01:04:23,573 and be able to have the show that we wanted to have 1456 01:04:23,614 --> 01:04:24,866 in front of an audience. 1457 01:04:24,907 --> 01:04:27,785 So we had to take it to the Performance Center, 1458 01:04:27,827 --> 01:04:30,413 where we had been doing TV. 1459 01:04:30,455 --> 01:04:34,333 And The Fiend did not lend itself 1460 01:04:34,375 --> 01:04:37,086 to be in an empty arena. 1461 01:04:37,128 --> 01:04:41,716 And we were looking for matches that were unique. 1462 01:04:41,758 --> 01:04:43,634 We just got to thinking one day and said, 1463 01:04:43,676 --> 01:04:46,637 why don't we have a Firefly Fun House match? 1464 01:04:46,679 --> 01:04:50,266 - The story of the Firefly Fun House goes like this. 1465 01:04:50,308 --> 01:04:52,226 We are sitting in a conference table 1466 01:04:52,268 --> 01:04:53,561 at the NXT Performance Center. 1467 01:04:53,603 --> 01:04:55,021 Someone opens the door and says, 1468 01:04:55,063 --> 01:04:57,106 "You have a Firefly Fun House match 1469 01:04:57,148 --> 01:04:59,233 at WrestleMania with Bray Wyatt." 1470 01:04:59,275 --> 01:05:01,194 And I said, well, what's a Firefly Fun House match? 1471 01:05:01,235 --> 01:05:02,195 They said, "Well, we don't know." 1472 01:05:02,236 --> 01:05:03,738 I said, [bleep] great. 1473 01:05:06,282 --> 01:05:09,577 This is going to be somethin'. 1474 01:05:11,120 --> 01:05:13,081 I was like, OK, what story can we tell? 1475 01:05:13,122 --> 01:05:14,499 - There's a world that exists 1476 01:05:14,540 --> 01:05:16,626 beyond the realm of our comprehension. 1477 01:05:16,667 --> 01:05:19,962 - Like, yo, we can make this a meta journey. 1478 01:05:20,004 --> 01:05:21,297 So--and the lighting stays the same. 1479 01:05:21,339 --> 01:05:22,548 And yeah. - Boom. Boom. 1480 01:05:22,590 --> 01:05:25,009 So basically, this is in two of the scenes. 1481 01:05:25,051 --> 01:05:27,011 That's in another scene. That's a scene. 1482 01:05:27,053 --> 01:05:28,638 And then there's a scene over there. 1483 01:05:28,679 --> 01:05:31,724 - If all I got is rapping, I'll use it to my advantage, 1484 01:05:31,766 --> 01:05:33,559 'cause I'm like Husky Harris. 1485 01:05:33,601 --> 01:05:35,478 It's a weight that I can manage. 1486 01:05:35,520 --> 01:05:37,980 Windham immediately channeled right in, and he got it. 1487 01:05:38,022 --> 01:05:40,149 And he was like, and then we do this, and then we do this. 1488 01:05:40,191 --> 01:05:43,027 - It's time to rewrite my own story. 1489 01:05:43,069 --> 01:05:44,779 - No idea was off-limits. 1490 01:05:44,821 --> 01:05:46,239 We start working out. 1491 01:05:46,280 --> 01:05:47,573 And I just start working out, 1492 01:05:47,615 --> 01:05:49,158 and we have to stay there absurdly long. 1493 01:05:49,200 --> 01:05:50,743 - Yeah. - [laughs] 1494 01:05:50,785 --> 01:05:52,161 Let me tell you something. 1495 01:05:52,203 --> 01:05:54,747 Any idea that I relayed to him, 1496 01:05:54,789 --> 01:05:56,541 he could make it better. 1497 01:05:56,582 --> 01:05:59,043 And any idea that he brought to me, I was willing to do. 1498 01:05:59,085 --> 01:06:00,628 - I need a printout of that. 1499 01:06:00,670 --> 01:06:04,048 And I think yeah, everybody should have it just 1500 01:06:04,090 --> 01:06:05,633 so you know where I'm coming from. 1501 01:06:05,675 --> 01:06:09,846 Give it up for John Cena! 1502 01:06:09,887 --> 01:06:11,848 - Watching it back, you'd think we'd had 1503 01:06:11,889 --> 01:06:13,266 six months to prepare for it. 1504 01:06:13,307 --> 01:06:15,393 But in reality, it was, like, two days. 1505 01:06:15,435 --> 01:06:17,770 Somehow, it got pulled off. 1506 01:06:17,812 --> 01:06:19,897 - This is going to be spooky. 1507 01:06:19,939 --> 01:06:24,110 - You got to see all of these different characters 1508 01:06:24,152 --> 01:06:27,029 come to life. 1509 01:06:27,071 --> 01:06:30,575 - It's like a mini-movie. 1510 01:06:30,616 --> 01:06:32,118 - It used to just be challenging enough 1511 01:06:32,160 --> 01:06:33,828 to do something good. 1512 01:06:33,870 --> 01:06:35,037 That's hard. 1513 01:06:35,079 --> 01:06:36,372 But now in the age of content, 1514 01:06:36,414 --> 01:06:38,875 what's harder is to do something memorable. 1515 01:06:38,916 --> 01:06:40,460 So full credit. 1516 01:06:40,501 --> 01:06:42,378 Because we're still talking about it, and we still 1517 01:06:42,420 --> 01:06:45,173 will be talking about it for years to come. 1518 01:06:48,676 --> 01:06:51,471 - Following the success of that match, 1519 01:06:51,512 --> 01:06:55,641 fans were introduced to a new Fun House character. 1520 01:06:55,683 --> 01:06:58,227 - He had all these ideas for me and different ways 1521 01:06:58,269 --> 01:07:00,063 that the character could go. 1522 01:07:00,104 --> 01:07:04,233 Let him in. 1523 01:07:04,275 --> 01:07:07,278 He always had these off-the-wall ideas 1524 01:07:07,320 --> 01:07:08,654 that once he explained them, 1525 01:07:08,696 --> 01:07:11,491 you're like, that's freaking genius. 1526 01:07:11,532 --> 01:07:13,451 Do you like my playground? 1527 01:07:13,493 --> 01:07:16,162 [laughs] 1528 01:07:16,204 --> 01:07:18,748 He built this for me. 1529 01:07:18,790 --> 01:07:22,377 He taught me to open my mind more creatively 1530 01:07:22,418 --> 01:07:24,504 and to step my game up. 1531 01:07:24,545 --> 01:07:27,590 And I had a lot of fun. 1532 01:07:27,632 --> 01:07:29,175 It's fun. 1533 01:07:29,217 --> 01:07:31,177 [laughter] 1534 01:07:31,219 --> 01:07:32,887 That was the best-- 1535 01:07:32,929 --> 01:07:35,098 still is the best-- moments of my career. 1536 01:07:35,139 --> 01:07:36,933 - I think we can do better than that. 1537 01:07:36,974 --> 01:07:38,601 By you--by we, I mean me. 1538 01:07:38,643 --> 01:07:40,686 [laughter] 1539 01:07:41,979 --> 01:07:44,107 - Windham's happiness behind the scenes 1540 01:07:44,148 --> 01:07:46,025 translated on screen. 1541 01:07:46,067 --> 01:07:50,113 But he was about to experience a heavy loss. 1542 01:07:50,154 --> 01:07:52,698 * * 1543 01:07:55,785 --> 01:07:57,120 [somber music] 1544 01:07:57,161 --> 01:07:59,580 - In December of 2020, 1545 01:07:59,622 --> 01:08:01,791 one of Windham's closest friends, 1546 01:08:01,833 --> 01:08:07,380 John Huber, tragically passed away. 1547 01:08:07,422 --> 01:08:09,257 He was 41 years old. 1548 01:08:09,298 --> 01:08:12,510 * * 1549 01:08:12,552 --> 01:08:15,638 - [crying] I didn't want to believe it was true. 1550 01:08:15,680 --> 01:08:20,810 I don't think my brain let me do it--let me believe it. 1551 01:08:20,852 --> 01:08:25,273 * * 1552 01:08:25,314 --> 01:08:27,400 I'm struggling. 1553 01:08:27,442 --> 01:08:33,489 * * 1554 01:08:33,531 --> 01:08:38,327 - I know he was hurting a lot. 1555 01:08:38,369 --> 01:08:41,831 Because I know I was hurting a lot. 1556 01:08:41,873 --> 01:08:44,083 - They were so close. They were like brothers. 1557 01:08:44,125 --> 01:08:46,878 When you're in a group together with someone, 1558 01:08:46,919 --> 01:08:49,505 you share so much of your lives together 1559 01:08:49,547 --> 01:08:52,508 and they talk about their families and their kids 1560 01:08:52,550 --> 01:08:54,427 and all those things. 1561 01:08:54,469 --> 01:08:57,597 So I know it was a profound loss for him. 1562 01:08:57,638 --> 01:09:00,016 - I know more than anybody that no one can fill 1563 01:09:00,058 --> 01:09:04,020 the void that he left behind. 1564 01:09:04,062 --> 01:09:09,275 But I swear to God, I'll try. 1565 01:09:09,317 --> 01:09:11,986 * * 1566 01:09:12,028 --> 01:09:16,616 - He always just carried the heaviness around. 1567 01:09:16,657 --> 01:09:19,869 And he had a really, really, really hard time. 1568 01:09:19,911 --> 01:09:22,205 [tense music] 1569 01:09:22,246 --> 01:09:24,457 - Windham struggled 1570 01:09:24,499 --> 01:09:28,544 emotionally and professionally. 1571 01:09:28,586 --> 01:09:33,257 - Bray was a creative genius for his characters. 1572 01:09:33,299 --> 01:09:36,511 To work with Bray was very challenging because-- 1573 01:09:36,552 --> 01:09:39,472 I don't think that Bray came from a bad place, 1574 01:09:39,514 --> 01:09:41,391 but Bray had his visions. 1575 01:09:41,432 --> 01:09:46,187 Bray had what he wanted to do and Bray would fight you on it. 1576 01:09:46,229 --> 01:09:47,230 - You can't put the sweatband on? 1577 01:09:47,271 --> 01:09:48,314 - No. 1578 01:09:48,356 --> 01:09:49,649 - What's the transition? 1579 01:09:49,690 --> 01:09:51,150 How do I get to the rabbit? 1580 01:09:51,192 --> 01:09:53,069 - I'm grabbing him now anyway. 1581 01:09:53,111 --> 01:09:54,862 - He didn't like when other people were getting involved 1582 01:09:54,904 --> 01:09:56,572 and telling him what to do and telling him 1583 01:09:56,614 --> 01:09:58,408 how the character should act and how he should speak. 1584 01:09:58,449 --> 01:10:01,369 So it took a toll on him. 1585 01:10:01,411 --> 01:10:03,371 - Bray was a tremendous success. 1586 01:10:03,413 --> 01:10:04,747 But I think he created something that was 1587 01:10:04,789 --> 01:10:08,084 larger than another individual's thought process. 1588 01:10:08,126 --> 01:10:10,670 * * 1589 01:10:10,712 --> 01:10:14,298 - While there's a clear line between Windham and Bray Wyatt 1590 01:10:14,340 --> 01:10:16,592 and The Fiend and all those things, 1591 01:10:16,634 --> 01:10:19,679 they're all pieces of him that he put out there. 1592 01:10:19,721 --> 01:10:22,473 Sort of his heart and soul out on his sleeve. 1593 01:10:22,515 --> 01:10:24,934 He never stopped thinking about it. 1594 01:10:24,976 --> 01:10:28,104 - There's something we're missing here. 1595 01:10:28,146 --> 01:10:30,398 - It's one of the geniuses of him creatively. 1596 01:10:30,440 --> 01:10:32,108 It's also one of the things that was 1597 01:10:32,150 --> 01:10:34,026 difficult to work with him on because he was like 1598 01:10:34,068 --> 01:10:36,612 this whirlwind of ideas at all times. 1599 01:10:36,654 --> 01:10:40,032 Harnessing him into one thing got harder and harder-- 1600 01:10:40,074 --> 01:10:42,410 keeping him focused on the one idea 1601 01:10:42,452 --> 01:10:45,955 at hand, getting him to agree to the idea 1602 01:10:45,997 --> 01:10:48,624 that everybody was working on, and then stay committed to it 1603 01:10:48,666 --> 01:10:50,585 and not, all of a sudden, show up one day and go, 1604 01:10:50,626 --> 01:10:52,086 "Guys, I think we're going in the wrong direction. 1605 01:10:52,128 --> 01:10:53,713 We need to start over here." 1606 01:10:58,551 --> 01:11:01,471 - As the tension grew, the Bray Wyatt character 1607 01:11:01,512 --> 01:11:05,141 was about to undergo a drastic change. 1608 01:11:05,183 --> 01:11:08,352 - We had an Inferno match. 1609 01:11:08,394 --> 01:11:11,314 I remember seeing the look on his face 1610 01:11:11,355 --> 01:11:13,941 as he's getting covered with just all this goop 1611 01:11:13,983 --> 01:11:16,110 to keep him safe. 1612 01:11:16,152 --> 01:11:18,946 That was a stressful day. 1613 01:11:24,368 --> 01:11:25,703 - So frustrated? 1614 01:11:25,745 --> 01:11:27,830 Yes, to put it lightly. 1615 01:11:28,664 --> 01:11:30,666 - The only way to win is 1616 01:11:30,708 --> 01:11:34,003 to light any part of your opponent on fire. 1617 01:11:34,045 --> 01:11:36,089 [dramatic music] 1618 01:11:36,130 --> 01:11:37,048 - Oh! The Fiend's on fire! 1619 01:11:37,090 --> 01:11:38,466 - Oh, my God! Orton! 1620 01:11:38,508 --> 01:11:41,052 Orton just lit The Fiend on fire! 1621 01:11:41,094 --> 01:11:43,388 - He got burned. 1622 01:11:43,429 --> 01:11:48,017 That was extremely frustrating to him. 1623 01:11:48,059 --> 01:11:49,727 - He was very particular with his story 1624 01:11:49,769 --> 01:11:51,729 from beginning to end. 1625 01:11:51,771 --> 01:11:55,441 You can't pay off something if it took a turn. 1626 01:11:55,483 --> 01:11:57,026 He didn't know how to do that. 1627 01:11:57,068 --> 01:11:59,779 And I think that was very frustrating for him. 1628 01:12:07,370 --> 01:12:09,789 - That was the problem with the burnt Bray. 1629 01:12:09,831 --> 01:12:14,752 Because you had to have everything on you burnt 1630 01:12:14,794 --> 01:12:18,381 and melted and smoldering. 1631 01:12:18,423 --> 01:12:20,133 No one thought about that. 1632 01:12:20,174 --> 01:12:23,761 - Let me bring this to you back when I got this shit off of me. 1633 01:12:23,803 --> 01:12:25,304 But we ain't going to take pictures. 1634 01:12:25,346 --> 01:12:26,931 This is really brutal. 1635 01:12:26,973 --> 01:12:29,475 - All of a sudden now you're going from wrestling gear 1636 01:12:29,517 --> 01:12:34,480 and a hot mask to a hot mask and hot gear. 1637 01:12:34,522 --> 01:12:37,066 - I don't know if I can work like this. 1638 01:12:37,108 --> 01:12:38,568 - It was very difficult to move in. 1639 01:12:38,609 --> 01:12:39,902 It wasn't as pliable. 1640 01:12:39,944 --> 01:12:43,406 It wasn't as easy to maneuver and do everything 1641 01:12:43,448 --> 01:12:45,450 that you wanted to do. 1642 01:12:45,491 --> 01:12:47,744 - It moves and turns when you grab it. 1643 01:12:50,663 --> 01:12:54,417 [soft music] 1644 01:12:54,459 --> 01:12:56,294 - Remember this one. 1645 01:12:56,335 --> 01:12:58,254 - Wild looking at this, 1646 01:12:58,296 --> 01:12:59,756 'cause we both know 1647 01:12:59,797 --> 01:13:02,383 what a hard time he was having at this point. 1648 01:13:02,425 --> 01:13:03,760 You know, like... 1649 01:13:03,801 --> 01:13:06,012 - You're putting it politely. 1650 01:13:06,054 --> 01:13:08,389 He hated this thing. 1651 01:13:08,431 --> 01:13:10,099 Your brother knew the responsibility. 1652 01:13:10,141 --> 01:13:12,143 I think it weighed a lot on him, and it was hard. 1653 01:13:12,185 --> 01:13:14,729 And I felt really bad for him because I know 1654 01:13:14,771 --> 01:13:17,774 he gave it his all, he tried 100% to try to carry 1655 01:13:17,815 --> 01:13:20,359 you know, not only his character and the brand 1656 01:13:20,401 --> 01:13:22,695 and the company and everything, but it just-- 1657 01:13:22,737 --> 01:13:24,155 - It all led to that WrestleMania. 1658 01:13:24,197 --> 01:13:25,615 - Yeah. 1659 01:13:28,201 --> 01:13:31,162 [dramatic music] 1660 01:13:31,204 --> 01:13:33,873 * * 1661 01:13:33,915 --> 01:13:38,961 - WrestleMania 37, the first time in over a year 1662 01:13:39,003 --> 01:13:41,923 that the WWE fans would be in attendance. 1663 01:13:41,964 --> 01:13:44,634 - Who are you excited to see? 1664 01:13:44,675 --> 01:13:48,012 - Mostly The Fiend. 1665 01:13:48,054 --> 01:13:50,515 - I'm really excited to see Bray Wyatt. 1666 01:13:50,556 --> 01:13:52,141 I like his mind games that he plays. 1667 01:13:52,183 --> 01:13:55,228 - I want to see The Fiend go on and burn Randy Orton 1668 01:13:55,269 --> 01:13:56,687 down to the ground. 1669 01:13:56,729 --> 01:13:58,981 * * 1670 01:13:59,023 --> 01:14:01,150 - Yeah, at WrestleMania, when we finally were 1671 01:14:01,192 --> 01:14:03,986 in front of people, you see the transformation-- 1672 01:14:04,028 --> 01:14:08,616 The Fiend is stepping out of hell and of that burnt. 1673 01:14:08,658 --> 01:14:12,203 And now you have The Fiend again, and a pissed-off Fiend. 1674 01:14:12,245 --> 01:14:14,705 It was a way to get back to The Fiend. 1675 01:14:14,747 --> 01:14:18,459 Because the burn--the whole outfit didn't work, 1676 01:14:18,501 --> 01:14:21,838 and it was tough to continue that. 1677 01:14:21,879 --> 01:14:24,590 - And The Fiend has been restored. 1678 01:14:24,632 --> 01:14:27,343 - I think everyone was just as excited as we were 1679 01:14:27,385 --> 01:14:28,886 to see the Fiend back, 1680 01:14:28,928 --> 01:14:34,517 and it immediately turned into I turned on him... 1681 01:14:34,559 --> 01:14:35,852 - What the... 1682 01:14:35,893 --> 01:14:37,729 - Causing him to lose the match. 1683 01:14:37,770 --> 01:14:40,982 - And now Orton from behind with an RKO! 1684 01:14:41,023 --> 01:14:45,278 - And it wasn't what people wanted to see. 1685 01:14:45,319 --> 01:14:47,238 - If you love something that much and you put that much 1686 01:14:47,280 --> 01:14:52,243 time and effort, you want it to go the way your vision is. 1687 01:14:52,285 --> 01:14:54,912 And that was, like, very frustrating for him. 1688 01:14:57,415 --> 01:15:02,045 - At the time, I don't know exactly what the downfall was. 1689 01:15:02,086 --> 01:15:06,132 Creative minds can often be misinterpreted very easily. 1690 01:15:06,174 --> 01:15:09,802 So you can begin to have disagreements 1691 01:15:09,844 --> 01:15:11,929 of how things go, but it can be interpreted 1692 01:15:11,971 --> 01:15:14,807 in many different ways-- as creative differences 1693 01:15:14,849 --> 01:15:17,393 or he's just difficult to work with. 1694 01:15:17,435 --> 01:15:18,978 I don't know the exact answer. 1695 01:15:19,020 --> 01:15:21,731 I just know that it fell apart somehow. 1696 01:15:21,773 --> 01:15:23,316 * * 1697 01:15:23,357 --> 01:15:25,902 - At that time, WWE was still dealing with 1698 01:15:25,943 --> 01:15:27,403 the fallout of the pandemic. 1699 01:15:27,445 --> 01:15:30,156 And they released a bunch of superstars, 1700 01:15:30,198 --> 01:15:32,742 one of them being Windham's brother, Taylor. 1701 01:15:32,784 --> 01:15:34,327 And then a few months later, 1702 01:15:34,368 --> 01:15:38,331 they ended up releasing Windham as well. 1703 01:15:38,372 --> 01:15:41,334 You just kept clicking, trying to find the thing that goes, 1704 01:15:41,375 --> 01:15:42,543 no, that was fake. 1705 01:15:42,585 --> 01:15:43,628 That's not true. 1706 01:15:43,669 --> 01:15:44,796 No, of course it's not true. 1707 01:15:44,837 --> 01:15:47,256 - We all were shocked. 1708 01:15:47,298 --> 01:15:51,094 In retrospect, I can look back and I can look at pictures 1709 01:15:51,135 --> 01:15:54,430 and I'll zoom in on his eyes and I see it destroyed him. 1710 01:15:54,472 --> 01:15:57,767 That was bad. 1711 01:15:58,810 --> 01:16:02,939 - Aside from being invested in his family and his children, 1712 01:16:02,980 --> 01:16:05,942 wrestling was his life and that was his art 1713 01:16:05,983 --> 01:16:07,860 and that was his outlet. 1714 01:16:07,902 --> 01:16:11,239 And all of a sudden, instantaneously was-- 1715 01:16:11,280 --> 01:16:14,492 that's supposed to be just gone? 1716 01:16:14,534 --> 01:16:17,120 - For the first time in over a decade, 1717 01:16:17,161 --> 01:16:20,206 Windham was not part of WWE. 1718 01:16:24,001 --> 01:16:29,424 In its place, he found a new passion. 1719 01:16:29,465 --> 01:16:31,134 - So we're here in our home. 1720 01:16:31,175 --> 01:16:35,471 And this room, in particular, was Windham's art room. 1721 01:16:35,513 --> 01:16:39,767 It was his space where he created a lot of his magic. 1722 01:16:39,809 --> 01:16:43,813 And it has been untouched since he's been here. 1723 01:16:43,855 --> 01:16:45,481 So this is it. 1724 01:16:45,523 --> 01:16:48,317 This is the mind of Windham. 1725 01:16:48,359 --> 01:16:52,321 The first piece he did, and it's of me. 1726 01:16:52,363 --> 01:16:53,614 [laughs] 1727 01:16:53,656 --> 01:16:54,991 So it's one of the first pieces 1728 01:16:55,032 --> 01:16:56,492 he actually completed. 1729 01:16:56,534 --> 01:16:58,494 And it's spray paint. 1730 01:16:58,536 --> 01:16:59,662 [soft music] 1731 01:16:59,704 --> 01:17:00,872 This one right here, 1732 01:17:00,913 --> 01:17:02,915 it's Kendyl and Cadyn. 1733 01:17:02,957 --> 01:17:04,459 He wanted to recreate the picture that he had 1734 01:17:04,500 --> 01:17:06,335 in his phone of his girls. 1735 01:17:06,377 --> 01:17:08,254 And it's a beautiful picture of them standing 1736 01:17:08,296 --> 01:17:09,881 like that in the street. 1737 01:17:09,922 --> 01:17:15,178 He was in the middle of doing this as a gift for them. 1738 01:17:15,219 --> 01:17:18,806 I don't know if he ever truly felt like 1739 01:17:18,848 --> 01:17:20,516 anything was quite finished. 1740 01:17:20,558 --> 01:17:21,851 [laughs] 1741 01:17:21,893 --> 01:17:23,728 He did this over a course of two years. 1742 01:17:23,770 --> 01:17:25,021 He kept working on this-- 1743 01:17:25,063 --> 01:17:26,773 stopping, starting over. 1744 01:17:26,814 --> 01:17:28,232 But he always kept that part, 1745 01:17:28,274 --> 01:17:30,026 which I thought was really cool. 1746 01:17:30,068 --> 01:17:32,570 And he kept it because I told him how much I loved it. 1747 01:17:32,612 --> 01:17:34,864 I was like, oh, I love those eyes, the face. 1748 01:17:34,906 --> 01:17:36,449 I said, you did so good with that. 1749 01:17:36,491 --> 01:17:37,909 And he always kept it, 1750 01:17:37,950 --> 01:17:40,369 which I thought was really cool. 1751 01:17:40,411 --> 01:17:43,206 This one hung in our home in St. Pete. 1752 01:17:43,247 --> 01:17:47,752 And it reminds me a lot of when we got engaged. 1753 01:17:47,794 --> 01:17:53,049 He surprised me by getting down on one knee in St. Pete Pier. 1754 01:17:53,091 --> 01:17:55,676 So this art really ties in. 1755 01:17:55,718 --> 01:17:59,389 They're pieces that I won't let go of ever in my life 1756 01:17:59,430 --> 01:18:01,933 because it reminds me of that time. 1757 01:18:01,974 --> 01:18:03,726 * * 1758 01:18:03,768 --> 01:18:08,314 - 100% art is where he really just threw himself into that, 1759 01:18:08,356 --> 01:18:09,607 and he loved it. 1760 01:18:09,649 --> 01:18:11,484 Just always, oh, come do this with me and let me 1761 01:18:11,526 --> 01:18:15,029 show you this latest thing I'm trying out. 1762 01:18:15,071 --> 01:18:16,906 - Next thing you know, he would be showing us 1763 01:18:16,948 --> 01:18:18,324 these paintings. 1764 01:18:18,366 --> 01:18:19,992 Then we're like, you did that? 1765 01:18:20,034 --> 01:18:21,661 I cannot believe you did that. 1766 01:18:21,702 --> 01:18:23,663 He's like, I've been working on this for three nights in a row. 1767 01:18:23,704 --> 01:18:26,582 [laughs] Go to sleep. 1768 01:18:26,624 --> 01:18:29,001 It was amazing to see, once again, 1769 01:18:29,043 --> 01:18:30,294 this anomaly of a human. 1770 01:18:30,336 --> 01:18:31,587 When he invested into something 1771 01:18:31,629 --> 01:18:32,755 that he was going to do, 1772 01:18:32,797 --> 01:18:34,799 it was going to be phenomenal. 1773 01:18:36,175 --> 01:18:39,137 [light twangy music] 1774 01:18:39,178 --> 01:18:42,140 - While he immersed himself in his art, 1775 01:18:42,181 --> 01:18:45,059 Windham also started filming a reality TV pilot 1776 01:18:45,101 --> 01:18:46,477 with his brother. 1777 01:18:46,519 --> 01:18:50,273 * * 1778 01:18:50,314 --> 01:18:52,400 - [laughs] 1779 01:18:52,442 --> 01:18:55,695 Can I touch it? - Yeah. Yeah. 1780 01:18:55,737 --> 01:18:58,656 - We got the opportunity to go shoot a pilot 1781 01:18:58,698 --> 01:19:00,575 hunting monsters and cryptids 1782 01:19:00,616 --> 01:19:03,369 and conspiracy theories and going after cults. 1783 01:19:03,411 --> 01:19:05,997 - I can't believe we're in here, man. 1784 01:19:06,038 --> 01:19:07,331 - Our whole lives, we've always been into 1785 01:19:07,373 --> 01:19:09,208 the odd things in the world. 1786 01:19:09,250 --> 01:19:11,002 - When I was a little kid, when you watched, like, 1787 01:19:11,044 --> 01:19:12,420 "The Goonies" and all that stuff, 1788 01:19:12,462 --> 01:19:14,797 I remember thinking, oh, man, that's so cool. 1789 01:19:14,839 --> 01:19:16,841 I would love to just go around with my friends one day 1790 01:19:16,883 --> 01:19:18,134 and do that. 1791 01:19:18,176 --> 01:19:22,388 So this is how horror movies end. 1792 01:19:22,430 --> 01:19:25,892 - The more we hung out and started working on that, 1793 01:19:25,933 --> 01:19:27,143 the more it kind of morphed 1794 01:19:27,185 --> 01:19:29,729 back into talking about wrestling. 1795 01:19:29,771 --> 01:19:32,315 - I dive in and I think about it to the point 1796 01:19:32,356 --> 01:19:34,192 where it almost makes me nuts. 1797 01:19:34,233 --> 01:19:37,153 - We got excited again and realized maybe 1798 01:19:37,195 --> 01:19:38,488 we don't want to do this. 1799 01:19:38,529 --> 01:19:40,656 Maybe we want to go back and wrestle. 1800 01:19:40,698 --> 01:19:42,992 The more we talked, the more we collaborated, 1801 01:19:43,034 --> 01:19:45,912 the more we needed to make it back. 1802 01:19:45,953 --> 01:19:50,374 - In the summer of 2022, after a year away from WWE, 1803 01:19:50,416 --> 01:19:54,587 Windham started talking about making a return to the ring. 1804 01:19:54,629 --> 01:20:01,094 - There is not a lock on the door to the WWE. 1805 01:20:01,135 --> 01:20:06,474 And I think the audience was craving some Bray Wyatt. 1806 01:20:06,516 --> 01:20:10,353 - From the first time I got on the phone with him to discuss, 1807 01:20:10,395 --> 01:20:12,480 do you want to come back-- 1808 01:20:12,522 --> 01:20:15,066 like, hey, I'd love for you to come home. 1809 01:20:15,108 --> 01:20:17,360 And his part, hey, I'd love to be home. 1810 01:20:17,402 --> 01:20:20,113 I think that very first conversation we had, 1811 01:20:20,154 --> 01:20:23,241 it went from, hey, what are you thinking 1812 01:20:23,282 --> 01:20:25,410 about potentially coming back 1813 01:20:25,451 --> 01:20:29,038 to us riffing ideas for an hour and a half. 1814 01:20:29,080 --> 01:20:30,331 - He wasn't done. 1815 01:20:30,373 --> 01:20:32,250 He wanted to fix things about his legacy 1816 01:20:32,291 --> 01:20:34,252 and he didn't want to go out unexpectedly. 1817 01:20:34,293 --> 01:20:38,715 He had a lot more stories to tell the WWE Universe. 1818 01:20:38,756 --> 01:20:40,174 - He was in the gym a lot. 1819 01:20:40,216 --> 01:20:42,176 Like, three, four hours a day. 1820 01:20:42,218 --> 01:20:44,929 He really busted his ass. 1821 01:20:44,971 --> 01:20:50,393 - In the fall of 2022, Windham, now 35 years old, 1822 01:20:50,435 --> 01:20:53,688 was preparing for his return. 1823 01:20:53,730 --> 01:20:55,565 - He was coming back. 1824 01:20:55,606 --> 01:20:56,774 He was working for it. 1825 01:20:56,816 --> 01:20:59,193 [tense music] 1826 01:20:59,235 --> 01:21:01,738 - So when Windham was negotiating with WWE 1827 01:21:01,779 --> 01:21:03,406 to make his return, 1828 01:21:03,448 --> 01:21:07,660 he reached out to TJ and asked TJ, 1829 01:21:07,702 --> 01:21:09,537 hey, I need you to keep this to yourself, 1830 01:21:09,579 --> 01:21:12,081 but would you and Natty be OK if I started 1831 01:21:12,123 --> 01:21:14,417 coming down to your ring? 1832 01:21:14,459 --> 01:21:16,586 - Bray was super motivated at that time. 1833 01:21:16,627 --> 01:21:19,213 I did want to gauge where he was mentally. 1834 01:21:19,255 --> 01:21:20,381 And he said, TJ, I know. 1835 01:21:20,423 --> 01:21:22,550 He said, I'm super excited. 1836 01:21:22,592 --> 01:21:26,137 And he went from it being kind of a private thing to him 1837 01:21:26,179 --> 01:21:28,306 going around and giving each person specific, 1838 01:21:28,347 --> 01:21:30,141 individualized advice. 1839 01:21:30,183 --> 01:21:32,143 That just shows you how his brain was working 1840 01:21:32,185 --> 01:21:34,353 from a creative standpoint. 1841 01:21:34,395 --> 01:21:35,646 - You could just feel that excitement. 1842 01:21:35,688 --> 01:21:37,648 You felt, like, that childlike wonder. 1843 01:21:37,690 --> 01:21:40,026 He really wanted to get in the best shape of his life 1844 01:21:40,068 --> 01:21:42,487 and he wanted this to be his best run ever. 1845 01:21:42,528 --> 01:21:45,823 - He started talking to me about what my ideas were 1846 01:21:45,865 --> 01:21:47,200 and if I should go back. 1847 01:21:47,241 --> 01:21:50,870 And I decided I was going to pursue a conversation 1848 01:21:50,912 --> 01:21:54,415 with the company again to see where I would stand 1849 01:21:54,457 --> 01:21:57,460 and started getting excited again 1850 01:21:57,502 --> 01:22:01,172 like it was my first time getting into the ring again. 1851 01:22:01,214 --> 01:22:04,926 - About the same time I brought into the company 1852 01:22:04,967 --> 01:22:07,387 a guy named Rob Fee. 1853 01:22:07,428 --> 01:22:09,889 - I met with Hunter and Bray. 1854 01:22:09,931 --> 01:22:12,600 If I would ask him a question and be like, hey, 1855 01:22:12,642 --> 01:22:15,103 what do you think about this thing, an hour and a half 1856 01:22:15,144 --> 01:22:17,855 later of completely off-the-wall ideas, 1857 01:22:17,897 --> 01:22:19,649 we'd land on something. 1858 01:22:19,690 --> 01:22:23,027 And I'm like, man, if he's bringing this energy back 1859 01:22:23,069 --> 01:22:27,490 to WWE, it's going to be a wild ride. 1860 01:22:27,532 --> 01:22:31,160 - It sort of started this kind of three-way collaboration 1861 01:22:31,202 --> 01:22:33,121 on this project. 1862 01:22:33,162 --> 01:22:35,873 And Bray would call us both and say, 1863 01:22:35,915 --> 01:22:38,084 hey, I have this idea. 1864 01:22:42,213 --> 01:22:45,174 [tense music] 1865 01:22:45,216 --> 01:22:51,723 * * 1866 01:22:51,764 --> 01:22:52,849 - Who... - Killed... 1867 01:22:52,890 --> 01:22:55,309 - The... - World? 1868 01:22:56,310 --> 01:22:58,938 - You... - Did. 1869 01:22:58,980 --> 01:23:04,026 - We started coming up with all these crazy, Easter-eggy-- 1870 01:23:04,068 --> 01:23:09,365 like, how could we riff these ideas to lead to this return? 1871 01:23:09,407 --> 01:23:11,617 That was me, Bray. 1872 01:23:11,659 --> 01:23:15,413 And Rob was really instrumental. 1873 01:23:15,455 --> 01:23:20,543 - It was Bray coming up with crazy bits of lore. 1874 01:23:20,585 --> 01:23:23,046 Then he'd be like, here, make this into something. 1875 01:23:23,087 --> 01:23:28,676 - Friday Night SmackDown! 1876 01:23:28,718 --> 01:23:31,763 - Brought up the first QR code. 1877 01:23:31,804 --> 01:23:35,058 It led to a puzzle. 1878 01:23:35,099 --> 01:23:36,392 I believe viewership was up 1879 01:23:36,434 --> 01:23:39,145 25% because people were 1880 01:23:39,187 --> 01:23:42,523 so excited to see what this was leading to. 1881 01:23:42,565 --> 01:23:45,735 - The White Rabbit teases are all that 1882 01:23:45,777 --> 01:23:48,279 any wrestling fan wants to talk about. 1883 01:23:48,321 --> 01:23:51,657 It was so vague and complicated that 1884 01:23:51,699 --> 01:23:57,413 it allowed us to just speculate wildly for weeks at a time. 1885 01:23:57,455 --> 01:23:59,499 - We did rabbits in the crowd. 1886 01:23:59,540 --> 01:24:02,460 We had latitude and longitudes 1887 01:24:02,502 --> 01:24:04,462 in Italy that if you 1888 01:24:04,504 --> 01:24:05,463 viewed it from overhead, 1889 01:24:05,505 --> 01:24:07,924 was this giant pink bunny. 1890 01:24:07,965 --> 01:24:10,885 All the clues were just enough to where it felt like 1891 01:24:10,927 --> 01:24:14,180 a Bray thing, but it wasn't for sure. 1892 01:24:14,222 --> 01:24:17,392 The final one we did, fire shoots out 1893 01:24:17,433 --> 01:24:19,852 and it brings up the date of Extreme Rules. 1894 01:24:19,894 --> 01:24:22,355 'Cause we were like, at this point, you know, 1895 01:24:22,397 --> 01:24:24,357 let's stop [bleep] with them and just show them 1896 01:24:24,399 --> 01:24:26,317 exactly what it is. 1897 01:24:28,111 --> 01:24:32,281 - October 8, 2022. 1898 01:24:32,323 --> 01:24:36,285 The day had finally arrived. 1899 01:24:36,327 --> 01:24:43,251 After 15 months, Windham was home. 1900 01:24:43,292 --> 01:24:45,420 - I didn't know I could draw a year ago. 1901 01:24:45,461 --> 01:24:47,296 You want to see something cool? 1902 01:24:47,338 --> 01:24:49,048 I was really proud of this. 1903 01:24:49,090 --> 01:24:52,385 It's the first time I ever did this by myself. 1904 01:24:52,427 --> 01:24:54,971 This is the concept art. 1905 01:24:55,012 --> 01:24:57,640 Sitting at home for a year by yourself and painting 1906 01:24:57,682 --> 01:25:00,393 and kind of, you know, thinking about these things 1907 01:25:00,435 --> 01:25:02,645 and designing all these ideas 1908 01:25:02,687 --> 01:25:05,314 that I'm dreaming of--one day, maybe we can get a chance 1909 01:25:05,356 --> 01:25:06,941 to do this stuff-- 1910 01:25:06,983 --> 01:25:11,904 it's such a cool feeling to be on the cusp of it. 1911 01:25:11,946 --> 01:25:14,490 This is always the most exciting part for me, 1912 01:25:14,532 --> 01:25:16,951 this joy you get from creating. 1913 01:25:16,993 --> 01:25:19,996 And you're stressing me out hovering over me 1914 01:25:20,037 --> 01:25:21,164 now that I'm doing it. 1915 01:25:21,205 --> 01:25:24,125 This is how I keep calm 1916 01:25:24,167 --> 01:25:26,919 kind of in stressful situations. 1917 01:25:26,961 --> 01:25:28,421 [tense music] 1918 01:25:28,463 --> 01:25:31,215 - He was nervous, for sure. 1919 01:25:31,257 --> 01:25:33,342 I was not there for Extreme Rules. 1920 01:25:33,384 --> 01:25:35,178 But I remember he would call me 1921 01:25:35,219 --> 01:25:36,846 and he'd just be like, ugh. 1922 01:25:36,888 --> 01:25:40,933 He'd pace back and forth constantly. 1923 01:25:40,975 --> 01:25:41,934 He was like, I can't. 1924 01:25:41,976 --> 01:25:43,019 I just can't right now. 1925 01:25:43,061 --> 01:25:44,187 And I'm like, OK. 1926 01:25:44,228 --> 01:25:47,982 But just to make sure that it was 1927 01:25:48,024 --> 01:25:50,693 done the way he wanted it to be done 1928 01:25:50,735 --> 01:25:53,321 was so much pressure on him that it made him nervous. 1929 01:25:53,362 --> 01:25:55,990 He's like, I got to do this right. 1930 01:25:56,032 --> 01:25:57,492 - I always think, oh, no, 1931 01:25:57,533 --> 01:25:58,868 so this person is not going to like this. 1932 01:25:58,910 --> 01:26:01,662 This person is not going to like that. 1933 01:26:03,915 --> 01:26:05,416 [booming] 1934 01:26:05,458 --> 01:26:12,382 - 15,944 WWE fans are here tonight. 1935 01:26:12,423 --> 01:26:16,469 We are sold out for Extreme Rules. 1936 01:26:16,511 --> 01:26:18,179 - I remember Hunter came on the bus and was like, 1937 01:26:18,221 --> 01:26:19,931 we just think it'd be kind of cool to just 1938 01:26:19,972 --> 01:26:22,392 show your characters just sort of invaded back 1939 01:26:22,433 --> 01:26:23,893 into the world of WWE. 1940 01:26:23,935 --> 01:26:26,354 And we're like, yeah, sounds like a plan. 1941 01:26:26,396 --> 01:26:28,815 Bruce and Hunter are like, we want The Fiend, as well. 1942 01:26:28,856 --> 01:26:31,442 We were just going to grab a random extra or somebody. 1943 01:26:31,484 --> 01:26:32,860 And Windham goes, "No. 1944 01:26:32,902 --> 01:26:35,071 "Jason, you're the only person I trust 1945 01:26:35,113 --> 01:26:37,990 and you're the only person that deserves to do it." 1946 01:26:38,032 --> 01:26:40,284 - You got this, man. 1947 01:26:40,326 --> 01:26:41,869 [laughs] 1948 01:26:41,911 --> 01:26:45,206 - The honor is definitely not lost on me. 1949 01:26:45,248 --> 01:26:48,626 - You only get this a couple times in your life, you know? 1950 01:26:48,668 --> 01:26:51,295 The feeling of pure bliss, you know? 1951 01:26:51,337 --> 01:26:52,380 The nerves. 1952 01:26:52,422 --> 01:26:54,340 The bliss. 1953 01:26:54,382 --> 01:26:55,967 It's pretty wild, man. 1954 01:27:02,807 --> 01:27:05,101 I want to show everybody what all the hard work is, 1955 01:27:05,143 --> 01:27:06,561 you know? 1956 01:27:06,602 --> 01:27:08,813 It's time, bro. 1957 01:27:09,605 --> 01:27:13,276 - Windham emerged just 15 minutes before 1958 01:27:13,317 --> 01:27:15,945 his long-awaited return. 1959 01:27:19,949 --> 01:27:22,368 - They knew something was going to happen on the show. 1960 01:27:22,410 --> 01:27:25,246 And this was after the main event. 1961 01:27:25,288 --> 01:27:27,123 So you know, they're like, did we miss something? 1962 01:27:27,165 --> 01:27:28,458 Was it wrong? 1963 01:27:28,499 --> 01:27:30,084 The logo comes up at the bottom. 1964 01:27:30,126 --> 01:27:31,669 You think the show's over. 1965 01:27:33,212 --> 01:27:37,592 [cheers and applause] 1966 01:27:37,633 --> 01:27:40,720 - Corey, are we still on the air? 1967 01:27:41,345 --> 01:27:45,183 - * He's got the whole world * 1968 01:27:45,224 --> 01:27:47,060 [crowd roaring] 1969 01:27:47,101 --> 01:27:49,312 * In his hands * 1970 01:27:49,353 --> 01:27:50,438 [eerie music] 1971 01:27:50,480 --> 01:27:53,149 - God, what the-- 1972 01:27:53,191 --> 01:27:58,321 - * He's got the whole wide world * 1973 01:27:58,362 --> 01:28:01,407 * In his hands * 1974 01:28:01,449 --> 01:28:03,785 * * 1975 01:28:03,826 --> 01:28:06,954 * He's got the whole world * 1976 01:28:06,996 --> 01:28:12,543 * In his hands * 1977 01:28:12,585 --> 01:28:16,923 * He's got the whole world * 1978 01:28:16,964 --> 01:28:19,592 [dramatic music] 1979 01:28:19,634 --> 01:28:21,719 * * 1980 01:28:21,761 --> 01:28:25,556 [cheers and applause] 1981 01:28:29,602 --> 01:28:33,147 all: Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! 1982 01:28:33,189 --> 01:28:37,193 Holy shit! Holy shit! 1983 01:28:37,235 --> 01:28:40,113 [crowd roaring] 1984 01:28:49,122 --> 01:28:52,625 [soft music] 1985 01:28:52,667 --> 01:28:54,210 - I don't think I've ever experienced 1986 01:28:54,252 --> 01:28:56,212 a sensation quite like that. 1987 01:28:56,254 --> 01:28:58,256 I felt like I was just hovering out there-- 1988 01:28:58,297 --> 01:28:59,882 like I wasn't walking. 1989 01:28:59,924 --> 01:29:02,969 I've never felt anything like it. 1990 01:29:03,010 --> 01:29:05,847 Bro, I seriously--like, I'm on [bleep] edge right now. 1991 01:29:05,888 --> 01:29:09,475 I feel like I was just almost in a car wreck, you know? 1992 01:29:09,517 --> 01:29:11,060 Holy shit. 1993 01:29:11,102 --> 01:29:13,688 - It literally blew the effing roof off the place. 1994 01:29:13,730 --> 01:29:15,273 And I was like, holy cow. 1995 01:29:15,314 --> 01:29:17,734 It was a sight for sore eyes. 1996 01:29:17,775 --> 01:29:19,444 [laughs] 1997 01:29:19,485 --> 01:29:21,863 - We're going to make this way bigger than it's ever been, 1998 01:29:21,904 --> 01:29:23,990 all right? - I'm down. 1999 01:29:24,031 --> 01:29:26,576 - When you talk about blowing the roof off of a place-- 2000 01:29:26,617 --> 01:29:29,287 they may still be trying to put it back on. 2001 01:29:29,328 --> 01:29:32,415 It was an explosion when Bray returned. 2002 01:29:32,457 --> 01:29:33,833 They knew. 2003 01:29:33,875 --> 01:29:36,961 They wanted it, then they got it. 2004 01:29:37,003 --> 01:29:38,504 * * 2005 01:29:38,546 --> 01:29:40,923 - Not everybody gets to spend their 40th birthday 2006 01:29:40,965 --> 01:29:42,925 dressing up as their best friend 2007 01:29:42,967 --> 01:29:44,552 and helping them come back to their job. 2008 01:29:44,594 --> 01:29:49,307 * * 2009 01:29:49,348 --> 01:29:51,434 - Biggest thing in wrestling in a very, very long time. 2010 01:29:51,476 --> 01:29:52,560 - Yeah. 2011 01:29:52,602 --> 01:29:54,228 I've never heard anything 2012 01:29:54,270 --> 01:29:56,522 that loud in my life. 2013 01:29:56,564 --> 01:29:57,774 It was insane. 2014 01:29:57,815 --> 01:30:00,276 - It was so cool. It's just wild. 2015 01:30:00,318 --> 01:30:05,948 And just seeing this jacket and his re-debut, coming back. 2016 01:30:05,990 --> 01:30:11,287 And he sparked a fire under me like I never felt. 2017 01:30:11,329 --> 01:30:13,748 And it was all him. 2018 01:30:13,790 --> 01:30:15,458 - Part of professional wrestling is 2019 01:30:15,500 --> 01:30:16,709 the theater of the mind. 2020 01:30:16,751 --> 01:30:19,253 It's to take you away from reality. 2021 01:30:19,295 --> 01:30:21,297 And when you have a character that you look forward 2022 01:30:21,339 --> 01:30:23,257 to seeing each week and then they're gone, 2023 01:30:23,299 --> 01:30:25,176 you can't wait to have that back. 2024 01:30:25,218 --> 01:30:28,054 There was something about him that made people feel better. 2025 01:30:28,096 --> 01:30:31,432 And people missed seeing that on TV. 2026 01:30:31,474 --> 01:30:34,602 [crowd chanting] 2027 01:30:40,233 --> 01:30:41,984 - [laughs] 2028 01:30:42,026 --> 01:30:43,778 I don't know if y'all can read this on me, 2029 01:30:43,820 --> 01:30:47,156 but I am incredibly grateful. 2030 01:30:47,198 --> 01:30:50,118 And I'm really, really nervous to be here. 2031 01:30:50,159 --> 01:30:52,036 I never thought that this would happen. 2032 01:30:52,078 --> 01:30:53,996 [cheering] 2033 01:30:54,038 --> 01:30:56,040 [laughs] 2034 01:30:58,710 --> 01:31:01,295 This right here, this is just me, OK? 2035 01:31:01,337 --> 01:31:04,006 This is a version of me that I've never 2036 01:31:04,048 --> 01:31:06,801 got to introduce to you guys before. 2037 01:31:06,843 --> 01:31:09,345 This is just me being me-- 2038 01:31:09,387 --> 01:31:11,973 genuine me--for the first time. 2039 01:31:15,059 --> 01:31:16,936 - I felt like people were just so grateful for him 2040 01:31:16,978 --> 01:31:18,271 and grateful to have him back. 2041 01:31:18,312 --> 01:31:21,023 And then that promo where he was just kind of raw 2042 01:31:21,065 --> 01:31:25,486 and spoke more as Windham was so unique and so different. 2043 01:31:25,528 --> 01:31:29,240 - I can sit here right now today and I can look all of you 2044 01:31:29,282 --> 01:31:32,452 in the eyes and I can say that you were there 2045 01:31:32,493 --> 01:31:36,372 when I was weak, when I was vulnerable, when I was down. 2046 01:31:36,414 --> 01:31:39,333 So I just wanted to say thank you. 2047 01:31:39,375 --> 01:31:42,670 You all saved my life. 2048 01:31:42,712 --> 01:31:44,547 [cheers and applause] 2049 01:31:44,589 --> 01:31:46,049 - That's my favorite Bray Wyatt promo. 2050 01:31:46,090 --> 01:31:48,176 Because not only do they already love him 2051 01:31:48,217 --> 01:31:50,094 for his commitment and for everything he's done 2052 01:31:50,136 --> 01:31:51,929 and for the rides he's taken them on 2053 01:31:51,971 --> 01:31:54,724 with these different characters all these years, 2054 01:31:54,766 --> 01:31:56,434 now they get to see a window into him 2055 01:31:56,476 --> 01:31:58,936 as the actual person. 2056 01:31:58,978 --> 01:32:01,230 When he did that promo, I was like, oh, now we're cooking. 2057 01:32:01,272 --> 01:32:04,233 [crowd chanting] 2058 01:32:12,033 --> 01:32:15,286 - He forgot how much he meant to people. 2059 01:32:15,328 --> 01:32:18,873 When he got reminded of that is what I loved. 2060 01:32:18,915 --> 01:32:20,958 [somber music] 2061 01:32:21,000 --> 01:32:23,836 - If I didn't have such passionate fans, 2062 01:32:23,878 --> 01:32:24,962 I wouldn't be here. 2063 01:32:25,004 --> 01:32:26,547 I really wouldn't. 2064 01:32:26,589 --> 01:32:28,716 - What's the best part about being a wrestler? 2065 01:32:28,758 --> 01:32:30,927 - The best part is-- 2066 01:32:30,968 --> 01:32:32,762 you know, this may sound corny, 2067 01:32:32,804 --> 01:32:35,348 but it's the truth-- is the fans. 2068 01:32:35,390 --> 01:32:38,935 To have fans that are so into what I do, 2069 01:32:38,976 --> 01:32:40,853 it feels like it's part of their life too. 2070 01:32:40,895 --> 01:32:43,689 [laughs] - Oh, my God. 2071 01:32:43,731 --> 01:32:46,109 - Are you trying to scare me? 2072 01:32:46,150 --> 01:32:48,569 It's them that led me back here. 2073 01:32:48,611 --> 01:32:50,571 This is the best I've ever felt. 2074 01:32:50,613 --> 01:32:53,908 * * 2075 01:32:53,950 --> 01:32:56,661 - He felt like he was getting a second chance, 2076 01:32:56,702 --> 01:32:58,871 and he had a lot more perspective 2077 01:32:58,913 --> 01:33:00,957 on what that could be. 2078 01:33:00,998 --> 01:33:05,253 And so he was excited to bring as much of himself 2079 01:33:05,294 --> 01:33:07,422 into that character. 2080 01:33:07,463 --> 01:33:13,344 - Bray wanted to take the audience on a journey. 2081 01:33:13,386 --> 01:33:14,387 Here I am. 2082 01:33:14,429 --> 01:33:16,305 I'm Windham Rotunda. 2083 01:33:16,347 --> 01:33:19,809 I'm just a regular guy just like you. 2084 01:33:19,851 --> 01:33:21,352 But yet, I'm different. 2085 01:33:21,394 --> 01:33:23,062 [dramatic music] 2086 01:33:23,104 --> 01:33:27,734 - My emotions, they don't work like most other people's. 2087 01:33:27,775 --> 01:33:29,360 I don't have control. 2088 01:33:29,402 --> 01:33:34,866 And sometimes, they can send me to a very, very dark place. 2089 01:33:34,907 --> 01:33:37,618 - Bray Wyatt once had a family. 2090 01:33:37,660 --> 01:33:40,621 The Fiend had his Fun House. 2091 01:33:40,663 --> 01:33:46,252 But this time, Windham needed someone else-- 2092 01:33:46,294 --> 01:33:49,088 his brother. 2093 01:33:49,130 --> 01:33:51,340 - We wanted to use Taylor all along. 2094 01:33:51,382 --> 01:33:54,343 And I thought it was a pretty cool concept. 2095 01:33:54,385 --> 01:33:56,512 - The whole thing came from this nightmare 2096 01:33:56,554 --> 01:33:58,347 that he used to have when he was a child 2097 01:33:58,389 --> 01:34:00,433 that would haunt him in his dreams. 2098 01:34:00,475 --> 01:34:02,727 That was the catalyst to create 2099 01:34:02,769 --> 01:34:04,312 the Uncle Howdy look and design. 2100 01:34:04,353 --> 01:34:07,231 * * 2101 01:34:07,273 --> 01:34:10,693 - To be able to freely work with him for the first time 2102 01:34:10,735 --> 01:34:14,822 as colleagues and as brothers, it was like a dream come true. 2103 01:34:14,864 --> 01:34:16,240 Windham had already accomplished 2104 01:34:16,282 --> 01:34:18,576 the most unbelievable things 2105 01:34:18,618 --> 01:34:20,203 you could do in this business. 2106 01:34:20,244 --> 01:34:24,582 And his only goal left was to do it together. 2107 01:34:24,624 --> 01:34:26,209 [somber music] 2108 01:34:26,250 --> 01:34:30,088 We were both becoming monsters. 2109 01:34:30,129 --> 01:34:33,174 I was going to work just to hang out with my brother. 2110 01:34:33,216 --> 01:34:35,218 That was my job. 2111 01:34:35,259 --> 01:34:39,138 You know, and to play with my brother. 2112 01:34:39,180 --> 01:34:40,723 - What is that thing? 2113 01:34:40,765 --> 01:34:43,768 - Oh, that's Uncle Howdy. 2114 01:34:44,769 --> 01:34:47,814 - Being two little kids again, developing the characters, 2115 01:34:47,855 --> 01:34:50,108 and coming up with ideas for them 2116 01:34:50,149 --> 01:34:53,486 to be able to work together and complement each other 2117 01:34:53,528 --> 01:34:55,780 was awesome. 2118 01:34:55,822 --> 01:34:59,534 - Uncle Howdy just launched himself off the top! 2119 01:35:01,119 --> 01:35:03,830 - We're going to be in WrestleMania together. 2120 01:35:03,871 --> 01:35:06,582 We always had that dream. 2121 01:35:06,624 --> 01:35:10,002 And that dream never changed. 2122 01:35:10,044 --> 01:35:13,756 It only got stronger and more real. 2123 01:35:13,798 --> 01:35:17,885 That time period where we were working together... 2124 01:35:17,927 --> 01:35:20,179 - And Sister Abigail! 2125 01:35:20,221 --> 01:35:22,932 - It meant everything to me. 2126 01:35:22,974 --> 01:35:24,976 - You're welcome, Montreal. 2127 01:35:25,017 --> 01:35:27,645 [cheers and applause] 2128 01:35:27,687 --> 01:35:29,522 - It was too good to be true. 2129 01:35:29,564 --> 01:35:31,524 * * 2130 01:35:31,566 --> 01:35:33,025 - All of a sudden, he had this, like, 2131 01:35:33,067 --> 01:35:35,027 second lease on life. 2132 01:35:35,069 --> 01:35:37,321 Man, it came out of everything he did-- 2133 01:35:37,363 --> 01:35:38,906 the joy of it. 2134 01:35:38,948 --> 01:35:43,286 And you know, as we were doing it, sometimes, we would talk, 2135 01:35:43,327 --> 01:35:46,706 and then we'd get done an hour of creative whatever. 2136 01:35:46,748 --> 01:35:48,916 And then he'd call me back two seconds later and be like, 2137 01:35:48,958 --> 01:35:50,960 hey, man, I just want you to know how much this means to me 2138 01:35:51,002 --> 01:35:52,378 and how much fun I'm having. 2139 01:35:52,420 --> 01:35:55,006 And it made me want to work harder for him. 2140 01:35:55,048 --> 01:35:56,924 It made me want to run through a wall for him 2141 01:35:56,966 --> 01:35:59,969 to get this stuff done and to get it where it needed to be. 2142 01:36:00,011 --> 01:36:03,056 [tense music] 2143 01:36:03,097 --> 01:36:07,685 - February 26, 2023. 2144 01:36:07,727 --> 01:36:09,645 - Here I'm getting to stand across from a guy 2145 01:36:09,687 --> 01:36:15,109 who had really built a name and a whole aura for himself. 2146 01:36:15,151 --> 01:36:17,945 That's huge. 2147 01:36:17,987 --> 01:36:20,990 He said that his calf or his knee started to, like, 2148 01:36:21,032 --> 01:36:22,075 seize up or something. 2149 01:36:22,116 --> 01:36:23,076 And I was like, are you good? 2150 01:36:23,117 --> 01:36:24,410 Are you good? 2151 01:36:24,452 --> 01:36:25,995 And it was just like, all right, well, 2152 01:36:26,037 --> 01:36:28,081 we were trying to work as best we could 2153 01:36:28,122 --> 01:36:30,124 to kind of protect him. 2154 01:36:32,377 --> 01:36:34,921 - Nobody knew at the time-- 2155 01:36:34,962 --> 01:36:37,715 not even Windham Rotunda-- 2156 01:36:37,757 --> 01:36:42,595 that he had just completed his final match. 2157 01:36:46,057 --> 01:36:47,016 [tense music] 2158 01:36:47,058 --> 01:36:49,352 - March 2023. 2159 01:36:49,394 --> 01:36:51,396 The Bray Wyatt character was suddenly 2160 01:36:51,437 --> 01:36:55,400 absent from WWE programming. 2161 01:36:55,441 --> 01:36:59,779 - I was at TV and found out Windham wasn't there. 2162 01:36:59,821 --> 01:37:01,948 And I called him like, where are you at? 2163 01:37:01,989 --> 01:37:04,659 And he was at home. He had COVID. 2164 01:37:04,700 --> 01:37:06,744 - He went to the hospital. 2165 01:37:06,786 --> 01:37:08,287 He tested positive for COVID. 2166 01:37:08,329 --> 01:37:09,956 They were like, oh, my God. They admitted him. 2167 01:37:09,997 --> 01:37:11,541 His heart. 2168 01:37:11,582 --> 01:37:16,546 * * 2169 01:37:16,587 --> 01:37:20,007 He had to go do stress and echocardiograms 2170 01:37:20,049 --> 01:37:23,219 through this period of time. 2171 01:37:23,261 --> 01:37:24,679 - It was a weakened heart. 2172 01:37:24,721 --> 01:37:27,724 It was like, the way his heart performed and functioned, 2173 01:37:27,765 --> 01:37:30,768 it was not where it needed to be. 2174 01:37:30,810 --> 01:37:32,687 It kept making him feel off. 2175 01:37:32,729 --> 01:37:35,690 He kept saying, I feel off. 2176 01:37:35,732 --> 01:37:38,526 - I didn't think it was that serious. 2177 01:37:38,568 --> 01:37:40,903 I mean, to me, he's my big brother. 2178 01:37:40,945 --> 01:37:42,739 Nothing can hurt him. 2179 01:37:42,780 --> 01:37:44,365 * * 2180 01:37:44,407 --> 01:37:46,492 - He didn't share too many details. 2181 01:37:46,534 --> 01:37:48,619 He just always wanted to assure everybody that he was fine-- 2182 01:37:48,661 --> 01:37:50,079 I'm fine. 2183 01:37:50,121 --> 01:37:53,583 But I could see that he didn't feel amazing. 2184 01:37:53,624 --> 01:37:55,251 - He worked with a cardiologist. 2185 01:37:55,293 --> 01:37:56,711 And he was on medication. 2186 01:37:56,753 --> 01:38:01,340 He was already cleared to work out, but not a lot. 2187 01:38:01,382 --> 01:38:05,470 They'd say just light cardio was fine, so he would do that. 2188 01:38:05,511 --> 01:38:07,221 He was doing a little bit better and then 2189 01:38:07,263 --> 01:38:08,639 it kept getting better and better and better. 2190 01:38:08,681 --> 01:38:11,392 And then a couple times, it kind of backtracked. 2191 01:38:13,686 --> 01:38:16,606 - My sister, she was staying at his guest house. 2192 01:38:16,647 --> 01:38:18,232 And when she walked in the garage, 2193 01:38:18,274 --> 01:38:20,026 there was a rattlesnake. 2194 01:38:20,068 --> 01:38:22,153 So we freaked out and drove there. 2195 01:38:22,195 --> 01:38:26,574 And we had to lift up some stuff and get to it. 2196 01:38:26,616 --> 01:38:30,453 And afterwards-- he always sweated, 2197 01:38:30,495 --> 01:38:33,289 but it was more than that, and in his eyes. 2198 01:38:33,331 --> 01:38:35,333 And he said, I don't feel good. 2199 01:38:35,374 --> 01:38:37,001 I just got to take a nap. 2200 01:38:37,043 --> 01:38:40,129 And it was, like, 3:00 in the afternoon. 2201 01:38:40,171 --> 01:38:44,717 And it crossed my mind. 2202 01:38:44,759 --> 01:38:47,053 And I worried for him because he's my brother. 2203 01:38:47,095 --> 01:38:48,805 In that moment, I go, are you OK? 2204 01:38:48,846 --> 01:38:50,139 And I asked him then. 2205 01:38:50,181 --> 01:38:51,891 Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. 2206 01:38:51,933 --> 01:38:53,601 But I never really worried. 2207 01:38:53,643 --> 01:38:57,647 I never thought, oh, Windham is really sick. 2208 01:38:57,688 --> 01:38:59,107 Never for a second. 2209 01:38:59,148 --> 01:39:02,652 I was just waiting for the call to come back as monsters 2210 01:39:02,693 --> 01:39:04,070 like we both wanted. 2211 01:39:04,112 --> 01:39:07,115 * * 2212 01:39:07,156 --> 01:39:08,825 - He was still under the doctor's care. 2213 01:39:08,866 --> 01:39:12,495 And we were right there to where, oh, he's fine. 2214 01:39:12,537 --> 01:39:15,164 He should be able to go back soon. 2215 01:39:15,206 --> 01:39:17,417 But he didn't feel good. 2216 01:39:17,458 --> 01:39:21,838 And they set him up with a vest that 2217 01:39:21,879 --> 01:39:26,676 was actually to where it would shock him if he stopped. 2218 01:39:26,718 --> 01:39:30,179 And they released him from the hospital with that, 2219 01:39:30,221 --> 01:39:31,389 and he swore he would wear it. 2220 01:39:31,431 --> 01:39:32,682 Mike and I picked him up at the hospital 2221 01:39:32,724 --> 01:39:34,142 and brought him home. 2222 01:39:34,183 --> 01:39:37,437 We watched it get fitted and everything, and he wore it. 2223 01:39:37,478 --> 01:39:43,234 And then he went for the follow-up with his doctor. 2224 01:39:46,070 --> 01:39:49,407 - Thursday, August 24. 2225 01:39:49,449 --> 01:39:52,577 Windham had a morning checkup with his doctor. 2226 01:39:52,618 --> 01:39:55,955 - He called me and he said, probably, at some point, 2227 01:39:55,997 --> 01:39:58,332 I'm going to have to do a pacemaker or something. 2228 01:39:58,374 --> 01:40:01,544 So he didn't tell me there was good news or bad news, 2229 01:40:01,586 --> 01:40:03,921 but he was-- 2230 01:40:03,963 --> 01:40:05,965 Ma, I'm going to be fine. 2231 01:40:06,007 --> 01:40:07,675 - It was that morning. 2232 01:40:07,717 --> 01:40:09,761 I had called him and he answered the phone. 2233 01:40:09,802 --> 01:40:11,637 And he was like, hey, what's up Sam? 2234 01:40:11,679 --> 01:40:14,015 I said, well, do you want to get the kids from school today? 2235 01:40:14,057 --> 01:40:15,391 And he was like, I would love that. 2236 01:40:15,433 --> 01:40:17,018 Yeah, I'm going to pick the kids up from school. 2237 01:40:17,060 --> 01:40:18,394 I said, OK, cool. 2238 01:40:18,436 --> 01:40:20,605 I think this was, like, 10:00 in the morning. 2239 01:40:20,646 --> 01:40:23,316 - He walks in the house, he's excited. 2240 01:40:23,357 --> 01:40:25,234 Just, hey, guys, what's up? 2241 01:40:25,276 --> 01:40:27,111 All the kids jumping on him and everything. 2242 01:40:27,153 --> 01:40:29,572 So he was just really, really happy. 2243 01:40:29,614 --> 01:40:32,075 And he's like, I'm going to go take a nap. 2244 01:40:32,116 --> 01:40:33,534 And I was like, all right, cool. 2245 01:40:33,576 --> 01:40:35,244 He goes to sleep around 2:00 PM. 2246 01:40:35,286 --> 01:40:38,414 [tense music] 2247 01:40:38,456 --> 01:40:40,041 So I'm doing my thing in the kitchen. 2248 01:40:40,083 --> 01:40:41,584 My mom's there. 2249 01:40:41,626 --> 01:40:44,921 And then his alarm starts going off at 3:00. 2250 01:40:44,962 --> 01:40:47,382 And so then I walked over and I was like, babe, 2251 01:40:47,423 --> 01:40:48,883 your alarm's going off. 2252 01:40:48,925 --> 01:40:52,720 And then I touched his leg, and he wouldn't move. 2253 01:40:52,762 --> 01:40:55,932 And so then like I started shaking him and hitting him, 2254 01:40:55,973 --> 01:40:57,225 and he wouldn't move. 2255 01:40:57,266 --> 01:40:59,977 And so I screamed for my mom. 2256 01:41:00,019 --> 01:41:01,354 * * 2257 01:41:01,396 --> 01:41:03,773 I call 911 immediately. 2258 01:41:03,815 --> 01:41:07,360 In the meantime, my mom is calling his mom. 2259 01:41:07,402 --> 01:41:09,612 * * 2260 01:41:09,654 --> 01:41:11,447 - She's screaming, Windham's having a heart attack. 2261 01:41:11,489 --> 01:41:12,865 Windham's having a heart attack. 2262 01:41:12,907 --> 01:41:14,784 And I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. 2263 01:41:14,826 --> 01:41:15,785 Put him on the phone. 2264 01:41:15,827 --> 01:41:17,245 Put him on the phone. 2265 01:41:17,286 --> 01:41:20,623 And I immediately called Taylor. 2266 01:41:20,665 --> 01:41:22,291 - She said she didn't know the details. 2267 01:41:22,333 --> 01:41:24,460 He just stopped breathing. 2268 01:41:24,502 --> 01:41:28,047 - I'm following them with him in the gurney. 2269 01:41:28,089 --> 01:41:30,466 And I kept yelling at him. 2270 01:41:30,508 --> 01:41:32,135 I'm like, please just come back to me. 2271 01:41:32,176 --> 01:41:35,888 I'm like, please just come back to me. 2272 01:41:35,930 --> 01:41:39,183 [somber music] 2273 01:41:39,225 --> 01:41:41,269 - My car was in the shop, 2274 01:41:41,310 --> 01:41:43,062 so I had to call Taylor and say, Taylor, 2275 01:41:43,104 --> 01:41:45,606 I need you to come get me and the baby now. 2276 01:41:45,648 --> 01:41:48,109 And I remember getting my baby dressed. 2277 01:41:48,151 --> 01:41:51,446 And I just kept saying to her, everything's going to be OK. 2278 01:41:51,487 --> 01:41:53,948 Everything's going to be OK. 2279 01:41:53,990 --> 01:41:59,287 And in the back of my mind, I just knew it's not OK. 2280 01:41:59,328 --> 01:42:01,247 * * 2281 01:42:01,289 --> 01:42:02,498 - As soon as we walked in, 2282 01:42:02,540 --> 01:42:05,543 they pulled us in a room alone. 2283 01:42:07,128 --> 01:42:08,629 The doctor walked in. 2284 01:42:08,671 --> 01:42:14,886 And it's like something you see 2285 01:42:14,927 --> 01:42:18,681 a million times in movies, 2286 01:42:18,723 --> 01:42:20,892 but you really don't know what it feels like 2287 01:42:20,933 --> 01:42:23,478 until it happens. 2288 01:42:28,024 --> 01:42:32,653 He said, we got bad news. 2289 01:42:35,782 --> 01:42:38,326 He's gone. 2290 01:42:38,367 --> 01:42:42,622 And it's like time slowed down. 2291 01:42:42,663 --> 01:42:47,210 I could see the reaction of everybody in the room. 2292 01:42:47,251 --> 01:42:49,629 My mom and dad crumbling. 2293 01:42:49,670 --> 01:42:53,966 And my sister, she's got her baby wrapped to her chest 2294 01:42:54,008 --> 01:42:55,551 and she's falling. 2295 01:42:55,593 --> 01:42:59,347 And I've never been more sad. 2296 01:42:59,389 --> 01:43:02,100 But something in me-- 2297 01:43:02,141 --> 01:43:06,854 and I still to this day think it was Windham-- 2298 01:43:06,896 --> 01:43:09,899 something in me gave me the strength to go, stop. 2299 01:43:09,941 --> 01:43:14,737 You need to hold them up. 2300 01:43:14,779 --> 01:43:20,410 He gave me strength in a moment where 2301 01:43:20,451 --> 01:43:22,912 I would think I would crumble. 2302 01:43:22,954 --> 01:43:27,959 And I really believe it was him. 2303 01:43:28,000 --> 01:43:33,339 And he was telling me, be there for Mom. 2304 01:43:33,381 --> 01:43:35,383 Hold her up. 2305 01:43:38,219 --> 01:43:41,013 - Taylor had to pick me up off the floor 2306 01:43:41,055 --> 01:43:47,186 and I just remember his hands felt so big. 2307 01:43:47,228 --> 01:43:51,149 He just held me, picked me up. 2308 01:43:51,190 --> 01:43:52,900 There was nothing we could do. 2309 01:43:52,942 --> 01:43:57,447 It was absolute disbelief that this isn't happening. 2310 01:43:57,488 --> 01:43:59,449 This is not real. 2311 01:43:59,490 --> 01:44:01,325 And I kept looking at Mike going, 2312 01:44:01,367 --> 01:44:03,286 Mike, you got to do something. 2313 01:44:03,327 --> 01:44:05,121 Fix this. Fix this now. 2314 01:44:05,163 --> 01:44:07,498 * * 2315 01:44:07,540 --> 01:44:10,084 - It was just heartbreaking. 2316 01:44:10,126 --> 01:44:14,338 Somebody sticking their fist in your chest 2317 01:44:14,380 --> 01:44:17,467 and pulling your heart out. 2318 01:44:17,508 --> 01:44:19,594 - My sister called me. 2319 01:44:19,635 --> 01:44:22,597 And all she said was... 2320 01:44:26,851 --> 01:44:28,853 Windham is gone. 2321 01:44:31,397 --> 01:44:33,483 - My phone rang when I was sitting on the plane. 2322 01:44:33,524 --> 01:44:35,485 And I answered it, 2323 01:44:35,526 --> 01:44:39,697 and JoJo said, he's gone. 2324 01:44:39,739 --> 01:44:42,408 And I said, what do you mean he's gone? 2325 01:44:42,450 --> 01:44:44,118 He's dead. 2326 01:44:44,160 --> 01:44:48,831 And I literally was walking off the airplane, 2327 01:44:48,873 --> 01:44:51,542 I dropped to my knees on the jet bridge. 2328 01:44:51,584 --> 01:44:53,795 And I just-- 2329 01:44:57,048 --> 01:45:01,719 I felt like, all of a sudden, something was missing from me. 2330 01:45:01,761 --> 01:45:03,638 - I got a phone call, and it was Jo. 2331 01:45:03,679 --> 01:45:07,058 She goes, Windham's gone. 2332 01:45:11,521 --> 01:45:14,357 And I screamed. 2333 01:45:14,399 --> 01:45:15,733 - All I could think about is, 2334 01:45:15,775 --> 01:45:18,319 how am I going to tell my children-- 2335 01:45:18,361 --> 01:45:20,863 they're three and four-- that they just lost their dad? 2336 01:45:20,905 --> 01:45:23,157 * * 2337 01:45:23,199 --> 01:45:26,035 - People say like, it was a nightmare. 2338 01:45:26,077 --> 01:45:28,579 But you don't know what that feels like until 2339 01:45:28,621 --> 01:45:31,124 you live a nightmare. 2340 01:45:31,165 --> 01:45:35,086 - It was and will forever be 2341 01:45:35,128 --> 01:45:38,214 the worst day of my life. 2342 01:45:38,256 --> 01:45:40,216 * * 2343 01:45:40,258 --> 01:45:43,177 - He didn't have the vest on. 2344 01:45:43,219 --> 01:45:46,889 Don't know what happened. 2345 01:45:46,931 --> 01:45:48,683 * * 2346 01:45:48,725 --> 01:45:53,271 - Windham Rotunda passed away. 2347 01:45:53,312 --> 01:45:56,274 He was 36 years old. 2348 01:45:56,315 --> 01:46:01,738 * * 2349 01:46:01,779 --> 01:46:04,866 Just 24 hours after Windham's passing, 2350 01:46:04,907 --> 01:46:07,368 WWE's Friday Night SmackDown program 2351 01:46:07,410 --> 01:46:11,539 was set to air live from Louisville, Kentucky. 2352 01:46:15,168 --> 01:46:17,879 Life is short. 2353 01:46:17,920 --> 01:46:22,341 This doesn't tell you anything else. 2354 01:46:22,383 --> 01:46:24,469 It's short. 2355 01:46:25,762 --> 01:46:28,473 It still feels-- it's still surreal. 2356 01:46:28,514 --> 01:46:30,016 I still feel like I just 2357 01:46:30,058 --> 01:46:33,019 haven't seen him for a little while, you know, 2358 01:46:33,061 --> 01:46:39,400 because he was so larger-than-life as a person 2359 01:46:39,442 --> 01:46:46,074 and so big personality-wise and everything was so good. 2360 01:46:46,115 --> 01:46:51,996 And for somebody that young, it's just a crazy-- 2361 01:46:54,832 --> 01:46:57,543 I don't know how to put it into words. 2362 01:46:57,585 --> 01:46:59,295 36 years old. 2363 01:46:59,337 --> 01:47:00,421 Cherish it. 2364 01:47:00,463 --> 01:47:02,382 Cherish each other. 2365 01:47:02,423 --> 01:47:05,301 - Sitting here doing this whole thing about Windham, 2366 01:47:05,343 --> 01:47:08,721 and even now, there's still a huge part of me 2367 01:47:08,763 --> 01:47:10,306 that's in total denial. 2368 01:47:10,348 --> 01:47:12,266 You know what I mean? 2369 01:47:17,605 --> 01:47:20,274 Yeah. 2370 01:47:20,316 --> 01:47:23,903 - I just didn't believe it. 2371 01:47:23,945 --> 01:47:25,655 I just thought it was bullshit. 2372 01:47:25,696 --> 01:47:28,449 I just thought it wasn't real. 2373 01:47:28,491 --> 01:47:31,244 Sometimes, even now, I still don't think it's real. 2374 01:47:34,205 --> 01:47:35,540 Yeah. I don't know. 2375 01:47:35,581 --> 01:47:38,042 It sucked. It still sucks. 2376 01:47:41,254 --> 01:47:43,631 - Everything we wanted to do 2377 01:47:43,673 --> 01:47:48,052 was a tribute to Bray. 2378 01:47:49,387 --> 01:47:51,889 Just to say thank you. 2379 01:47:54,517 --> 01:47:57,645 [bell dinging] 2380 01:48:07,989 --> 01:48:10,867 - Just a barrage of different feelings in my head. 2381 01:48:13,244 --> 01:48:15,788 I miss him. 2382 01:48:15,830 --> 01:48:21,210 - He was just a light in everyone's lives. 2383 01:48:21,252 --> 01:48:24,797 - He was one of the greatest people I've ever met. 2384 01:48:24,839 --> 01:48:26,466 And I wouldn't be where I am in my life 2385 01:48:26,507 --> 01:48:28,384 without meeting him. 2386 01:48:28,426 --> 01:48:31,512 I miss you. I miss you. 2387 01:48:31,554 --> 01:48:35,558 * * 2388 01:48:35,600 --> 01:48:38,102 - He touched a lot of people. 2389 01:48:38,144 --> 01:48:39,812 * * 2390 01:48:39,854 --> 01:48:43,066 He was loved by millions. 2391 01:48:43,107 --> 01:48:46,194 * * 2392 01:48:46,235 --> 01:48:49,572 - Windham's sudden passing left the entire WWE Universe 2393 01:48:49,614 --> 01:48:52,116 in shock. 2394 01:48:52,158 --> 01:48:55,161 Honoring his legacy would be a tall task. 2395 01:48:59,624 --> 01:49:01,459 all: Thank you, Bray! Thank you, Bray! 2396 01:49:01,501 --> 01:49:04,420 Thank you, Bray! Thank you, Bray! 2397 01:49:04,462 --> 01:49:08,883 - Following Windham's passing, in arenas across the country, 2398 01:49:08,925 --> 01:49:14,055 superstars and fans paid tribute to Bray Wyatt. 2399 01:49:14,097 --> 01:49:17,392 - I know that all of you can feel the spirit 2400 01:49:17,433 --> 01:49:19,310 of Bray Wyatt in this building. 2401 01:49:19,352 --> 01:49:21,938 [cheers and applause] 2402 01:49:21,979 --> 01:49:24,941 - That was the one time where I kind of struggled. 2403 01:49:24,982 --> 01:49:26,609 It started to break me. 2404 01:49:26,651 --> 01:49:29,028 I had to look at the ceiling to keep everything together, 2405 01:49:29,070 --> 01:49:31,364 and just big deep breath. 2406 01:49:31,406 --> 01:49:33,574 - This one is for Windham. 2407 01:49:33,616 --> 01:49:35,910 Hug the ones that you love. 2408 01:49:35,952 --> 01:49:37,620 He was a special human being. 2409 01:49:37,662 --> 01:49:39,288 He was a good human being. 2410 01:49:39,330 --> 01:49:42,083 There's just not very many people like Windham Rotunda. 2411 01:49:42,125 --> 01:49:45,002 There's nobody like Windham Rotunda. 2412 01:49:45,044 --> 01:49:48,381 - I'll always think of him for the rest of my career 2413 01:49:48,423 --> 01:49:51,634 every single time I see these fireflies. 2414 01:49:51,676 --> 01:49:55,888 [cheers and applause] 2415 01:49:55,930 --> 01:49:57,640 It was the only therapy that I was able 2416 01:49:57,682 --> 01:50:00,685 to get was in that ring. 2417 01:50:00,727 --> 01:50:05,022 He was truly a beautiful soul inside of the ring and out. 2418 01:50:05,064 --> 01:50:09,235 - It was touching to see so many people care 2419 01:50:09,277 --> 01:50:12,864 and know that he touched so many people. 2420 01:50:12,905 --> 01:50:18,035 - He really touched lives from all over the world. 2421 01:50:18,077 --> 01:50:20,037 - It was just overwhelming-- 2422 01:50:20,079 --> 01:50:24,709 really overwhelming to see how much he was loved. 2423 01:50:24,751 --> 01:50:27,336 I was like, wow. 2424 01:50:27,378 --> 01:50:28,755 Wow. 2425 01:50:28,796 --> 01:50:30,048 He was loved. 2426 01:50:34,010 --> 01:50:37,847 [soft music] 2427 01:50:37,889 --> 01:50:40,433 - September 6th. 2428 01:50:40,475 --> 01:50:42,810 Two weeks after Windham's passing, 2429 01:50:42,852 --> 01:50:44,979 a service was held in his hometown 2430 01:50:45,021 --> 01:50:47,857 of Brooksville, Florida. 2431 01:50:47,899 --> 01:50:51,027 - To go and plan your son's funeral 2432 01:50:51,069 --> 01:50:53,863 is the worst thing in the world. 2433 01:50:53,905 --> 01:50:56,532 It was the hardest thing in the world. 2434 01:50:56,574 --> 01:50:58,576 * * 2435 01:50:58,618 --> 01:51:02,580 - We wanted it to be very Windham down to his urn. 2436 01:51:02,622 --> 01:51:03,831 Very much like him. 2437 01:51:03,873 --> 01:51:06,375 And it's a flame. 2438 01:51:06,417 --> 01:51:09,712 - The smoke going off and the red lights, 2439 01:51:09,754 --> 01:51:11,422 it was a Windham funeral. 2440 01:51:11,464 --> 01:51:13,841 And it made me smile. 2441 01:51:13,883 --> 01:51:16,969 - Seeing everyone together-- how important he was 2442 01:51:17,011 --> 01:51:18,930 to so many people-- 2443 01:51:18,971 --> 01:51:22,892 that speaks volumes for the man that he was. 2444 01:51:22,934 --> 01:51:24,560 - I did get to go to the funeral. 2445 01:51:24,602 --> 01:51:27,438 And there was some closure there. 2446 01:51:27,480 --> 01:51:31,067 But at the same time, how can there be closure 2447 01:51:31,109 --> 01:51:35,780 on a guy who was just stepping into his prime, really? 2448 01:51:37,907 --> 01:51:42,703 - I was hurting more that day than I ever thought possible. 2449 01:51:42,745 --> 01:51:45,164 I really don't know how I'm going to get through this. 2450 01:51:45,206 --> 01:51:51,379 But I know Windham would have done this for me, 2451 01:51:51,421 --> 01:51:55,466 and he would have ended up killing it. 2452 01:51:55,508 --> 01:51:57,427 He really would have. 2453 01:51:57,468 --> 01:52:03,433 He wasn't just my big brother or my best friend. 2454 01:52:03,474 --> 01:52:06,894 He was my idol. 2455 01:52:06,936 --> 01:52:08,688 - Windham was Taylor's superhero. 2456 01:52:08,730 --> 01:52:11,983 The eulogy that Taylor gave at Windham's service 2457 01:52:12,024 --> 01:52:15,611 was unbelievable. 2458 01:52:15,653 --> 01:52:20,032 - He is and always will be the most beautiful, 2459 01:52:20,074 --> 01:52:24,579 amazing person I've ever known. 2460 01:52:24,620 --> 01:52:27,707 I love you so much, Windham. 2461 01:52:27,749 --> 01:52:29,292 - I could feel Windham's comfort 2462 01:52:29,333 --> 01:52:31,836 as I stood up there to speak. 2463 01:52:31,878 --> 01:52:34,005 A couple months ago, I had this unique opportunity. 2464 01:52:34,047 --> 01:52:37,592 My dad actually asked me to do it. 2465 01:52:37,633 --> 01:52:39,469 He's working on a book. 2466 01:52:39,510 --> 01:52:43,598 And he said, you know, set something up with the boys 2467 01:52:43,639 --> 01:52:46,267 and interview them and get some transcripts. 2468 01:52:46,309 --> 01:52:48,478 Just talking about our family and the values 2469 01:52:48,519 --> 01:52:49,896 and how we grew up. 2470 01:52:49,937 --> 01:52:51,564 * * 2471 01:52:51,606 --> 01:52:53,649 I had no idea that Windham was going to tell us 2472 01:52:53,691 --> 01:52:57,111 how he wanted to be remembered. 2473 01:52:57,153 --> 01:52:59,489 - I want to leave a mark that makes me 2474 01:52:59,530 --> 01:53:02,617 a first-ballot Hall of Famer and makes all my kids proud. 2475 01:53:02,658 --> 01:53:04,952 But honestly, at the end of the day, 2476 01:53:04,994 --> 01:53:06,954 when I go into the dirt, 2477 01:53:06,996 --> 01:53:09,499 I think that I will be remembered 2478 01:53:09,540 --> 01:53:11,709 for far more things than just wrestling. 2479 01:53:11,751 --> 01:53:15,380 Making sure that my kids and JoJo, everybody, 2480 01:53:15,421 --> 01:53:17,090 that they know they can count on me 2481 01:53:17,131 --> 01:53:19,926 and that I will be there for them no matter what. 2482 01:53:19,967 --> 01:53:23,179 * * 2483 01:53:23,221 --> 01:53:29,519 - Windham was gone, but his ideas live on. 2484 01:53:29,560 --> 01:53:33,231 He still has one final creation 2485 01:53:33,272 --> 01:53:35,691 to share with the world. 2486 01:53:35,733 --> 01:53:37,735 * * 2487 01:53:37,777 --> 01:53:39,695 - He was here a bunch. 2488 01:53:39,737 --> 01:53:41,989 He came, like, three or four times over the summer 2489 01:53:42,031 --> 01:53:43,199 spitballing ideas-- 2490 01:53:43,241 --> 01:53:45,410 I want to do this. I want to do that. 2491 01:53:45,451 --> 01:53:48,871 And from there, we started working on the new Fiend. 2492 01:53:48,913 --> 01:53:50,873 We made the new lantern. 2493 01:53:50,915 --> 01:53:52,291 We threw a little animatronics in there 2494 01:53:52,333 --> 01:53:54,919 so the eyes move back and forth. 2495 01:53:56,337 --> 01:53:59,257 We made the new mask, started talking about gear. 2496 01:53:59,298 --> 01:54:00,550 Windham always wanted something new, 2497 01:54:00,591 --> 01:54:02,260 something fresh, something different. 2498 01:54:02,301 --> 01:54:05,722 What would the next evolution of The Fiend be? 2499 01:54:05,763 --> 01:54:08,725 [soft music] 2500 01:54:08,766 --> 01:54:11,519 * * 2501 01:54:11,561 --> 01:54:15,106 * * 2502 01:54:15,148 --> 01:54:17,608 We 3D sculpted a body form of Windham. 2503 01:54:17,650 --> 01:54:19,819 The mask had already been approved by Windham. 2504 01:54:19,861 --> 01:54:22,280 This jacket was actually something he had purchased, 2505 01:54:22,321 --> 01:54:24,907 and his mother and father had sent it to us. 2506 01:54:24,949 --> 01:54:27,201 So we were able to use that. 2507 01:54:27,243 --> 01:54:29,537 Windham always loved little Easter eggs. 2508 01:54:29,579 --> 01:54:31,998 When we did the original lantern, if you look, 2509 01:54:32,039 --> 01:54:33,374 the eyes just look like stitches, 2510 01:54:33,416 --> 01:54:35,209 but they're actually Roman numerals 2511 01:54:35,251 --> 01:54:37,545 of Knash, his son's, birthday. 2512 01:54:37,587 --> 01:54:40,590 So we just kept that tradition going. 2513 01:54:40,631 --> 01:54:42,675 The pinstripe, Windham got the idea 2514 01:54:42,717 --> 01:54:45,803 to do each one of his children's names. 2515 01:54:45,845 --> 01:54:48,222 He loved making you look at something twice to find 2516 01:54:48,264 --> 01:54:50,600 something else more about it. 2517 01:54:50,641 --> 01:54:53,644 The stitches we did in a way to where they're actually 2518 01:54:53,686 --> 01:54:55,772 the Roman numerals of what would have been 2519 01:54:55,813 --> 01:54:58,649 his wedding anniversary, which is December 6th. 2520 01:54:58,691 --> 01:55:00,276 12 on this side. 2521 01:55:00,318 --> 01:55:04,280 And then here, we have the six. 2522 01:55:04,322 --> 01:55:05,907 One of the ideas that Windham had was, 2523 01:55:05,948 --> 01:55:08,284 instead of doing the spider walk where he leans backwards, 2524 01:55:08,326 --> 01:55:10,078 if we did something where he could lean forward. 2525 01:55:10,119 --> 01:55:11,954 His hair would kind of fly up over. 2526 01:55:11,996 --> 01:55:13,456 So when he was crawling around, 2527 01:55:13,498 --> 01:55:14,916 he would expose the second mask, 2528 01:55:14,957 --> 01:55:16,042 which would be hidden by his hair. 2529 01:55:16,084 --> 01:55:17,752 Gross, disgusting face on the front. 2530 01:55:17,794 --> 01:55:19,712 But then on the back, we'd have this beautiful face. 2531 01:55:19,754 --> 01:55:22,256 And to Windham, the most beautiful face was JoJo's. 2532 01:55:22,298 --> 01:55:24,050 So we 3D scanned JoJo's face. 2533 01:55:24,092 --> 01:55:27,637 And we were able to make a copy of that and then sculpt it. 2534 01:55:27,678 --> 01:55:30,139 And we decided to put these mockingbirds on there. 2535 01:55:30,181 --> 01:55:33,226 That's another homage to JoJo. 2536 01:55:33,267 --> 01:55:35,144 Windham's nickname for JoJo was Mockingbird. 2537 01:55:35,186 --> 01:55:41,651 * * 2538 01:55:41,692 --> 01:55:44,445 It's devastatingly heartbreaking that 2539 01:55:44,487 --> 01:55:45,863 this is the last thing I ever get to work on 2540 01:55:45,905 --> 01:55:47,323 with my best friend. 2541 01:55:47,365 --> 01:55:50,410 But I couldn't be more proud of my crew and everyone 2542 01:55:50,451 --> 01:55:54,705 that came together that helped us bring this to life. 2543 01:55:56,666 --> 01:55:59,252 I think it really just hurts the most 2544 01:55:59,293 --> 01:56:01,713 that I never got to tell him how much he meant to me. 2545 01:56:03,840 --> 01:56:05,466 It never felt work with him. 2546 01:56:05,508 --> 01:56:07,135 I just felt like I got to hang out with my best friend, 2547 01:56:07,176 --> 01:56:09,846 and I miss that. 2548 01:56:09,887 --> 01:56:14,350 If I can give this to his fans which meant the world to him, 2549 01:56:14,392 --> 01:56:16,811 then not all of him is completely gone. 2550 01:56:16,853 --> 01:56:19,689 So if I get to help my friend live on 2551 01:56:19,731 --> 01:56:23,693 in some way or capacity, I'll be OK with that. 2552 01:56:23,735 --> 01:56:25,528 I can do that. 2553 01:56:27,321 --> 01:56:31,659 - He's not gone, because the art he left 2554 01:56:31,701 --> 01:56:36,372 and his ideas will live on forever. 2555 01:56:39,250 --> 01:56:41,419 - The real him was much, much more 2556 01:56:41,461 --> 01:56:42,837 and much more entertaining 2557 01:56:42,879 --> 01:56:44,589 than any of his characters could be. 2558 01:56:44,630 --> 01:56:49,719 He was very entertaining always. 2559 01:56:49,761 --> 01:56:54,390 And he did that for them, but you know, we got him. 2560 01:56:54,432 --> 01:56:56,934 And he's missed a lot. 2561 01:56:56,976 --> 01:56:59,937 [somber music] 2562 01:56:59,979 --> 01:57:03,900 * * 2563 01:57:03,941 --> 01:57:06,944 - January 2024. 2564 01:57:06,986 --> 01:57:11,449 It's been five months since Windham passed. 2565 01:57:11,491 --> 01:57:15,995 While he is gone, 2566 01:57:16,037 --> 01:57:20,708 you can still see him here. 2567 01:57:20,750 --> 01:57:24,003 - We can put a little bit of pink on the rainbow. 2568 01:57:24,045 --> 01:57:25,046 - Good idea. 2569 01:57:25,088 --> 01:57:26,839 * * 2570 01:57:26,881 --> 01:57:28,925 - His smile. 2571 01:57:28,966 --> 01:57:31,094 * * 2572 01:57:31,135 --> 01:57:32,804 His life. 2573 01:57:32,845 --> 01:57:34,639 * * 2574 01:57:34,680 --> 01:57:37,558 His hope. 2575 01:57:37,600 --> 01:57:40,603 - My name is Cadyn Cole Rotunda. 2576 01:57:40,645 --> 01:57:43,272 - My name is Kendyl Marie Rotunda. 2577 01:57:43,314 --> 01:57:45,233 * * 2578 01:57:45,274 --> 01:57:48,528 - I like to play sports. 2579 01:57:48,569 --> 01:57:50,613 I just like shoes. It's fun. 2580 01:57:50,655 --> 01:57:52,907 I just liked it 'cause like, me and my dad did it together. 2581 01:57:52,949 --> 01:57:54,617 So yeah. 2582 01:57:54,659 --> 01:57:56,035 * * 2583 01:57:56,077 --> 01:57:59,956 - I want to travel everywhere and become an artist. 2584 01:57:59,997 --> 01:58:02,291 * * 2585 01:58:02,333 --> 01:58:04,961 - He's definitely in all four kids. 2586 01:58:05,002 --> 01:58:06,879 * * 2587 01:58:06,921 --> 01:58:09,257 They all four take after him in some way. 2588 01:58:09,298 --> 01:58:11,050 * * 2589 01:58:11,092 --> 01:58:14,846 - Hyrie, I'd probably say chaos. 2590 01:58:14,887 --> 01:58:20,601 Cadyn, probably smart. 2591 01:58:20,643 --> 01:58:23,312 Knash, he's just a dinosaur. 2592 01:58:23,354 --> 01:58:24,772 Just a dinosaur. 2593 01:58:24,814 --> 01:58:31,529 * * 2594 01:58:31,571 --> 01:58:35,616 - Knock on wood--if you believe in afterlife, 2595 01:58:35,658 --> 01:58:38,244 you know, we will get to see him again. 2596 01:58:41,414 --> 01:58:44,292 - My fire and love for the business 2597 01:58:44,333 --> 01:58:46,586 has to burn brighter than it ever has 2598 01:58:46,627 --> 01:58:50,590 because he's given me the strength and passion 2599 01:58:50,631 --> 01:58:53,843 to want to carry his legacy on. 2600 01:58:53,885 --> 01:58:56,095 * * 2601 01:58:56,137 --> 01:58:58,389 If you asked him what he was, 2602 01:58:58,431 --> 01:59:01,017 he would say he's an artist. 2603 01:59:01,059 --> 01:59:03,436 * * 2604 01:59:03,478 --> 01:59:09,442 - * He's got the whole world * 2605 01:59:09,484 --> 01:59:14,530 * In his hands * 2606 01:59:14,572 --> 01:59:20,703 - The dad he was, the son, the brother... 2607 01:59:20,745 --> 01:59:21,704 * * 2608 01:59:21,746 --> 01:59:24,373 Everything of who he was, 2609 01:59:24,415 --> 01:59:26,375 he was the best at it. 2610 01:59:26,417 --> 01:59:28,503 - I'm something completely different 2611 01:59:28,544 --> 01:59:30,713 than has ever been in the WWE. 2612 01:59:30,755 --> 01:59:33,341 We're here. 2613 01:59:33,383 --> 01:59:37,470 - Windham once said, wrestling is not a love story. 2614 01:59:37,512 --> 01:59:40,473 It's much more. 2615 01:59:40,515 --> 01:59:46,521 It's hope, a spectacle no one can deny, 2616 01:59:46,562 --> 01:59:48,773 an excuse to be a kid again. 2617 01:59:48,815 --> 01:59:53,111 And nothing matters except the moment we are in. 2618 01:59:53,152 --> 01:59:58,366 - Walk by my side, and I will lead you to paradise! 2619 01:59:58,408 --> 02:00:00,451 [dramatic music] 2620 02:00:00,493 --> 02:00:04,497 - And that is how Windham Rotunda lived. 2621 02:00:04,539 --> 02:00:08,501 - I am the color red in a world full of black and white. 2622 02:00:08,543 --> 02:00:10,586 - One of the most unique minds. 2623 02:00:10,628 --> 02:00:13,715 Changed the landscape. 2624 02:00:13,756 --> 02:00:15,925 - He inspired not only the fans, 2625 02:00:15,967 --> 02:00:17,760 but a lot of the boys in the locker room 2626 02:00:17,802 --> 02:00:20,430 to push themselves to be more creative. 2627 02:00:20,471 --> 02:00:22,140 - There's a love for this industry. 2628 02:00:22,181 --> 02:00:25,935 And what he gave to it was something special. 2629 02:00:25,977 --> 02:00:29,772 - Nobody ever has taken the risks that he has. 2630 02:00:29,814 --> 02:00:32,275 - He opened up a world that no one could ever do. 2631 02:00:32,316 --> 02:00:36,154 - I am forever. 2632 02:00:36,195 --> 02:00:38,906 - I think he is the template for taking chances 2633 02:00:38,948 --> 02:00:41,492 and the template for being brave. 2634 02:00:41,534 --> 02:00:44,120 - Do I have your attention now? 2635 02:00:44,162 --> 02:00:48,624 * * 2636 02:00:48,666 --> 02:00:55,423 - The greatest human I have ever known, hands down. 2637 02:00:55,465 --> 02:00:57,133 - One of a kind. 2638 02:00:57,175 --> 02:00:59,260 There will only be one Windham. 2639 02:00:59,302 --> 02:01:04,432 - * He's got the whole world * 2640 02:01:04,474 --> 02:01:07,393 * * 2641 02:01:13,524 --> 02:01:14,859 - OK. Stand by. 2642 02:01:14,901 --> 02:01:16,069 Ready to roll. 2643 02:01:16,110 --> 02:01:19,072 [funky music] 2644 02:01:19,113 --> 02:01:26,037 * * 2645 02:01:27,997 --> 02:01:29,832 - I've been very honored to be asked 2646 02:01:29,874 --> 02:01:31,751 to be part of this project. 2647 02:01:31,793 --> 02:01:33,586 It's kind of bizarre to know 2648 02:01:33,628 --> 02:01:35,797 that I worked with Mike. 2649 02:01:35,838 --> 02:01:37,590 And then I remember meeting 2650 02:01:37,632 --> 02:01:40,426 both boys when they were small kids. 2651 02:01:40,468 --> 02:01:44,138 And then actually working at WrestleMania with Windham. 2652 02:01:44,180 --> 02:01:47,141 You talk about things coming full circle. 2653 02:01:47,183 --> 02:01:50,311 I could always see in Windham that he was so different. 2654 02:01:50,353 --> 02:01:53,689 And you have very few people that come along 2655 02:01:53,731 --> 02:01:56,109 that actually think outside of the box. 2656 02:01:56,150 --> 02:01:59,445 He was obviously taken from us way too soon. 2657 02:01:59,487 --> 02:02:00,780 I know what he would have been, 2658 02:02:00,822 --> 02:02:03,699 and it would have been really, really special. 2659 02:02:03,741 --> 02:02:08,079 - * Broken-hearted love * 2660 02:02:13,793 --> 02:02:14,919 [static] 2661 02:02:14,961 --> 02:02:15,920 [beeping] 2662 02:02:18,381 --> 02:02:19,549 [eerie music] 2663 02:02:19,590 --> 02:02:26,097 * * 2664 02:02:31,102 --> 02:02:32,937 - Run.