At the end of Peacock's incredible documentary, Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal, there was a tease which seemed to suggest Bo Dallas is going to return to WWE as Uncle Howdy.
The real-life brother of the late Bray Wyatt, Dallas had begun appearing alongside Bray on WWE TV in that role after the groundwork was laid for the introduction of a new Wyatt Family. Wyatt being sidelined put the pause button on those plans and we've never learned who else was meant to join them (Alexa Bliss seemed to be a given before news of her pregnancy broke).
The teases have since continued, including during last Friday's SmackDown.
While it obviously won't quite be the same without Wyatt, this could still be a great way to pay homage to him and get Dallas back in the ring. Now, it looks like at least one member of this mystery group has been revealed: Erick Rowan, a.k.a. Erick Redbeard.
He's been pulled from an upcoming independent event because of what sounds like a new contact. East Coast Pro Wrestling confirmed the news on social media:
"We have just received word this evening from Erick Rowan that unfortunately he will not be able to make his scheduled appearance next week at Coal Town Carnage. Erick stated that new contractual obligations are preventing him from making several dates including ours. This is the first time in ECPW history that one of our scheduled stars cancelled and it is out of our control."
Rowan was a member of the original Wyatt Family alongside Bray, the late Luke Harper, and Braun Strowman. He's made sporadic appearances in AEW and returned to WWE to pay homage to his old partner following his death.
Last September, an insider claimed that, "Uncle Howdy may not be done either. [A] source has told [us] today [that] Triple H wants Bo Dallas to carry on the legacy and is willing to give him the proper opportunity to do so."
Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal revealed that Uncle Howdy was based on someone Bray saw in a nightmare as a child. Unfortunately, we never got to see where things were going for them before Wyatt was forced to take time off as Howdy had both attacked and helped the returning Fiend.
As always, stay tuned for updates on WWE's plans as we have them.