I lost quickest match in WrestleMania history to The Rock, now I’m set for emotional WWE return in memory of tragic star

Erick Rowan looks like he could be on his way back to WWE as the company continues to introduce characters in tribute to the late Bray Wyatt.

Wyatt, a hugely influential and popular performer, tragically died in August last year after suffering with serious illness.

The 36-year-old had been set for his own return to WWE screens after time away, but died at his home after suffering a heart attack in his sleep.

Now, less than a year on, WWE looks set to mark his memory on screen with the reintroduction of characters and stars closely associated with the former leader of the Wyatt Family.

Shortly after Wyatt’s return to the fold in 2022 at Extreme Rules, he began to be haunted by Uncle Howdy, a character portrayed by Bo Dallas, Wyatt’s real-life brother.

Plans for that feud to escalate were sadly shelved when Bray was pulled from screens through illness, his untimely passing ultimately meaning that story never got to play out.

A new documentary celebrating the life of the talented star, Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal, featured comments from Dallas, who teased his future in wrestling by saying: “My fire and love for the business has to burn brighter than it ever has because it’s given me the strength and passion to want to carry his legacy on.”

Near the show’s end, a tease for the Uncle Howdy character was shown, leading many to speculate Dallas is set to push forward with the persona in his brother’s memory.

Recent glitches, easter eggs and QR codes have all been dotted around recent WWE programming, too, to suggest Howdy’s return may be part of a wider storyline – and indeed that Dallas won’t be returning alone.

Erick Rowan memorably performed for years alongside Wyatt and the late Luke Harper as part of the Wyatt Family.

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The towering performer spent nine years wrestling for WWE before his departure during the COVID Pandemic, let go alongside the likes of Kurt Angle, Heath Slater and EC3.

Rowan went on to star in All Elite Wrestling in tribute to Harper, who also passed away at the age of 41 in 2020.

Rowan was back on WWE screens to pay tribute to Wyatt last August as stars from in front of and behind the camera lined on the stage to pay respects to their fallen colleague.

Now, US news outlet PWInsider has reported that Rowan is fully back in the WWE fold after penning a new contract, again fuelling speculation of a Bray Wyatt-inspired group.

A star on the independents before his first WWE stint, Rowan claimed multiple tag team championships with the sports entertainment giant, including reign alongside Harper.

A tag-team specialist, the 42-year-old had his first singles match in blockbuster surroundings in 2016 at WrestleMania 32 by going up against The Rock.

In an impromptu clash with The Great One, Rowan was defeated in just six seconds – setting a record for the swiftest match in WrestleMania history.

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“If you blinked your eye it would probably pass,” the wrestler would later joke of the outing.

“But it was better than doing nothing!

“I think I found out three days before… [Rock] was cool about the moment. I’m a little bit taller than Dwayne, so having that face-to-face moment was pretty cool.

“To have that stare off, I think there was a picture of it. That’s cool.”