ARSENAL showed their class with a touching tribute to WWE legend Bray Wyatt who died yesterday.
The 13-time English League champions played Wyatt’s WWE theme song “Broken in Love” by Mark Crozer.
GettyBray Wyatt (centre) tragically died on August 25[/caption]
GettyHis theme song was played at The Emirates[/caption]
Wyatt’s untimely death at the age of just 36 has seen tributes pour out from the wrestling community and the wider sports entertainment industry at large.
The Emirates has had a special tie with WWE for a while now, with the stadium’s DJ often playing wrestlers’ theme songs.
In 2021, the Gunners walked out to WWE wrestler Kane’s theme song for a home draw with Manchester United.
They also played Kurt Angle’s theme tune at half-time that same year.
Fans loved the tribute to Wyatt, with one saying: “Those in charge of Arsenal‘s music are 100% wrestling fans, Angles music, “The Game” all played before.”
Another said: “Arsenal always plays wrestling themes at half time, so their sound man had a perfect tribute space.”
A third tweeted a picture from Smackdown’s tribute to Wyatt yesterday of a boy holding up a placard saying: “He’s still got the whole world in his hands” – a reference to one of Wyatt’s theme songs of “He’s got the whole world in his hands”.
Others added tributes in the form of dove and heart emojis.
Wyatt’s unexpected death has shaken the wresting community and saw tributes pour in from across the industry.
WWE Chief Content Officer and former superstar Triple H confirmed Wyatt’s passing on his social media when he tweeted: “Just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda, who informed us of the tragic news that our WWE family member for life Windham Rotunda – also known as Bray Wyatt – unexpectedly passed earlier today.
“Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time.”
The Rock wrote: “I’m heartbroken over the news of Bray Wyatt’s passing. Always had tremendous respect and love for him and the Rotunda family. Loved his presence, promos, in ring work and connection with the WWE universe.”
WWE commentator and legendary wrestler Mick Foley wrote: “I thought so highly of Bray Wyatt… He was a true visionary; one of the most compelling presences that wrestling has ever seen.”
Wyatt had not appeared on TV screens since February after reportedly suffering from the effects of long covid.
Few details about what led up to Rotunda’s death were immediately available, but Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful attributed it to a heart attack.
“I was given permission to reveal that earlier this year Windham Rotunda (Bray Wyatt) got COVID that exacerbated a heart issues,” he wrote.
“There was a lot of positive progress towards a return and his recovery. Unfortunately today he suffered a heart attack and passed away.”
Rotunda’s official cause of death has not yet been confirmed by family or authorities.