Bray Wyatt was reportedly 'being difficult' prior to shock release

[Dale]

More details have now emerged regarding former WWE Champion Bray Wyatt and his shock release from WWE on July 31.

Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men podcast is reporting that prior to being let go by WWE, Bray Wyatt was "being difficult" according to some within the company.
The report notes that Wyatt had some issues in the ring and had some issues with his weight, which Zarian hints could have been a factor in his release from WWE this summer.

“Bray was being difficult. And I’m gonna fill in a lot, I’m not even gonna quote. Because I have the quote, (but) I don’t wanna quote it. He was a little difficult, he had some performance issues in the ring, and he had some weight issues. I’m not saying that that’s the reason, I’m not gonna say that’s the reason, but you can kind of piece things together as to the things – when you evaluate a talent and you’re like, ‘Okay we need this and we need that and this is the plan moving forward’, you need someone… sometimes the decision is easier to make if you make it more difficult for them to make that decision.

Zarian continued by stressing that there were multiple factors behind Wyatt's release from WWE, including financials, his happiness and the aforementioned weight issue.

Initially reports stated that WWE's decision to release Bray was purely a cost-cutting measure, but Zarian has seemingly rebuffed that as being the sole reason behind WWE firing Wyatt:

“So, there is no one reason, by the way, let me just put it out there. Financial, yes. There was a financial issue, there were plenty of other scenarios here. I don’t think he was happy. And I would tell you that these decisions are not cut and dry. It’s not like, ‘Oh it was a money thing and that’s it’. Obviously they’re gonna say that, that’ll be the public answer. Because most likely, it played a part in money, because you can only like some guys so much when you’re losing money. I’m not saying they were losing money but I’m just putting it out there like that. There were numerous reasons. Not one.”

 

[Chris]

Yeah I thought there was no way it was JUST financial bc regardless of whatever his contract was, he was supposedly a big merch mover and what not.

He did also seem bigger towards the end compared to when he first showed back up all fit and shit so some weight fluctuations are probably a reason too. Don't buy they cared much about dude's workrate in the ring at all hough but that could just be an extension of them unhappy with his weight as well. I would assume they clashed creatively too on things

 

[Butters]

wasn't he in like the best shape ever at mania? I don't remember but he would be fit and then gain weight and disappear and come back fit again.

 

[Chris]

wasn't he in like the best shape ever at mania? I don't remember but he would be fit and then gain weight and disappear and come back fit again.

I thought he was bigger then but I do remember him getting fit like two different times and in between got big again lmao

 

[Dale]

I assume he was bigger at Mania because he vanished after that and then those photos came out of him being slimmed down and ready to return

 

[Hidden Blaze]

Yeah I can’t remember how he looked at Mania tbh with you. But I do remember him being slim after Mania from the pictures. Any chance they was from another time?

Anyway, Fiend draws. It actually got Butters to post in a thread.

 

[Chris]

Maybe they were mad he kept getting skinny when they wanted a big fat Fiend

 

[Cwalker]

Bro released a picture either right before he was ready to return or right after the release but he looked to be in the best shape of his career.

As far as working, he’s always sucked and they’ve always kept him on tv. So I doubt that’s a factor.

 

[Sky]

"Being difficult" could easily just mean "daring to question creative's booking of his character". We know how WWE are these days.

 

[Hoss]

Difficult to watch maybe

 

[Deezy]

Almost like I said this months ago.

The weight issues and taking almost a full year off and on for the past 2 calendar years. Sure didn't help, if you not there to work, why the fuck should they keep him?

 

[Buffy]

"Being difficult" could easily just mean "daring to question creative's booking of his character". We know how WWE are these days.

Oh, how dare he question the booking decisions for his character that he created.

 

[Y2Jayne]

I think looks are very important in wrestling. BUT... some guys like Bray, Vader or Otis make the "heavy" look work. Bray's first gimmick didn't need him to be ripped like Orton. He looked the part.

When it comes to the Fiend, slimming down wasn't a bad idea but I think he looked good enough in his last run.