Bray Wyatt and the Best WWE Mic Mastery for Week of September 7

With the arena awash in blackness, Bray Wyatt, the sinister general of a dark army, delivered one of his most focused and precise addresses to date.

On Thursday's WWE SmackDown, the cackling madman took aim at Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and anyone who would dare associate with them. The promo didn't have as much poetic imagery or as many haunting lines as many of his previous rants, but he traded artistry for effectiveness.

More straightforward than usual, Wyatt laid out the stakes of his feud with Reigns, painted himself as a a menacing predator and, most importantly, hyped up the upcoming six-man battle at Night of Champions.

Wyatt has long been one of WWE's best mic workers. His issue hasn't been with delivery or language but focus. Sometimes his speeches have felt more like a virtuoso guitarist fiddling around on stage rather than delivering a tight, powerful riff.

Sometimes The Eater of Worlds meanders verbally, leaving the audience unsure of where to direct their attention.

That was not the case on Thursday night in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. With his soldiers standing behind him, Wyatt kicked off SmackDown, his rage pointed straight at Reigns and Ambrose.

This wasn't just a series of metaphors and vague threats. This was a precursor to the latest collision in what is, as he put it, "two families set to go war with each other for all time."

Luke Harper and Braun Strowman each played minor roles, providing bookends to Wyatt's diatribe. Strowman closed it by telling the heroes to run. Harper introduced the patriarch of The Wyatt Family, promising that his leader will show us the way.

It's smart to use these two like this. For one, they aren't nearly as skilled on the mic as Wyatt, so limiting their promos makes sense. It also feeds into the cult-leader gimmick. It's not the followers who make the speeches—it's the shepherd.

Wyatt didn't make this all about him and his clan, tough. He did well to paint a picture of Reigns and Ambrose, showing the crowd his distorted perception of his enemies.

The Man of 1,000 Truths tried to convince those listening that Reigns was a cult leader of sorts himself. Reigns is just using the fans, he claimed. Wyatt told the crowd, "He does not care about any single one of you."

In Wyatt's mind, Reigns only cares about ascending to the world title. Once he has that prize, we will all see his hidden darkness.

Reminding us that Reigns' goal is the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is wise. That's where this whole thing started, with Wyatt preventing Reigns from getting his hands on the Money in the Bank briefcase and guaranteed title shot inside.

And as twisted as Wyatt's logic is, it's a welcome sight to have a villain have a real reason for his dastardly action. Wyatt is trying to save us from a man he views as a monster in disguise.

As for Ambrose, Wyatt just believes him to be a mindless follower caught up in a situation he doesn't understand.

The Eater of Worlds described Ambrose as loyal, unstable and, in a way, a victim. Wyatt said, "He is unable to comprehend the fact that he is being dragged around like a rag doll and fed to the wolves at will." Of course, this backwoods clan with a love for sheep masks represents the wolves, the predators Wyatt spoke of.

Credit: WWE.com

That image is key. Wyatt's insanity and misguided views are compelling, but he needs to be fearsome in order for this story to work. He and his crew aren't just blockades to Reigns' quest—they are the fang-baring beasts threatening to tear him up during his journey.

Wyatt excelled in creating that sense of danger on Thursday night.

He threatened Jimmy Uso, warning him not to team with his cousin. He reminded everyone what he and his family did to Randy Orton on Monday night. Orton may be The Viper, but Wyatt said he was something worse.

He told fans, "I am the serpent and I am more than ready to devour this world."

All of that wouldn't have been nearly as effective if Wyatt didn't tie it all together and build toward the six-man match set for Night of Champions. With a grin, the heel promised doomsday for his enemies at the pay-per-view.

Reigns and Ambrose have a mystery partner waiting in the wings for that night. That fact doesn't faze Wyatt. He shouted, "And it will not matter if there is two of you, or three of you, or five of you, or 879 of you."

That line reminds fans of the as-yet-unseen warrior in this fight. It adds to the ominous aura Wyatt has created.

Now it's time to have the WWE writing team build on that.

Too often, Wyatt's story has been one of threats made hollow by failure. He talks of his monstrous ways only to be taken down without enough carnage left in his wake. John Cena didn't suffer near enough in his feud with him. Undertaker seems to have completely forgotten his tussles with Wyatt.

Having Wyatt and his family tear apart Orton on Monday and Uso at the end of SmackDown is a start.

More of that is needed to fully sell fans on Wyatt. Win or lose, it's time now for WWE to follow up Wyatt's words with his wrath.