While Gacy chugs along with what’s left of Schism – it has been widely reported that Fowler and Reid are on their way out of WWE – he’s quick to widen the distinction between he and Wyatt, who hasn’t led a faction since The Wyatt Family effectively disbanded shortly after Wrestlemania 33, despite on again/off again rumors of a new stable, rumored to be known as The Wyatt 6.

“I understand, years ago, Bray did a cult leader-type thing,” admits Gacy. “I guess you could say maybe that aspect of Bray is similar [to] what I’m doing but I believe what I’m doing now is very different than what Bray has done.”

Beyond that, it isn’t as though the cult leader gimmick began with Wyatt, and Gacy recognizes as much, citing examples from wrestling history to further illustrate frustration at the quick links to Wyatt.

“Bray is not the first person to do this thing,” he said. “I don’t know why people just have to go right to [him.] Nobody brings up Kevin Sullivan. Nobody brings up Waylon Mercy.”

Sullivan, as The Taskmaster, helped spearhead The Dungeon of Doom in WCW while Mercy, as portrayed by Dan Spivey, employed similar character traits, inspired by the Max Cady character from “Cape Fear,” though never actually putting together a group of followers.

If Gacy had to credit inspiration from any of the three named predecessors, he pointed to Sullivan “more than the other two.” But largely, it sounds like he remains dedicated to carving out his own path moving forward, with or without any sort of cult following.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Out of Character with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.