WWE SmackDown Plans “Scrapped,” Top Raw Stars Brought In For Bray Wyatt Tribute

In the wake of Bray Wyatt’s passing, multiple changes have been made to what one writer calls a “really special” episode of SmackDown.

On August 24th, the wrestling world was rocked by the news of the untimely passing of former WWE Champion Bray Wyatt at the young age of 36. It was later reported that he tragically died from a heart attack at his home.

After Triple H shared the heartbreaking news on social media, tributes began pouring in from friends and fans alike, sharing memories of the star’s impact both personally and professionally.

WWE later released a statement that all profits from Wyatt’s merchandise sales would be given directly to his family, including fiancée JoJo Offerman and his four children.

Now, multiple reports have noted that multiple changes are being made to the August 25th episode of SmackDown. According to Fightful Select, original plans for the show were scrapped and many stars flew in on short notice to be in attendance. Fightful also reports that there will be a “significant tribute element” to tonight’s broadcast.

Cody Rhodes And Braun Strowman In Attendance For “Really Special” WWE SmackDown

PWInsider sheds more light on the situation, noting that both Cody Rhodes and Braun Strowman are among the names in attendance for the show. The report clarifies that there is no word on whether Strowman, who has been out of action since May and is recovering from neck surgery, will appear on camera. However, it would seem likely that Strowman would be part of a tribute to Bray Wyatt as he began his main roster career as part of the Wyatt Family.

Rob Fee, a WWE writer who worked closely with Wyatt, tweeted the following:

“Tonight is gonna be really special”

In addition to tribute elements being added to the show, WWE has removed mention of a previously-announced Jimmy Uso segment from its website.