Big Bash with Batista
BY SCOTT FISHMAN
Miami Herald Writer
At WrestleMania 21 the animal was unleashed winning the world title from a loathed Triple H. Since then, Batista has dominated the WWE circuit, defending the belt.
The 6-foot-5, 317-pound superstar emerged from the background as the enforcer of Evolution to one of WWE’s hottest performers.
The epic night in Los Angeles on the grand stage is a career highlight. For Batista it was life affirming and silenced critics who said he broke into the business too late in order to reach that pinnacle.
"It was so overwhelming on so many levels," said Batista, who began training with Afa the Wild Samoan in the spring 1999. “When that belt was handed to me it was unbelievable. It really was like living my dream. It couldn’t have happened any other way. That match with Triple H alone was a dream. To have it happen at WrestleMania and winning the world heavyweight title was a dream come true. It just didn’t seem real."
Taking into account what he achieved in such a short span, Batista doesn’t take for granted the knowledge he received from his mentors. Nobody else can say he won his first two championships in WWE teaming with the legendary Ric Flair (Armageddon 2003 and March 2004).
"I never minded standing in the shadows of [Triple H, Flair] two of the greatest wrestlers ever in the history of our industry," said Batista. "I never thought I would reach the levels that I have, and I have reached those levels because of those two. I never minded standing in the background and soaking up their knowledge they were willing to pass on."
Then earlier this year at Vengeance, Batista defeated Triple H in the Hell in the Cell. It marked his unprecedented third pay-per-view victory over the Game and Triple H’s first singles loss in the barbaric cage. It proved the confidence Triple H had for his protege.
"I think as far as being handed the torch, that remains to be seen," said Batista. "I’m still just getting my legs under me. I still have a lot to learn. I have tons of room to grow."
"The thing that Triple H told me, which really stands out in my mind, is enjoy the ride. It doesn’t come around often. It doesn’t come around a lot. When it comes around, it might not come around again. So enjoy it while it lasts, and I’m enjoying every second of it."
Reaching the top of his game, Batista remains adamant at staying grounded and not letting his ego run wild. He makes it a point to remain one of the boys in the locker room.
"If I went into the training room to get a band-aid, they would say, ‘Oh, you’re a champion. You’ve changed now and are all demanding. You want things,’" said Batista.
"It was in a joking manner, but I think everyone knows I’m a real down to earth guy. Everyone knows I wouldn’t change. They’ve just treated me the same."
A few weeks ago the world heavyweight champion became the victim of the draft lottery and was moved to SmackDown!. Within a week he went from the main event star on Raw to the centerpiece of SmackDown!.
Batista started with the blue brand in 2002 as a bodyguard for Reverend D-Von before moving to Raw a few months later.
"Now is the time to prove myself," said Batista. "I was in a comfort zone on Raw. The fans have come to know me. I’m a real quiet guy. I don’t say much. So I think it took the fans a long time to really get a sense of who I was."
"Now it’s starting over, coming over to SmackDown! and being on top. A lot of fans are true blue SmackDown! fans. They’re not even familiar with Raw. They would see just clips here and there every week on SmackDown!. They have to get to know me all over again. I do feel somewhat that I have to prove myself to them."
"What I loved about Raw, what I loved about live TV was there was that pressure. There was that stress factor. It was just a tense atmosphere. On SmackDown! it really is much more relaxed, which personally, I don’t like it."
"I like to get everybody riled up a little bit and get them a little tensed up — especially the younger guys who need that pressure to perform. Some perform their best when they are under pressure. That was what I loved so much about Raw."
On SmackDown! Batista enters into a different environment with a roster filled with technical wrestlers including Chris Benoit, Booker T., Christian and Eddy Guerrero. This is a far contrast from his physical ground-and-pound offensive attack.
"It’s a challenge and also an opportunity," said Batista. "I’ll get to learn from guys that I’ve never worked with before. Guys like the Undertaker, who I’m really looking forward to working with. Eddie Guerrero is just awesome. He is one of the best performers out there. I haven’t got to work with these guys, so it’s really great. There is just tons of talent on SmackDown!. I’m excited."
"The motto I live by is `if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.’ I’m not going to start doing all this crazy stuff. It’s not me. It’s not my character. I know what I do well, and that’s what I’m going to stick with. I’m not a technical wrestler. Never will be."
The champion’s choices of opponents are extremely diverse. Some familiar faces but others not even signed with the company — at least for now. However, Batista is ready to take on all comers.
"I would like to some point in time work with Rey Mysterio," said Batista. "He’s incredible. I’m just real excited that Randy Orton is making his in-ring comeback. We’re definitely going to spend some time in the ring together. I know there are rumors of Brock Lesnar making a return which I hope will be to SmackDown!. I definitely see a future between Brock and myself if he returns to SmackDown!."
On Sunday, July 24, Batista makes his first title defense on a SmackDown! pay-per-view during the Great American Bash against JBL – John Bradshaw Layfield. A challenger who shares some of the same traits as Triple H and a man who began his rise to the top at the same show last year.
"I think that saying JBL dominated SmackDown! like Triple H has dominated is a huge statement," said Batista. "I’m sure JBL would love that statement. After three main event, consecutive pay-per-views with Triple H, there is nothing more stressful than that."
"I’m really the most relaxed as I’ve ever been which might be a bad thing. I work my best under pressure, so we’ll see what happens. I’ve said before I’m at the top of my game now and continue to grow with confidence."
• While he comes off as fearless and unstoppable in the ring, when the cameras stop rolling Batista is an approachable, down-to-earth and somewhat mellow individual. However he wasn’t always this way.
"I try to stay relaxed and not get too wound up," said Batista. "As soon as you walk through that curtain, the crowd roars and the music hits. That adrenaline just goes sky high — just goes through the roof. It’s really at the snap of a finger."
"When I first started and when I was first taken under [Triple H's] wing, I was just so tense and so afraid to mess up. It just made me tense up more and more. He came to me and said, `Don’t worry about it. This is how you learn. Everybody messes up."
"It’s kind of what you do after you mess up. If you learn from your mistakes, that’s how you become better. That’s probably the best advice I’ve ever gotten just because it helped me to relax. It helped me not to be tense and so afraid to do things wrong because that’s really how you learn."
As Batista continues to grow as a performer and improve, he begins his new five-year deal he signed with the company in April as world heavyweight champion. Already reaching the pinnacle of the business, the question remains where the superstar’s future leads.
"At this point I think I’ve accomplished a million times more than I ever thought I would," said Batista. "In this business you really don’t, or I don’t look to the future much. I try to play it day-by-day because it could be over with a bad fall and your career can be over like that."
"It’s a freak thing where a guy ran into me wrong, and I was out for seven months. Right now I’m just going to enjoy this world heavyweight championship that I have and play it week-to-week."
• Batista becomes the first person to defend the world heavyweight championship at a SmackDown! pay-per-view 8 p.m. Sunday, July 24 against John Bradshaw Layfield at the Great American Bash from the HSBC Arena in Buffalo.
In other action Miami’s Orlando Jordan puts the United States championship on the line against Chris Benoit. Jordan was trained by former WWE star Rocky Johnson.
Road Warrior Animal makes his first Bash appearance since 1989 when he teams with Heidenreich to challenge tag champs Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro. Melina takes on Torrie Wilson in a bra and panties match with Candice Michelle as special referee.
The Undertaker faces Muhammad Hassan in a No. 1 contender’s match. Eddy Guerrero faces Rey Mysterio where if Guerrero wins he will tell Rey’s family secret. Booker T. vs. Christian. In a six-man tag the BWO battles the Mexicools.
• WWE visits South Florida for a house show (no television) on Saturday, Aug. 27 at the Office Depot Center in Sunrise. Visit the WWE web site, TicketMaster online or the ODC online for details.
• The WWE pay-per-view Royal Rumble will be in South Florida on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006. There is a contest through WWE and ASDA cereal buyers in the United Kingdom to win a trip to the Royal Rumble.
07.22.05 source: themiamiherald.com
