Bray Wyatt’s Fiend debuted last week at SummerSlam after months of build. The Firefly Funhouse and related segments received rave reviews from fans, journalists and critics alike. Unfortunately, The Fiend’s almost theatrical entrance is apparently still in flux.
After SummerSlam, WWE posted a YouTube video of the entrance, but with Bray Wyatt’s highly interesting new lantern of his own head edited out of the footage. There are also rumors that children in the arena struggled to cope with the intensity of the performance, with one parent having to take their child out of the arena itself due to a strong negative reaction.
Some would argue that this is precisely the response that The Fiend should receive. However, WWE apparently aren’t sure what direction to take Bray Wyatt’s new character into.
“They want a happy medium. This is something special but it needs to be special without scaring half the audience away.” The Fiend may be toned down to be more audience-friendly
Sources indicate that WWE management are concerned that The Fiend will appeal to only a small selection of their overall audience and that children and casual viewers will be put off by the character. This has led to questions over which brand Bray Wyatt should appear on as well as questions about the overall tone and intensity of his appearances.
One suggestion gaining traction at the moment would be to keep certain aspects of The Fiend’s appearance, particularly the lantern, for the later hours of pay per view shows. This would ensure it is only seen by a certain audience. It is also possible that the lantern could be removed entirely.
Another idea being floated is to keep The Fiend off of TV as much as possible, which would lead towards a more special attraction vibe.
“Bray should have been on TV to follow up after SummerSlam but there was an argument over what Bray should appear…changes might need to be made to get a character everyone is happy with.”
Needless to say, The Fiend has created a lot of excitement and a strong buzz in his brief time as a character in WWE. Bray Wyatt himself, the lovable TV host, could also be very valuable.
Didn't see a thread on this, but I read this today from various sources online.
Welp, it was fun while it lasted. It sounds like this will be the beginning of the end for the character since sponsors aren't liking it, we even heard from the very beginning that USA and FOX weren't too high on a child-cult gimmick anyway.
Hopefully WWE can keep The Fiend for PPV's only and just have Firefly Fun House segments during the week to build rivalries.
Sportskeeda is not a reliable source. Do I think the WWE will fuck up Bray's new gimmick? Yes I do. Until I hear anything from Sean Ross, Dave Meltzer and other reliable sources, then I will take this as a grain of salt.
Sportskeeda is not a reliable source. Do I think the WWE will fuck up Bray's new gimmick? Yes I do. Until I hear anything from Sean Ross, Dave Meltzer and other reliable sources, then I will take this as a grain of salt.
Of course they'll fuck it up. You don't need a source to tell me they will. The question is how long it takes. If he's lucky he'll have 4 months, more likely it'll be 2 months.
Jeez. I hope they don't tone it down to the point that its completely toned out cause I can see this gimmick going a long ways. I can see how it would scare kids, but honestly that might be a good thing. With the right face adversary, it could make for a good superhero/villain thing for the younger audience to get into, even without squashing the fiend entirely.
Honestly, less is more. I think the head lantern should be something not seen often. Save that for PPVs. Or better yet if it was possible, make new head lanterns for each of his 1v1 opponents.
Imagine if he were to be in a fatal four way or six man battle royal at a PPV and there was a skull lantern for each of the opponents' heads. But that's too scary for a hypersensitive society right?
Fuck. Bray right now is the shit. The Fiend is a win. Course WWE might fuck it up. I hope they don't.
Pathetic!! Bray/The Fiend is the best character they’ve had in years. Not watched WWE since 2003 only the Rumbles Battle Royales, Intergender matches and Stings debut match. Been watching everything Fiend related.
So some soccer mums pampered softy’s and hyper sensitive beta male millennial libtard virgin neckbeards are frightened... it was the same with Papa Shango and evil Doink all the kids in the audience would be crying.
Fuck em the casuals are more interested in taking selfies!!
Way to compete with AEW I wonder if Alister Black will be next
So back in 1990 till 1996, Undertaker was in full on dead man mode with no complaints in a PG environment. But a lantern patterned after a carnival trash can is too much.
I am fine with this, you see I have already gotten used to the fact that nothing in WWE can be this good anymore.
If something like The Fiend comes outta nowhere, I get confused, I don't know if I should get excited about it, knowing it will probably be ruined anyways, it makes me angry and makes me lose my time.
Just lets bring back the natural order of the things at it should. Modern wrestling can't have something like the Fiend, it is too good.
Days after, Summerslam, WWE posted on their on Social Media the picture that’s in my sig. and the YouTube video was cut down apparently because of YouTube.
The report is grasping for straws and it’s fucking Spoetskeeda. And most of this thread is also reaching to something to complain about.
When I was a kid, the first time I saw Kane he scared the shit out of me. The darkness, the blood red light, the fact he looked like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees' long lost brother.
But I was so intrigued that I had to keep watching and see what this guy was capable of doing. What sort of damage he does.
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