Manson Wanted to Meet Bray Wyatt After Viewing Promos, WWE Rejected

Former WWE writer Nick Manfredini said on a recent podcast that the notorious criminal Charles Manson saw promos for Windham Rotunda’s Bray Wyatt character while incarcerated and asked to meet him, a proposal Manfredini said was quickly rejected by WWE leadership. Manfredini, who worked closely with Rotunda on the Bray Wyatt persona, described the episode while discussing the character’s creative origins and his late collaborator’s plans before his death in the summer of 2023.

Manfredini told the podcast that Rotunda’s early onscreen work was deliberately shaped by real-world figures known for manipulation and charisma, including Manson. "So, he was very Charles Manson‑inspired, right? My YouTube search history back then was just Charles Manson and cult leader," Manfredini said, adding that he and Rotunda studied interviews and mannerisms to craft a disturbing, authentic tone. According to Manfredini, the creative exercise took an unexpected turn when a former college football teammate of Rotunda’s, who later became a prison guard at the facility where Manson was held, showed Manson some of those promos. "Allegedly, this guy showed Manson the Bray Wyatt promos, and he wanted to...