Folks, we’ve got a touching tale today. It’s May 23, and while it’s a day for cake and candles for most, it’s a bittersweet one for the wrestling community. Today would have marked the 37th birthday of Windham Rotunda, the man who gave us Bray Wyatt. Nearly nine months since his passing, the wrestling world is coming together to honor his memory in a way that only true wrestling aficionados can – with heartfelt tributes and a flood of emotion.
Matt Hardy, a man known for his charismatic twist and turns in the ring, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to send his wishes. “Happy Birthday to Windham Rotunda ❤️,” he tweeted, along with a tear-jerking video of him and Rotunda sharing a hug at WrestleMania 34. For those who don’t speak wrestling, that night was the kickoff to their championship run as WWE Raw Tag Team Champions. Ah, memories!
The WWE’s official X account lit up with a tribute of their own, featuring Bray Wyatt holding his iconic lantern amidst a sea of “fireflies” – the fans’ lights. “Remembering Windham Rotunda, known to WWE fans as Bray Wyatt, today on his birthday,” they wrote. Alexa Bliss, his eerie ally in the squared circle, echoed the sentiment, expressing how deeply the WWE family misses him.
Amanda Huber, wife of the late Brodie Lee, chimed in with a heartfelt “Happy birthday Uncle Bay,” alongside some adorable emojis – a white heart and a crocodile. Talk about tugging at the heartstrings!
Braun Strowman, another member of The Wyatt Family, got straight to the feels with his message. “Happy birthday Hoot!!! I f***ing miss you,” he wrote, alongside a picture of him and Rotunda posing like tourists in front of the Eiffel Tower. Nothing like a giant wrestler showing his softer side.
But the most touching tribute came from Rotunda’s wife, JoJo Offerman. On Instagram, she shared an emotional collage of videos set to the poignant tune of “If I Would Have Known” by Kyle Hume. “Happy Heavenly Birthday My Love. I miss you every day,” she wrote. “WE miss you every day. Nothing is the same without you here. I want to say more, but I just feel broken and defeated. I love you forever Windham, I wish I could still hold you and give you a hundred kisses.”