Bray Wyatt requested father not call him ‘son’ at WWE to avoid nepotism concerns

Matt Hardy recently shared an anecdote regarding the late Bray Wyatt and his desire to avoid perceptions of nepotism while working for WWE. According to Hardy, Wyatt requested that his father, WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda, refrain from calling him ‘son’ in a professional setting.

Rotunda, who performed under the name IRS, had transitioned into a backstage producer role. Hardy recalled an instance following a production meeting where Rotunda attempted to correct Wyatt on specific instructions. When Rotunda addressed him as ‘son,’ Wyatt immediately insisted, ‘Dad, you can’t call me that.’

Hardy noted that Wyatt was concerned that such intimate familial interactions might lead colleagues to believe he was receiving preferential treatment, special information, or protection due to his father's position as a producer.