David Bautista

name=David Bautista

Career

Early career

Before getting into professional wrestling, Batista worked as a bouncer in various clubs, and was once arrested for brawling with a man even though his actions were taken in self-defense.

Related Topics:
Bouncer - Clubs

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Batista's wrestling career began when he met Curt Hennig and Joseph Laurinaitis (Road Warrior Animal) at a bodybuilding meeting. He tried out at the WCW Power Plant but was told he'd never make it in the wrestling business. He then went to the WWF who sent him to work with Afa Anoai. He wrestled in Anoai's WXW promotion under the name Kahn.

Related Topics:
Curt Hennig - Joseph Laurinaitis - Bodybuilding - WCW - Power Plant - Afa Anoai - Promotion - Name

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He made his TV debut in Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2000, joining forces with Synn. During his tenure in OVW he used the name Leviathan. As a member of the Disciples of Synn stable he won the OVW Heavyweight Championship from 'The Machine' Doug Basham. After losing the belt to The Prototype, Synn felt Batista was getting too independent and "sold" him to Reverend D-Von to begin his WWE career.

Related Topics:
TV - Ohio Valley Wrestling - 2000 - Synn - Stable - Doug Basham - The Prototype - Reverend D-Von

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World Wrestling Entertainment

Batista began his WWE career as Deacon Batista a heel enforcer for Reverend D-Von on the SmackDown! brand. Batista made his WWE match debut in a tag match teaming with D-Von against Randy Orton & Faarooq with Batista pinning Orton. After splitting with D-Von (and defeating D-Von after a Batista Bomb), he went to RAW and was rebranded as Dave Batista, or simply Batista.

Related Topics:
Heel - Enforcer - SmackDown! - Randy Orton - Faarooq - Batista Bomb - RAW

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After establishing himself as a monster through a series of squash matches, including one where he maliciously spinebusted Tajiri twice, then did his dreaded Batista Bomb to him, then viciously choked Tajiri until green goo came from his mouth, sending him to the hospital for a long recovery, he aligned himself with Ric Flair and feuded with Kane, getting a couple of wins over Kane. First, at the November 25, 2002 episode of RAW, with Batista capitalizing after Kane had been whacked with a steel chair by Ric Flair and again at Armageddon 2002, with the help of Ric Flair and his dreaded Batista Bomb.

Related Topics:
Squash matches - Spinebusted - Tajiri - Ric Flair - Feuded - Kane

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In January 2003 he joined Triple H, Ric Flair, and Randy Orton to become part of Evolution. But his career went to halt when he experienced a tore bicep at a house show event. Then he tore his right tricep running with his wife and had surgery under Dr James Andrews, who is basically the surgeon of the WWE.

Related Topics:
January 2003 - Triple H - Evolution

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Batista made his return at the October 20, 2003, episode of RAW, interfering in the Goldberg vs. Shawn Michaels match and "shattering" Goldberg's ankle by putting it in a chair and jumping off the second rope onto the chair. In his first match since his return, Batista defeated Maven. On the November 10, 2003, episode of RAW, Goldberg faced Batista and won by DQ when Triple H interfered and attempted to hit Goldberg with the infamous sledgehammer. This led to Triple H, Randy Orton & Batista facing Goldberg in a handicap match, with Triple H getting the pinfall victory after the Pedigree.

Related Topics:
October 20 - 2003 - Goldberg - Shawn Michaels - Maven - November 10

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The next week, November 24 episode of RAW, Batista & Ric Flair paired up as a team but lost to Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels in a tag team match. Batista got his revenge, by choking Michaels until he (Michaels) bled from the mouth.

Related Topics:
November 24 - Chris Jericho

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At Armageddon 2003, Batista took part in two matches, first he faced Shawn Michaels in a singles match but lost after a superkick, The dismayed Batista then won the World Tag Team titles after Ric Flair entered himself, and Batista in a tag team turmoil match later in the night. The pair won after defeating The Dudley Boyz last in the match after D-Von got planted with a Batista Bomb.

Related Topics:
Armageddon 2003 - The Dudley Boyz

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On the February 16, 2004, edition of RAW, Batista and Ric Flair lost the World Tag titles to Booker T and Rob Van Dam. Flair was just about to win the match with Booker locked in the figure four leglock but Van Dam nailed Flair with the Five Star frog splash and Booker made the cover, pinning Ric.

Related Topics:
February 16 - 2004 - Booker T - Rob Van Dam

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Batista went on to win the World Tag-Team Championship a second time with Flair, and even held it during a stretch when all the men's championship belts on RAW - the World Heavyweight Championship, WWE Intercontinental Championship and World Tag Team Championship - were all held by members of Evolution, one belt for each of its four members.

Related Topics:
World Tag-Team Championship - World Heavyweight Championship - WWE Intercontinental Championship

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In late 2004, things began to change in Evolution. After Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship, Triple H kicked him out of the group, because he believed the title Orton held was his. Although Batista was the first Evolution member to physically attack Orton, this was a wake-up call for Batista, because he realized that it wouldn't matter how much he went over, Triple H and his obsession with being the champ would hold him down. Batista stayed with Evolution, but remained cautious. At Survivor Series 2004, Triple H, Batista, Gene Snitsky, and Edge were defeated by Maven, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and Orton in a match that decided who would control RAW for one month. This only added to the unrest between Evolution.

Related Topics:
Survivor Series - Gene Snitsky - Maven

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Early 2005

At New Year's Revolution in January 2005, Orton warned him that "Triple H doesn't give a damn about you." Later that night, Batista, along with Orton, Benoit, Triple H, Chris Jericho, and Edge competed in an Elimination Chamber match for the vacant World Championship. Near the end of the match, Benoit, Jericho, and Edge were eliminated. Batista and Triple H double-teamed Orton, but Orton gained the upper hand and nailed Batista with a lowblow and the RKO, but Triple H did nothing to stop his partner in Evolution from getting pinned, although he could've. This helped to prove Orton's statement earlier that night. Triple H won the match, but this would only be the first step to something bigger.

Related Topics:
New Year's Revolution - Edge - Elimination Chamber

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His Royal Rumble victory on January 30, 2005 earned him the right to participate in the main event of WrestleMania 21 against the champion of his choice; on Monday Night Raw, February 22, 2005, Batista turned on Triple H and Ric Flair after overhearing them discuss Triple H's plan to get Batista to leave for SmackDown! – (a plan which included staging WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield running him over with his limo). He turned his back on them by signing a new contract with the RAW brand to face World Heavyweight Champion Triple H at WrestleMania 21, officially leaving the Evolution stable. And in case Triple H didn't get the message, Batista powerbombed HHH through a table.

Related Topics:
Royal Rumble - January 30 - 2005 - WrestleMania 21 - February 22 - Turned - WWE Champion - John Bradshaw Layfield - Limo - Stable

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Prior to Wrestlemania, Batista admitted that at first he didn't mind playing second fiddle to Triple H, "but things changed." He declared that when Randy Orton won the World Heavyweight Championship, when Batista won the Royal Rumble, among other things, it was all about Triple H. That's why he decided to stay on RAW and face his former mentor.

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Batista won his first World Heavyweight Championship on April 3, 2005 after defeating Triple H with a Batista Bomb.

Related Topics:
April 3 - 2005

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World Heavyweight Champion

At Backlash, on May 1, 2005, Batista once again faced Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship. Batista retained the title, thanks to the Batista Bomb, but continued to feud with Triple H.

Related Topics:
Backlash - May 1 - Feud

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On May 23, 2005 Batista also successfully defeated Edge to retain his title. Edge had won the Gold Rush Tournament on Monday Night Raw with help from his heel girlfriend Lita, who turned on her husband Kane. During the match Ric Flair appeared to come out into the ring to help Batista, and Batista defeated Edge with a Batista Bomb; in actuality it was just a set-up. Ric Flair disabled Batista with a low blow so Triple H could beat him with his trademark sledgehammer. The show closed with Batista a bloody mess after Triple H pedigreed his head onto the World Heavyweight Championship. During the brutal attack, Triple H said to Batista, "Hell-in-a-Cell" setting up a match at Vengeance

Related Topics:
May 23 - Edge - Gold Rush Tournament - Lita - Sledgehammer - Pedigreed - Vengeance

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On May 30, Batista faced Muhammad Hassan. Angered by his humiliation at the hands of Triple H, Batista took out his frustrations on Hassan and his manager, Daivari. Batista was disqualified for not releasing Hassan from a turnbuckle choke before the count of five, but appeared not to care whether he won or lost. After the match, Batista avoided an attempt at retribution by Hassan, repeatedly driving his head into the concrete before leveling him with a steel chair shot to the head. He then finished off Hassan and Daivari each with a Batista Bomb, sending a message to Triple H. As a result of the beating, Hassan and Daivari threatened to file a lawsuit against RAW, and Eric Bischoff compromised by granting them a shot at the Intercontinental Championship against Shelton Benjamin in a handicap match.

Related Topics:
May 30 - Muhammad Hassan - Manager - Daivari - Steel chair shot - Lawsuit - Eric Bischoff - Shelton Benjamin - Handicap match

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At Vengeance 2005 in Las Vegas on June 26, Batista survived the pedigree and won the Hell in a Cell match following a spinebuster onto the steel steps and a Batista Bomb.

Related Topics:
Vengeance 2005 - Las Vegas - June 26 - Pedigree

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On June 30, John Bradshaw Layfield was celebrating his victory in a 6 man elimination match to win the new Smackdown World Championship, when SmackDown! manager Theodore Long informed the former WWE Champ that there was no need for the new belt, because Smackdown already had a World Champion, Batista's music hit, and the shocked crowd popped as the World Champion made his way to the ring.

Related Topics:
June 30 - John Bradshaw Layfield - Theodore Long

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Batista on SmackDown!

Batista defeated Christian on July 7, 2005 after a fairly long non-title match with a running powerslam, spinebuster and a Batista Bomb. Before the match, he interfered in a match between JBL and The Blue Meanie, giving JBL a spinebuster to help seal Meanie's victory. JBL, with Orlando Jordan, tried to get back at Batista by attacking him as soon as the match was over but was unsuccessful and instead saw his Chief of Staff, Orlando Jordan getting Batista Bombed. Giving Batista the last laugh and sending a message to JBL.

Related Topics:
Christian - July 7 - The Blue Meanie - Orlando Jordan

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Batista and JBL met in a match at The Great American Bash on July 24, 2005 for the World Heavyweight Championship. When the referee was knocked out, Orlando Jordan tried to interfere in the match by hitting Batista with a steel chair shot but Batista ripped the steel chair out of Orlando's hands and smashed JBL and Orlando over the head. Unfortunately, the referee was awake by the time Batista was getting ready to hit them and disqualified Batista after seeing him strike JBL and Orlando Jordan with the steel chair. After Batista heard the bell and realized that he was disqualified, he decided to finish off his rivals each with 11 steel chair shots to the back and head. As he was heading up the ramp with his Heavyweight Championship Title, Batista snapped after hearing the announcement of JBL being the official victor of the match and stormed back into the ring where he hit JBL and Orlando each with a Batista Bomb.

Related Topics:
The Great American Bash - July 24

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At SummerSlam 2005, Batista faced JBL in a rematch for the title after JBL, due to interference from Randy Orton, defeated The Undertaker in a match for the number one contendership for the World Heavyweight Championship. It was highly speculated that Muhammad Hassan would be the challenger for the title, however, due to the controversy surrounding the July 7 edition of SmackDown, WWE was forced to remove him off of SmackDown, and therefore, the match could not materialize.

Related Topics:
SummerSlam 2005 - The Undertaker - World Heavyweight Championship - Muhammad Hassan - July 7

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At Summerslam in the No Holds Barred match (a stipulation choosen by Batista's opponent, JBL) Batista took full advantage of the stipulation by using weapons such as a leather belt, and even the security barrier at ringside as he speared JBL through it. Batista finished his opponent off by first hitting a Batista Bomb on the mat, then another one on the steel steps pinning JBL and retaining the World Heavyweight Title.

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The Smackdown! after Summerslam, Batista teamed up with Chris Benoit & Rey Mysterio to face JBL, Orlando Jordan and Eddie Guerrero. The faces won the match when Orlando received Mysterio's 619, Benoit's German suplex and when Batista finished off Orlando with the Batista Bomb.

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He defeated JBL to retain the World Heavyweight Championship in a Texas Bullrope Match on the first episode of Friday Night SmackDown on September 9th. Batista had just hit the Batista Bomb and was hitting the corners unbeknownst JBL was doing the same. JBL rolled over Batista's back, nearly getting the last corner, until Batista dragged him back into a spinebuster. Batista then hit the last corner, winning the match.

Related Topics:
Texas Bullrope Match - September 9th

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On the September 16, 2005 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, a new number one contender, Eddie Guerrero, was named for Batista's World Heavyweight Championship. The two will face each other at the SmackDown exclusive pay-per-view, No Mercy. Also, in the same night, Batista faced the WWE Cruiserweight Champion, Nunzio. Batista defeated Nunzio easily, finishing off the CW Champion with the Batista Bomb.

Related Topics:
September 16 - 2005 - Eddie Guerrero - Pay-per-view - No Mercy - WWE Cruiserweight Champion - Nunzio

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On the September 23 episode of Friday Night SD!, Batista and Eddie Guerrero faced the team of MNM. Earlier in the night, Eddie claimed he had food poisoning. Eddie came down anyway but would watch from ringside as Batista did all the work. Batista had just planted Joey Mercury with the Batista Bomb, when Eddie tagged in and jumped off the top rope with a Frogsplash to Mercury and pinned him. As Eddie celebrated, an irate Batista stared a hole through Eddie.

Related Topics:
September 23 - MNM - Joey Mercury

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On the September 30 episode of FNS, Batista and Eddie would face The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Heidenreich) for the WWE Tag Team Championships. The match was declared a DQ win for LOD when MNM would interfere and smack LOD with steel chairs. Batista had seen enough and was about to deliver a Batista Bomb to Johnny Nitro, when Eddie swung a chair at Joey Mercury. Mercury ducked and Eddie hit Batista in the back with the chair. Eddie shouted at Mercury "Why'd you move?!" and threw the chair at Mercury. Mercury caught the chair and Eddie fell to the ground. When Batista turned around he saw a knocked-out Eddie, with Mercury holding the chair. A livid Batista caught a running Mercury with a spinebuster and then smacked Mercury in the back with the chair.

Related Topics:
September 30 - Road Warrior Animal - Heidenreich

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On October 3 Batista made an appearance at RAW homecoming. He was supposed to team up with Rey Mysterio and Chris Benoit to take on JBL, Christian, and Eddie Guerrero. But, Eric Bischoff, RAW's General Manager cancelled the match. Batista and the Smackdown! Superstars stormed the ring when Theodore Long decided to end the Show with a RAW VS Smackdown! Street Brawl. Batista was about to slam Bischoff with the Batista Bomb but the RAW Superstars arrived before he could perform it. The Street Brawl was lost against the RAW Superstars.

Related Topics:
October 3 - RAW - Rey Mysterio - Chris Benoit - JBL - Christian - Eddie Guerrero - Eric Bischoff

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