Few WWE Superstars have undergone as many dramatic character evolutions as Alexa Bliss. From the arrogant “Goddess” to the haunting “Playground Alexa,” Bliss has showcased an impressive range of character work — and now, she’s opening up about the person who helped reshape her entire approach to performance: the late Windham “Bray Wyatt” Rotunda.
During a candid appearance on The Nikki & Brie Show, Bliss reflected on her creative journey in WWE and credited Wyatt for teaching her how to dive deeper into character development — something she admits she hadn’t truly considered in her earlier runs.
“When I was doing the ‘Goddess’ persona, that was very much just like people I went to high school with,” Bliss admitted. “There wasn’t a lot of research — it was more about imitation.”
Everything changed when she became part of the eerie and unforgettable world of The Fiend.
“When I started working with Windham, it was like, ‘Oh, so there needs to be research that goes into this,’” she explained. “He immediately told me, ‘Watch this documentary. Watch this movie. Research this.’ He had put so much into his character, it made me feel like, ‘Okay, I’m going into your world and I can’t be the one to mess it up.’”
Bliss revealed that Wyatt’s intense dedication inspired her to elevate her own craft. She now attends weekly acting classes — a commitment that helped bring to life one of her most psychologically complex personas: Playground Alexa.
“That was a character based on a traumatic event — when I was attacked by The Fiend,” Bliss said. “When people go through trauma, they can revert into a child-like state. That’s where the pigtails, overalls, Lily the doll — all of that came from. It was a coping mechanism. That’s how I built Playground Alexa.”
The influence of Bray Wyatt continues to loom large in WWE today, with the haunting Wyatt Sicks faction — led by Uncle Howdy and featuring twisted incarnations of Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross — currently causing mayhem on SmackDown.
As WWE keeps the legacy of Windham Rotunda alive through dark storytelling and chilling character work, Bliss’s heartfelt tribute serves as a reminder of how deeply his creativity touched those around him — both on-screen and off.
Stay tuned to PWMania.com for more exclusive insights, backstage news, and updates on Alexa Bliss and the evolving legacy of Bray Wyatt.
