Everything That Happened In Strange Pitch Black Match

Bray Wyatt defeated LA Knight in a strange Pitch Black. Following the victory, Uncle Howdy appeared to cause his own demise as he leapt off the stage, with pyro going off as soon as he crash-landed.

WWE continues to incorporate product placement in its matches, this time with a Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match. WWE’s previous crossover matches have included a battle royal sponsored by Pizza Hut and a Zombie Match sponsored by Netflix’sNFLX
Army of the Dead.

With the Pitch Black Match, however, WWE found a way to organically back into this match as with a form-fitting storyline. The theme of a Pitch Black match fits perfectly with the dark and creepy ethos of the Bray Wyatt character. With little explained about how a Pitch Black match would play out, there was intrigue surrounding this unique stipulation.

LA Knight, meanwhile—designed to be the fall guy for Bray Wyatt’s much-heralded comeback—has shined in his role. Knight has made the most out of a seemingly inevitable loss by using his polarizing Attitude Era-style character to actually get over. Knight is being positioned as a heel, but his combination of irreverence and bombast have made him endearing as a Bray Wyatt foil.

Stars who typically work with this incarnation of Wyatt find themselves taking a step or two back by the end of the feud. Seth Rollins had a cataclysmic fall from grace after being on the wrong side of one of WWE’s most infuriating finishes in history. With LA Knight essentially playing with house money, he figures to leave the table on a heater.

WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Pitch Black Match

LA Knight made his entrance before WWE threw to a video package of events leading up to the Pitch Black match. Wyatt made his entrance to a loud reception. The match began in the ring, and while the lights went out, the action was still visible. It was more of a Black Light match than a Pitch Black Match. Knight wore neon trunks and knee pads while Wyatt donned glow-in-the-dark facepaint.

Wyatt dominated early, but LA Knight turned things around beginning with a table spot on Wyatt. When the table exploded, hundreds of neon pellets exploded with it. After some brawling on the outside, Knight armed himself with a kendo stick and connected with a few shots against Wyatt. Wyatt thwarted Knight’s assault and came back with a sudden Sister Abigail.

After the win, Wyatt re-emerged with a new mask. The mask was similar to the rumored Huskus mask that circulated on social media while Wyatt was away. Wyatt chased LA Knight to the stage to deliver the Mandible Claw. This brought out Uncle Howdy, who launched itself off the stage, seemingly to his demise.