There was supposed to be a new-ish Wyatt Family (Patreon)

Bray Wyatt’s puppets alive? It could have happened.

There was recently a report that indicated that there were plans in 2019 for Eric Young and Mike Bennett to serve in a Bray Wyatt stable that would see his puppets come to life. As it turns out, there is actually some truth to that stemming from a Metro article a couple of years ago (https://metro.co.uk/2021/07/11/wwe-mike-bennett-was-meant-to-play-sister-abigail-alongside-the-fiend-14907550/)

We’ve learned that prior to their WWE releases in 2020, there were pitches from Paul Heyman to have Mike Bennett and Eric Young involved with Bray Wyatt. However, the pitch made it to Bennett, but not Young. It ended up getting pitched more than once, including an idea for Mike Bennett to perform as Sister Abigail.

Though there was word in the report that the plans were canceled, but we’re told the pitches didn’t actually get that far. However there were more recent ones that did.

Eric Young’s creative in WWE would have likely put him in a pretty significant spot within the company.

Fightful Select reported that Eric Young requested and was granted his WWE release this spring, before serving out his non-compete clause and returning to IMPACT Wrestling at Slammiversary. Despite never appearing for WWE after signing in November, there were creative plans in order for him.

Young was to be involved in a new-style version of the Wyatt Family with both Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas, who had been portraying Uncle Howdy on WWE TV. We’re told the creative plans were set in January, and would have kicked off after WrestleMania. However, Bray Wyatt was sidelined with an undisclosed illness, and neither he and Bo Dallas have yet to return to television. By the time the angle would have started, Young asked for his release, citing moral and creative reasons tied to working with Vince McMahon as a reason he wanted to leave.

There were also pitches for Alexa Bliss to join before her maternity leave, which were nixed when it was obvious she wouldn't be around for all of 2023.