Mika Rotunda reflects on Wyatt Sicks debut: ‘I’m so incredibly proud’

Mika Rotunda says she is incredibly proud of her brother Taylor Rotunda, aka Uncle Howdy, following the debut of the Wyatt Sicks on Monday.

On Tuesday, Mika posted to Instagram about the segment and said her pulse raised, her eyes welled, and she felt a “warmth” that can only be described as Windham Rotunda.

Mika wrote:

“Windham talked a lot about hurting in his character. He would describe real life pain and scenarios as a way to kind of harden, inspire or shape his future. He turned pain into a positive, through creativity and expression.

Last night, Taylor debuted for the first time as Uncle Howdy, without Windham. This was their dream, their vision. Their fairytale to fulfill. He carried this on his back. But more importantly in his heart. As siblings, we’ve always had a strong cord attachment to one another. As the lights when out in the arena and I watched from my TV, my pulse raised. My eyes welled. I felt every ioata with him. While also feeling this warmth, that can only be described as Windham. I’m so incredibly proud of Taylor.

Honoring the memory of a Windham or a loved one while navigating the path of grief is a profound and personal journey. Our family has been on a stage with the outside world to see inside it since 3:33pm on August 24th. A moment in time we as a family will never get past or over. But, somehow— we have to find a way through it.

How does one do that?

In my opinion, It’s in our day to day lives. And creating ways to celebrate their life and legacy, even as we cope with the pain of their absence.

For Windham, it’s in story telling. He was the greatest story teller I’ve ever known. And as we embrace the moments of sorrow, there is a duty to uphold. To keep finding ways to express his madness and genius.

In doing so, it is a testament from our family about the depth of his love. And our love for him.

Upholding Windham’s homage can be a source of comfort and strength. We hurt. We heal.

In doing so, we keep their spirit alive and find solace in the impact they had on our lives. 🌹 ⭕️

Also, massive, gigantic and amazing praise to @robfee11 and @bakingjason for doing the alchemy behind the scenes. Unreal. You guys are!

Windham, Wish you were here.
Love you more.”

Wyatt’s widow, JoJo Offerman, also penned a lengthy tribute to her late husband recently. On Father’s Day, she wrote to Bray, “One of my favorite things about you will always be the incredible daddy you were. The kids will never forget that and I pray one day that they grow up to be like you and find someone that loved the way you did. Happy Father’s Day my love. Thank you for being the best daddy, We miss you deeply.”

The members of the Wyatt Sicks that debut on Monday include Uncle Howdy (Bo Dallas/Taylor Rotunda), Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan. Dallas hasn’t wrestled since late 2019. He was released by WWE in 2021 but was re-signed in late 2022 to portray the Uncle Howdy character. His brother Bray passed away on August 24, 2023, at the age of 36. Dallas would later appear in the “Becoming Immortal” documentary on his brother and teased returning to the ring to carry on Wyatt’s legacy.

We’re Live, Pal: Thoughts on the Wyatt Sicks, Drew McIntyre & Chad Gable

Image via WWE

It’s another episode of We’re Live, Pal which is also available for free on YouTube below.

Andrew Zarian and I dug right into WWE’s past weekend with Clash at the Castle talk.

We also discussed the following:

  • What we thought of Drew McIntyre losing in his home country of Scotland
  • Why McIntyre and CM Punk fighting over the World Heavyweight title belt would be good for it
  • The introduction of the Wyatt Sicks on Monday
  • Chad Gable’s insane Monday night after re-signing with WWE
  • Seth Rollins being back
  • AEW selling access to their PPV archive through Triller

You can follow us on Twitter.

For website subscribers, you can click here to listen (sub needed).

The Latest: Wyatt Sicks, Drew McIntyre quitting angle, Seth Rollins returns

TOPICS:

  • Uncle Howdy resurfaces on WWE Raw, reveals Wyatt Sicks group
  • Drew McIntyre ‘quits’ WWE in Raw angle
  • Otis & Alpha Academy leave Chad Gable on WWE Raw
  • Seth Rollins returns, accepts World Heavyweight title match for WWE Money in the Bank
  • WWE Clash at the Castle press conference notes: Triple H on Chad Gable re-signing, culture change

Daily Update: Wyatt Sicks, Mercedes Mone, MJF

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer:

  • Updating the situation with Ricochet, the WWE angle, his legacy, future, comments by Will Ospreay and a look at his pre-WWE career.
  • Preview of Clash at the Castle, the matches, thoughts on the bouts, attempt to set records and more.
  • Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler falls apart, the quietness of the last two weeks, replacement fights and other pull-outs.
  • Just how much money McGregor would have generated on this night
  • New Japan Dominion coverage, Hikuleo leaving for WWE, Super Juniors finals, Forbidden Door angles, G-1, this week’s big show and more.
  • NXT Battleground coverage, the Apex,  the bouts, the timing of the show.
  • Final WrestleMania live business numbers from the Pennsylvania commission.  What was the real attendance for both nights, Raw, Smackdown and NXT.
  • Huge story on part two of Who Killed WCW, company finances running a wrestling business then vs. now, what went wrong, Hogan vs. Goldberg and real story behind the lack of build, where the money was left on the table, Goldberg as champion, booking philosophy and more.
  • Why WCW lost top stars under Jim Herd
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for wrestling and MMA TV shows, including how close another MMA show came to UFC this past week, placings for the week, competition for the shows, segment-by-segment an more
  • More on who CMLL talent is allowed to work with
  • Lots of big matches coming to CMLL over the next week
  • El Hijo del Vikingo update
  • Notes on the movie about a current wrestling star released in Japan
  • Next Stardom PPV and Five Star Grand Prix notes
  • WWE & NOAH announcement coming
  • Big NOAH match this week
  • Despe Invitational show
  • Iyo Sky comes to Marigold and how ticket sales went
  • Mexican and Japanese group working together
  • Bloodsport notes
  • Sad Steve McMichael update
  • Passing of Larry Santo
  • One of pro wrestling’s all-time legends from way back is being honored in his home town next week
  • Celebrity Wrestling show earmarked
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Forbidden Door update
  • How the Arlington tapings for AEW are doing
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • CMLL talent being booked for Dynamite at the last minute
  • International TV ratings and top streaming numer
  • Dana White asked to channel Andy Kaufman
  • Consideration to changing MMA rules
  • PFL tournament updates
  • Manny Pacquiao coming to Rizin
  • Drew McIntyre inducted into Scotland Hall of Fame
  • Update on Vince McMahon legal action
  • PPV updates
  • More Dwayne Johnson projects

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Tuesday Update

WWE

AEW & Other Wrestling

  • Mercedes Mone attended Game 5 of the NBA Finals, which featured the Boston Celtics winning the series.
  • MJF on X wrote about Pride Month: “my friend @legallygavin was bullied in school for being gay. This picture was taken When he was a senior and didn’t have a date to prom so I took him to make everyone feel stupid. Happy pride month. Remember, Hate everyone equally. Whilst I have your attention you can be anti hate and not be an Anoyying p**** about it. Stop pretending to get offended by literally everything for likes and RT’s. It makes anti hate movements harder because it’s ANOYYING.”
  • Swerve Strickland was a guest DJ on Sirius XM’s Hip Hop Nation.
  • Brandon Cutler is celebrating a birthday today.
  • Nick Hogan will appear at Pinella County Court this Friday following his November 2023 arrest for a misdemeanor DUI.
  • Bull Nakano will be doing a signing on HighspotsAuctions.com this Thursday.
  • Matt Hardy shares details on The System visiting The Hardy Compound.
  • TNA is looking to expand its Street Team in Montreal, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Tampa, and Louisville. More information here.

Uncle Howdy resurfaces on WWE Raw, reveals Wyatt Sicks group

Uncle Howdy is back, and he isn’t alone.

The end of WWE Raw saw Howdy and four other masked beings stand in front of Bray Wyatt’s door. Howdy ended the show by saying “We’re here” before blowing out Wyatt’s lantern, closing the show after leaving the backstage area a bloody mess.

Shortly after Raw ended, WWE Shop released merchandise related to the group, giving them the name Wyatt Sicks.

As Jey Uso was celebrating his Money in the Bank qualifier win, the lights suddenly went out as Bray Wyatt’s door could be seen opening. Nikki Cross crawled out in what appeared to be a new outfit and mask, looking over Wyatt’s lantern. The camera then went backstage as a man in a rabbit mask wielding a mallet could be seen standing over several people.

The camera then entered the gorilla position, which was destroyed as people were laid out and blood spatter could be seen on the walls. Another masked man was shown sitting in the corner. As the camera entered a nearby hallway, a man in what looked like a gas mask could be seen as more bodies were laying around, one being a bloodied Chad Gable. The camera then revealed Uncle Howdy as he walked through the carnage, the masked men joining him as they walked out on the stage, standing with Cross.

Following WrestleMania 40, QR codes have been popping up on Raw, becoming more visible in recent weeks. Last week’s code led to a countdown timer that ended on Monday.

Reports leading to the reveal had the group consisting of Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy), Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, Erik Rowan, and Cross.