Batista Debuts, 1999
WXW Photo Gallery UPDATED
Screencaps and photos from Batista’s earliest professional work as Kahn with WXW (SportsFest 99) and the Wild Samoan Training Center. Plus other pictures from Allentown, PA. {05/27 Update:Photo Gallery server fixed!}
Batista was 30 years old and knew his future was in professional wrestling. He had already gone through a bad tryout with WCW at the Power Plant Training Center and was looking for other options. Number one on his list was to get the attention of the WWF. To get to the big stage he would need training. With the help of his friends Batista moved his family to Allentown, PA in March 1999 to start school under Afa Anoa’i at the Wild Samoan Training Center.
During his time there Batista learned the basics but only one month into training he suffered the first of many injuries that would later plague his career. A torn triceps would keep Batista on the sidelines for the next six months. When he returned Afa worked one-on-one with the future superstar and eventual Batista got in the ring for a few thirty second squash matches.
On July 11, 1999, Gillberg, a wrestler who had had some success as a Bill Goldberg parody act, issued an open challenge to the WXW locker room at SportsFest99. Batista, competing at that time without a ring name, accepted. The crowd watched on as the unnamed giant destroyed Gillberg in seconds.
