The professional wrestling world is in mourning following the sudden passing of Windham Rotunda - better known as WWE superstar Bray Wyatt.
The 36-year-old had been sidelined since January due to an undisclosed illness and despite reports of a potential return to the squared circle recently, Wyatt passed away on Thursday as first announced by Paul 'Triple H' Levesque.
One of the most unique performers of the 21st century, Rotunda first broke onto the scene with WWE under the 'Husky Harris' moniker in the early-2010s, before reinventing himself and bringing the Wyatt character to life.
Alongside both the late Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, The Wyatt Family would become one of the most prominent acts on WWE programming in the mid-2010s, feuding with the likes of John Cena and The Shield.
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In 2017, Wyatt would capture his first championship with the company, emerging victorious in the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship, before dropping the belt at WrestleMania 33 to Randy Orton.
The ultra-creative Wyatt would bring plenty of changes to his on-screen persona over the years, with the split-personality persona of the Firefly Fun House and The Fiend cementing his main-event status once again in 2019.
After being released from the company in July 2021, Wyatt returned in October last year, working a lengthy program with LA Knight, culminating at the 2023 Royal Rumble premium live event, before disappearing from television.
Wyatt is survived by his partner Joseann 'Jojo' Offerman and his four children, as well as his father Mike Rotunda and brother Taylor 'Bo Dallas' Rotunda.
WWE pay tribute to Bray Wyatt on Friday Night SmackDown
Just a day after the devastating news of Wyatt's passing, WWE paid tribute to their fallen comrade on Friday Night SmackDown, offering a 10-bell salute to both the 'Eater of Worlds' and hardcore icon, Terry Funk.
Following the sombre moment, WWE played an emotional and touching video package to honour Wyatt's legacy within the business and away from it.
The company continued to show flashbacks and highlights of some of Wyatt's greatest moments within WWE throughout the episode of SmackDown.
To finish the show, WWE allowed the fans in attendance to shine the 'fireflies' one final time for Wyatt, before the light on his iconic lantern faded to black, signifying the end of a storied run and amazing life lived.
Bray Wyatt dies, aged 36: Wrestling world pays tribute to WWE star
Among those to pay tribute to Wyatt included two of his closest friends in the business - Alexa Bliss and Braun Strowman - on their Instagram accounts.
Bliss and current WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins also took to social media to share their memories of Wyatt inside and outside of the ring via video messages.
Other members of the WWE family shared their devastation and memories of Wyatt via social media, including Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, John Cena, Pat McAfee and Mick Foley.
WWE has announced all of Wyatt's merchandise profits will be donated to his family.
The Sporting News send our heartfelt condolences to Rotunda's family, friends and colleagues following the news of his sudden passing. He will be remembered as one of the industry's most creative minds and iconic stars.