Deep Thoughts: The Firefly Fun House Match

Johnny Legacy's Deep Thoughts

The Firefly Fun House Match

"We're really glad that you're our friend, and this is a friendship that will never ever end....."

 

The news of Bray Wyatt passing away this past week stunned us all. While I never counted Bray among my absolute top end favorites, I was always a fan and tried to stand by him even at the points when it seemed like almost no one else would because I saw the creative genius he possessed and loved it. In tribute to his memory, I wanted to do a deep dive review and analysis of what I consider to be his masterpiece: the Firefly Fun House match against John Cena at the COVID-era Wrestlemania 36.

Before getting into the match, some background information is necessary. Following a rebranding from Husky Harris to Bray Wyatt leading to a hugely successful run in early, pre-WWE Network NXT, Bray and the Wyatt Family (Luke Harper and Erick Rowan) debuted on the main roster not long after Wrestlemania 29 in 2013. Going into the big anniversary Wrestlemania 30, Bray got a match with none other than John Cena. This was hugely significant as this was the first time since Wrestlemania 20 a decade earlier that Cena would not be in either the main event or a sub-main event world title match. Many of us hoped, even expected, that this would be a massive career-shaping win for Bray as he continued to work his way up the card. Unfortunately, it was not to be. On a night when pretty much everything else was done right (I will defend Brock breaking the Streak until the day I die and maybe after), the Bray/Cena showdown turned into another instance of LOL Cena Wins and Bray became more grist for the John Cena Heel Credibility Destroying Machine. It's no exaggeration to say it took Bray years to recover. Understanding that night is the key to understanding most of what takes place in the Firefly Fun House Match.

Fast forward six years. Bray's character evolved several times, culminating with the introduction of the Firefly Fun House and the Fiend in 2019, partially inspired by Matt Hardy's, er, WONDERFUL Broken Universe that Bray guest starred in when Hardy tried to bring it to WWE. Bray taking a dip in the Lake of Reincarnation is what created the Fiend in the first place. During that time, true to Bray's career, there were lots of ups and downs. On one hand Bray's had two world title runs: a WWE Championship reign as mostly the original Bray Wyatt character from February to April 2017, losing to Randy Orton at Wrestlemania 33; and a Universal title run as the Fiend from October 2019 to February 2020. He'd get a second short Universal run later in 2020. On the other side, because he was constantly creatively zigging when everyone else was zagging his characters and ideas were extremely polarizing. Everyone either loved it or hated it. WWE's booking treatment of him with late era Vince and his notorious short attention span also left a lot to be desired. He would have benefited greatly from the steadier, long term focused hand of Triple H in control in those years.

 

After losing the Universal title to (blech) Goldberg in February 2020 at Sweet Saudi Money right before everything was shut down, Bray again turned his attention to Cena for a Wrestlemania match. But this time, things would be different. Very very different. By this point Cena was most definitely part time, working only a very short match with the Undertaker and having a spectacular Doctor of Thuganomics promo segment with Elias the past two WMs. The build quickly became about Bray's loss to Cena at WM 30 and taking issue with Cena's professed belief that it was time for WWE to "look to the future". Cena said that he didn't think that Bray was good enough to be part of WWE's future, and said "this match is going to accomplish what should have happened six years ago: ending the existence of the most overhyped, overvalued, overprivileged WWE superstar".

The match begins with Cena's entrance into the empty Performance Center where the rest of WM 36 was taking place. A bemused looking Cena starts to say "Welcome to Wrestle...." but is cut off by a video of "Welcome to Wrestlemania" voices of the past. The film dies, and suddenly we're in the Firefly Fun House! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYY! Bray waves hi. He talks about another world that exists beyond our comprehension, a world where our darkest urges aren't kept secret, where gods, monsters, angels and demons all live together (awwwwwww). "Who are we really?". We're about to take a look at who John Cena really is, and he will face his most dangerous opponent left: himself. Welcome to the Firefly Fun House! Bray leaves (Abandon All Hope Ye Who EXIT Here) and the stage is set. After some more video distortion we zoom out from the door to see Cena is in the House. After getting a little freaked out by Abby the Witch, Ramblin' Rabbit pops up and directs Cena out the door to find Bray. Along with a warning to be careful. Cena exits into a black void. Nothing but darkness and freaky sounds....until Cena is confronted by Mr. McBossMan! The Vince McMahon in horns puppet. The Boss asks Cena if he has enough RUTHLESS AGGRESSION to reach for the stars, to excel beyond his wildest dreams? "Show me, or you're FIRRRRRRRRRRRRRED!".

Cut to Bray in the ring, interspersed with clips of Smackdown Six era Kurt Angle. Bray recreates Angle's promo in real time with the video, issuing a challenge to anyone in that locker room to come down here and face BRAY WYATT. And here's......OVW John Cena! In the same orange and blue gear he debuted on TV in. He comes out in front of the Smackdown fist, nice touch. Bray asks the same question Angle did, "What makes you think you've got what it takes to hang with Bray Wyatt?". Intense Cena's answer? "RUTHLESS AGGRESSION!" Swing and a miss. Bray laughs. "RUTHLESS AGGRESSION!" Another miss. Bray says he's living Cena's worst failure right now. He can see why Cena almost got fired. "RUTHLESS AGGRESSION!" Another miss. And another. Bray asks Cena if this is what he really wants to do with his life and we get glimpses of Cena as a WWF fan kid. Cena charges but Bray disappears. Cena chases.

It's Saturday Night's Main Event! Going back in time. Bray is behind the old blue car steel cage. He gives a very '80s style promo saying what little talent you have doesn't matter, it's all about the muscles! A very '80s WWF attitude at times. And that's what his tag parter JOHNNY LARGEMEAT is all about, muscles! Some good double meaning here with Bray wearing his "You can't hurt it!" Fiend workout shirt, as his weight and lack of a classic "wrestling body" was always an issue with Vince, while Cena always had "the look" even if his talent was questioned at times. Cena comes in as Largemeat, pumping iron like crazy. Largemeat drops a bunch of cliches because that's all the promo he has. Pump that iron! He goes into overdrive and Abby gets googly eyed. Once he can't take any more he drops the weights, and has pumped so much iron he can't lift his arms to do anything! Mr. McBossMan from commentary: "Dammit, keep your hands up!". Bray goes full Hogan: "Whatcha gonna do brother, when you realize egomania has been running wild on YOU", pointing to Cena. Maybe being nothing but muscle won't get you anywhere after all, and there are other pathways to success if people like Cena didn't keep getting in the way.

Bray tosses Cena out of shot, and once again he's in front of the Smackdown fist, but this time as Doctor of Thuganomics Cena! The Word Life intro plays intercut with Fun House characters. Cena looks momentarily confused but quickly falls into character. He gets in the ring with Bray and rhyme promos, but this time none of his lines hit with the crowd. The "unlike Husky Harris, it's a weight I can manage" line gets a "awww" from the kids and a sad face from Bray. He says Bray's been a disappointment and he's blown every chance he's had. Bray says how dare John Cena talk to him about chances. He's had to fight for every chance he's gotten. Cena, he's the golden goose!. Everything given to him on a platter. But he's a bully. A horrible person. He'll give anything for fame. Bray says it's his last chance and gives him the floor. Cena throws deez nuts and tries to attack. Bray appears behind him and takes him out.

DAH! Wyatt Family Bray is back! "I was the color red in a world full of black and white. I had the whole world in my hands". Cena was supposed to be a man of the people. Why didn't he listen? Cut to a clip of the crowd at WM 30 singing "He's got the whole world in his hands" during their match. It was supposed to be a prophecy fulfilled, but turned into Bray's grandest failure. But now, it's time to rewrite the story. RUN. Cut back to the ring and Cena attacks. Bray cuts him off and dances with him, literally. Sister Abigail setup. Cena pulls away before it hits. Bray says "That's not enough to end it, Superman. But this is" and hands Cena a chair. In their WM 30 match Cena was faced with the temptation of using a chair in the match, and ultimately decided against it. "Six years ago you made the wrong choice, cowboy. Fix it!". This time Cena swings! Bray disappears! Bray finally gets Cena to expose the dark side he's been hiding for so long.

Monday Night Nitro intro! Bray is in the ring as NWO Eric Bischoff, once again recreating a promo. He introduces NWO John Cena! He's in full Hollywood Hogan mode. On the surface this is nothing more than a cool moment to see Cena as an NWO member. Maybe a little "what could have been" historical curio. But there's a much deeper meaning at work here. In fact it's the crux of this entire match. Cena has become Hollywood Hogan. While appearing to be the coolest guy in the room, he's really nothing more than a strutting egomaniac holding the entire company hostage while holding down all the younger talent trying to break out he supposedly supports. Mr. McBossMan drops his legendary "This is such good shit!" line from commentary. After a bit of strutting and too sweeting in the ring Cena drops out of character and attacks Bray! All of Cena's demons come out in clips from his past. He turns back into present day Cena. But he's punching out Huskus the Pig! He's doing nothing but harmlessly attacking Bray's past, while the present is waiting for revenge. The Fiend comes from behind! Cena almost looks like he accepts his fate before he turns around into the Mandible Claw. Sister Abigail setup. Cena's promo from the match build is replayed, its true meaning now laid bare. "This match is going to accomplish what should have happened six years ago: ending the existence of the most overhyped, overvalued, overprivileged WWE superstar". It turns out Cena wasn't talking about Bray. He was talking about himself. Sister Abigail hits. More Claw. Sweater Bray counts 3 and it's over. Revenge taken. Cena disappears as the Fiend stands tall.

LET ME IN.

Titus shock face. "I don't know what I just saw". Genius, man. Pure unadulterated genius. *****

 

THANK YOU BRAY