ARTICLE AD
Uncle Howdy made a powerful return to WWE television, taking the reins of the Wyatt Sicks faction, which was originally part of Bray Wyatt’s vision. Now, this faction is causing havoc on RAW, particularly targeting the American Made faction. The August 26 episode of WWE RAW featured Uncle Howdy’s highly anticipated in-ring return against Chad Gable, bringing a surge of excitement to the show.
Bo Dallas, the man behind Uncle Howdy, had not stepped into the ring for quite some time. His last official match was not as Uncle Howdy but as Bo Dallas, which took place on November 13, 2019, at a WWE Live event in Zürich. There, he teamed up with Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode to face Chad Gable (back when he was Shorty G) and The Lucha House Party. Although Dallas had been involved in physical segments within Bray Wyatt’s storylines, this marked Uncle Howdy’s first official match, and Gable was once again involved.
This match was the main event of the night, with entrances beginning twenty minutes before the broadcast ended. Chad Gable, confident as ever, was suddenly thrown off when the lights dimmed, and the fireflies emerged, signaling the arrival of Uncle Howdy.
Howdy, accompanied by the Wyatt Sicks, made his eerie entrance, slowly approaching a lantern placed on the ground before heading to the ring. He entered with the same music Bray Wyatt used before his passing, a poignant moment that saw the ring enveloped in smoke.
By the time Uncle Howdy blew out the lantern, Chad Gable had retreated outside the ring, looking stunned. “I’m not afraid of you!” Gable shouted, though his bravado faltered as Howdy tossed him around the ring like a rag doll. Gable scrambled outside once more before Howdy taunted the camera with a chilling “Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah” as the show cut to commercial.
When the broadcast returned, Howdy was evading a high-risk splash from Chad Gable, a move that didn’t pay off for the former American Alpha member. The two traded punches in the ring, but Howdy remained unfazed.
The fight eventually spilled to ringside, where Gable delivered a clothesline off the top rope to Howdy. The Rhode Island crowd’s chants of “You Suck” visibly rattled Gable. Suddenly, Howdy reversed one of Gable’s moves into a backdrop, regaining control. Howdy then sent Gable over the announce table, but Gable managed to reverse the momentum with an Olympic Slam on the table.
After Howdy barely beat the referee’s 10-count, the action moved to the top rope. Gable executed a suplex on Howdy but failed to secure the win. The sold-out crowd erupted with chants for Uncle Howdy as Gable landed three German suplexes. The boos intensified as Gable pulled down his straps and prepared to finish Howdy.
In a nod to Bray Wyatt, Howdy performed the iconic upside-down look from the turnbuckle, followed by a uranage and a two-count. As the crowd rallied behind him, Howdy attempted a Sister Abigail, but Ivy Nile’s interference distracted both the referee and Howdy.
Gable capitalized by locking in an ankle lock, but a collision with the referee left him incapacitated. Uncle Howdy then applied a Mandible Claw on Gable, and the Creed Brothers emerged to drag Howdy to ringside for a beatdown. However, Howdy only laughed as the lights dimmed again. The Wyatt Sicks reappeared, attacking Brutus and Julius Creed, while Ivy Nile was carried away on Erick Rowan’s back.
Back in the ring, Howdy dodged a moonsault from Chad Gable and nailed a Sister Abigail for the win. This match was a monumental moment for Bo Dallas, wrestling his first match in nearly five years. It was also a poignant tribute for Bray Wyatt fans, as the night honored his legacy in spectacular fashion. RAW concluded with Uncle Howdy celebrating in a smoke-filled ring as the lights flickered ominously.
What’s your take on Uncle Howdy’s first match in WWE? Do you think a title reign could be in his future? Share your thoughts in the comments section!