5 top moments from Batista's iconic WWE career that prove he has earned a Hall of Fame spot
Despite having a legendary WWE run, Batista recently revealed that he used to have doubts about his professional wrestling career being worthy of a Hall of Fame induction. The Animal's time as part of the Stamford-based wrestling promotion was nothing short of memorable.
The fact that he was part of the esteemed OVW class of 2002, along with John Cena, Randy Orton, and Brock Lesnar, made his quest for being a main eventer challenging. Despite the stacked competition, the wrestler-turned-Hollywood star rose to the top and kept his spot for over five years.
Now, not all memorable wrestling careers warrant a Hall of Fame induction. However, Batista's WWE journey is loaded with moments that should be celebrated in the prestigious ceremony that precedes WrestleMania.
That said, it's time to look back on five incredible moments that prove that the 55-year-old legend's WWE HOF induction is long overdue:
#5. Making a surprise WWE return months before appearing in the second-highest-grossing Hollywood movie of all time (RAW, February 25, 2019)
After leaving WWE in 2010, The Animal pursued acting as a full-time job. Despite landing multiple projects in the following years, the global audience still referred to him as a wrestling star. So, his return in 2014 felt like something that was always meant to happen.
However, once The Guardians of the Galaxy turned out to be a massive hit in the summer of 2014, Batista's stardom in the movie world rose to prominence. At that point, it started to look like an in-ring return was slowly vanishing off the card for him.
However, in a move that caught the wrestling world off-guard, the two-time WrestleMania main eventer made a startling return to the promotion in early 2019. The former Evolution member attacked Ric Flair on the latter's 70th birthday celebration, thus reigniting his feud with Triple H.
The fact that this high-profile WWE run occurred right before the release of Avengers: Endgame was a testament to how much Batista cherished his wrestling journey.
#4. Becoming a two-time Royal Rumble winner (Royal Rumble, January 26, 2014)
Batista's stint with the Sports Entertainment juggernaut in 2014 was by no means a homerun. Yet, it helped stack his resume for a future Hall of Fame induction.
In his first match back in nearly four years, the six-time WWE World Champion outlasted 29 other superstars to win the Royal Rumble match. That was his second Rumble win, and it happened nine years after the first one that turned him into a main-event superstar.
There's no denying that The Animal emerging victorious in the 30-man clash in 2014 didn't sit well with a majority of WWE fans. At the time, they were backing the erstwhile Daniel Bryan to punch his ticket to WrestleMania 30. When The American Dragon didn't participate in the match, fans turned on the stars competing in the match. Batista eliminated Roman Reigns to win the match amid loud boos from the crowd.
But keeping fans' disdain for the infamous night aside, the victory was essential for Batista. It helped him join the short list of all-time WWE greats who have more than one Royal Rumble victory to their names.
#3. Chill-inducing heel turn after spending over four years as a babyface (Bragging Rights, October 25, 2009)
After being chosen as one of the leading babyfaces of the Ruthless Aggression era in 2005, Batista spent four years building his profile as a good guy. By the fall of 2009, it appeared as though he would never even consider a heel turn again, given his solid connection with fans.
Yet, in a surprising turn of events, The Animal went ahead with WWE's bold decision to turn him heel. The character change occurred at Bragging Rights 2009 when the Hollywood star turned on his long-time friend and tag-team partner, Rey Mysterio.
There was uncertainty about Batista achieving the same success as a heel that he did as a babyface. But that didn't stop him from trying out a refreshing take on his on-screen persona. His ferocious treatment of Rey Mysterio that night instantly became a career highlight for the former Evolution member. The star went on to have a successful stint as the bad guy as he feuded with top babyfaces, including John Cena, over the next several months.
#2. Batista headlined his second-only WrestleMania (WrestleMania 21, April 3, 2005)
Headlining The Showcase of The Immortals has always been a dream of every wrestler who has stepped foot in a WWE ring. However, not every star is fortunate enough to be the headlining act on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
Even many celebrated WWE legends haven't gotten the opportunity to close a 'Mania. CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, and Ric Flair are among said trailblazers. Batista, on the other hand, scratched this prestigious accomplishment off his bucket list in his second outing at The Show of Shows.
He challenged Triple H for the World Heavyweight Title in the main event. The fact that The Animal headlined the same WrestleMania that featured memorable bouts such as Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero, The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle, and John Cena winning his first-ever WWE Championship, made Batista's crowning moment even more remarkable.
That was all the proof fans needed to believe that the company was all in on the Blade Runner 2049 star. The iconic visual of him celebrating with the World Heavyweight Championship to close 'Mania 21 deserves to be played during a Hall of Fame video package.
#1. Completing his babyface turn following months of a highly gripping slow-burn build (RAW, February 21, 2005)
WWE's history is filled with examples of stars turning heel or babyface out of the blue, leaving fans awe-struck.
Batista's transition to a babyface wasn't an unexpected one. The seeds were planted shortly after Evolution turned on Randy Orton following The Viper's maiden World Heavyweight Championship win at SummerSlam 2004. Throughout late 2004 and early 2005, multiple moments had fans convinced that The Animal would go solo.
During this period, Batista started getting deafening cheers from live crowds despite him still being a heel. The 55-year-old then won the 2005 Royal Rumble Match, which further intensified the drama as Triple H was one of the World Champions at the time. However, the muscle of Evolution teased going after the then-WWE Champion JBL.
On the February 21, 2005, edition of RAW, when it was finally time to make his decision, Batista chose the path that fans had been clamoring for him to walk. He attacked Triple H and Ric Flair and finally completed his face turn. Everything leading to the turn was expertly crafted, which resulted in this moment becoming a timeless gem.