Ex-WWE Champion Reveals They Wanted To Join The Wyatt Family
The Wyatt Family was formed in WWE’s developmental branch, NXT, in November 2012.
The group was led by Bray Wyatt and included followers Erick Rowan and Luke Harper. Portrayed as a sinister backwoods cult from the Louisiana bayous, they created an eerie, unforgettable presence on WWE television. Their debut on the main roster came in July 2013, where they wreaked havoc on top stars like Kane, CM Punk, John Cena, and The Shield.
Over the years, the faction evolved with new members such as Braun Strowman and Randy Orton, winning tag team championships and headlining major storylines. Despite their success, the original group dissolved in 2017, with tragic later events like the deaths of Harper in 2020 and Wyatt in 2023.
The Wyatt Family’s Influence on Ex-WWE Star Shotzi
The one-time NXT Tag Team Champion Shotzi recently opened up on the Lightweights podcast about how profoundly The Wyatt Family influenced her desire to become a wrestler. She shared that the group’s eerie and captivating personas completely captivated her and her sister. They didn’t just admire them from afar; they wanted to be part of their world, even imagining themselves as valets for the faction.
I was watching them, and I was so into them. Me and my sister were in love with them. They were kind of like what got me wanting to be in wrestling because I loved their persona so much. Me and my sister were like we wanted to be like their valet. We wanted to be a part of The Wyatt Family. So, that’s kind of what like got us into it.
The legacy of the Wyatt Family continues, with new incarnations like The Wyatt Sicks carrying the torch in the Stamford-based promotion as a homage to the original cult’s dark, haunting vibe. Led by Uncle Howdy (Bo Dallas), Bray Wyatt’s real-life brother, the group carries the spirit of the original cult with members like Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross.
Elsewhere in an interview, Karrion Kross recently revealed that WWE had big plans for both The Wyatt Sicks and his own faction, The Final Testament, which were ultimately scrapped. He disclosed that The Final Testament’s feud with The Wyatt Sicks was meant to continue beyond what fans saw.