An executive for WWE reportedly emailed the information to a boxing reporter, indicating Batista was en route to Las Vegas. Batista is scheduled to carry one of Pacquiao’s title belts to the ring prior to the fight.

Batista and Pacquiao are linked by their Filipino heritage. Batista is half-Filipino and Pacquiao was born in the Phillipines.

Read more at: http://philboxing.com/news/story-23934.html

Watch preview here.

Encounter in Minnesota gym started path to rasslin' stardom
Posted: Oct. 30, 2006

More than 3,000 people waited in line for hours Saturday for a chance to shake hands and take pictures with "The Animal" at Southridge Mall. If you are a World Wrestling Entertainment fan, you know that David Batista, 37, has become one of the most recognizable stars on the roster. At 6-foot-5 and weighing more than 315 pounds with tattoos and good looks, he has attracted just as many women fans as men. After signing hundreds of autographs, mall security had to rush the former champion, like a rock star, out the back door of the Penney's Styling Salon. He stopped behind the mall to speak with Urban Affairs Editor James E. Causey about his rise to the top and the wrestling game.

Q. You gained the World Heavyweight title by defeating Triple H at WrestleMania 21. Was that your crowning achievement?

A. It was a huge achievement for me and a real dream come true because I never thought I would make it that far. To get the opportunity to work with people like Triple H and Ric Flair at that stage of my career is something a lot of wrestlers don't get a chance to do.

Q. I heard that Road Warrior Animal and the late Curt Hennig influenced your career. How did that happen?

A. I met both of them at a gym in Minnesota, and they really put a spark in me to consider professional wrestling. So I tried out during an open tryout and the rest is history. I come to events like this in the hopes that maybe I can spark someone else out there to try to make it in this industry.

Q. It wasn't all lights and glitter. What was your experience like at the WCW Power Plant training facility?

A. It was horrible. There was this little trainer . . . a guy who went by the name Sarge, who was about 5-foot-5 who tried to run me into the ground. He told me that I didn't have what it takes to make it in the industry. I was the biggest guy there, and he really took it upon himself to try and break me down, but I didn't let him.

Q. Your World Wrestling Entertainment debut (in 2002) was a total squash of Justin Credible. What was that like?

A. It was cool and one of my early mismatches. I was glad to work with Justin, he's a great guy. But I was not able to sell myself in the business. It's hard to show what you can do in squash matches. While a squash is good, you show what you can do in 30-minute matches. I didn't want to be the 30-second squash guy like Bill Goldberg. I remember that match with Justin; he was a little intimidated by my size. He didn't like to roughhouse and he had this look on his face like I would kill him.

Q. At 37 years old, you're still in your prime, but a lot of wrestlers have gotten into acting. Can we expect the same from you?

A. I do have a role coming up in (the CW network show) "Smallville" next month and that was my first acting experience outside of what we do in WWE. What I learned is that you have to branch out to market yourself. I have two more years left on my (wrestling) contract, and I would like to accomplish some more things in the ring, while at the same time other wrestlers have successfully laid the groundwork for doing a lot more. It will be interesting to see what the future brings.

JS Online (posted 10/30/2006)

Kahn debuts in WXW

 Batista discusses a number of topics including his athletic background, his feelings on making the move from Raw to SmackDown!, paying his dues, injury, shyness and more in this registered members only exclusive radio interview.  Plus, we've got the in-studio photographs.

The Zone interview and pictures

*Special thanks go out to Sarah, Carol and Larry and Angie at 104.5 FM

From April 23 WWE wrestlers are touring through Germany. On this occasion SPIEGEL ONLINE talked with former World heavyweight Champion Dave Bautista about wrestling, drug controls and the rumour that a dead wrestler should rise from dead.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: On Sunday, April 23, WWE will start their tour through Germany. Do the European fans view less than the Americans?

Dave Bautista: Yes and no. The advantage is that we are less limited contrary to the TV shows. These shows don’t have huge build-ups or entrances with the fireworks, but we have more time. This let us to pay more attention to the audience and, of course, matches take profit of this. A successful wrestler has more success when he is able integrate with the audiences.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: During these tours critical voices can be heard more often. How would you explain to those critics what wrestling is?

Bautista: Wrestling is entertainment. It should not be taken too seriously. It offers good maintenance. Sometime it is extravagant, sometimes dramatic, sometimes funny. Wrestling has a lot of different layers but at the end it serves for only purpose: to watch and to have fun. Some of those critics just do one mistake – they take wrestling too serious. Sometimes you can hear people saying wrestling is ridiculous. Great because this is exactly what it should be. Entertainment.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: What do you say to the reproaches that wrestling is violent?

Bautista: It is violent. At least it has this side. I would like to imagine us as a storytellers. We tell stories and use the psychology of the ring. We let the audience be part of the show and cast the spell of the fight over them.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Due to an injury you will not join the tour. Are you sad about this?

Bautista: Of course I am. But I know that it would be a mistake to get back in the ring too early. The officials’ would not allow me to do that and myself do not want to do it either. I would risk my health by going into the ring ahead of schedule and this wouldn’t help anybody. At the moment my return is planned in beginning of May.

SPIEGEL ONLINE:  How did you feel when you had to relinquish your title in January in front of thousands of people?

Bautista: It broke my heart. It was not because of the fact I had to relinquish the title, but how I had to do that. I wanted to do it properly. I wanted to create a star. This is wrestling tradition. You retire as champion with laying on your back and by doing that you create a new superstar.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: It sounds as if, with surrendering your title, you also said goodbye to your career. Doesn’t there another chance to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion again?

Bautista: I hope to get another opportunity for title. But on the other hand I understand that I have had my time standing in the spotlight. If the fans really want me to get back as champion again, then maybe I will do so. But honestly I do not get younger and the wrestling world keeps on turning.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: How long do you think will be in wrestling? 

Bautista: My contract expires in 4 years and I want fulfill those years. After 4 years I will sit down and start to think what to do next. At this moment I would say that I want to stay in the wrestling business in one or another way. But 4 years is time which keeps my away from my family constantly. And the couch at home may look very enticing.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: What is it that makes a wrestler keep going?

Bautista: The feelings the fans give you. That makes you feel high. No matter how hurt you body is, but after you step through the curtain and you hear how 20 or 30 thousands fans cheering for you and all your pain is blown away. But when you get backstage the pain comes back again.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: This physical load became a cause that many wrestlers are addicted to painkillers. A few months ago WWE introduced a drug control program. What do you think about this?

Bautista: I have the feeling as if somebody is breaking into my privacy. But if you think about reasons why those tests have been established you need to accept them. In our business you will find a lot of people who live with painkillers all their life. They love wrestling so much that they do everything to stay as long as possible in this business. However this leads to the result that the people get sick, die or injure others. It is weird to have those tests but they will serve their purpose.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: The reasons for those tests are Eddie Guerreros death last November. Meanwhile some fans are speculating that Eddie’s death is one of the WWE stories that he is still alive and will return to the ring soon. What do you say about it?

Bautista: All those kinds of speculations are totally ridiculous. On the other hand, what business are we talking about? You can’t be mad on the people for having such ideas. Watching wrestling leads to questions like: was this real or fake? But you really need to be a very sick to play story with somebody’s death but I do understand that some people think about this like as a fake.

David Michael Bautista, born on January 18, 1969 started to wrestle rather late. He joined the training camp of the WWE in 2000. Since 2002 he appears as "The Animal" Batista and won the World Heavyweight Champion title in 2005. Being 36 by that time he was the eldest World Heavyweight Champion of the WWE and kept the title for 282 days - longer than any other wrestler before him. Due to an injury he relinquished the title in January 2006. After his injury lay-off lasting almost 4 months he will be back in the ring in May.

This Interview was done by Uwe Wombacher

source: http://www.spiegel.de/sport/ussports/0,1518,412335,00.html
(published on 23 April 2006)

^{BY MIKE MOONEYHAM
Of The Post and Courier Staff} 

It’s a rare, often surreal, moment when one finds oneself on the brink of something truly special. The kind of once-in-a-lifetime moment in professional wrestling that has made legends out of names such as Hulk Hogan, The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

It’s just that kind of moment for WWE phenom Batista. The eyes of the wrestling world will be on the Staples Center in Los Angeles tonight for the sports-entertainment spectacle that is Wrestlemania. And the most closely watched match on the show, the one fans have been clamoring for, will pit Batista against former mentor Triple H for the world heavyweight title. "It doesn’t seem real. Maybe it’s just starting to hit me," Batista said last week, admitting he had a bad case of the nerves that was likely to get worse before getting better.

The rich history of the extravaganza is certainly not lost on wrestling’s newest superstar. Wrestlemania is the top-grossing annual event for WWE, and it’s the one event a year that transcends the company’s day-to-day business. "I’ve known I was going to be in the world title match at Wrestlemania for some time now, but I really hadn’t thought much about it. But it’s starting to kick in. I don’t think I’m going to be sleeping much when I get out to L.A."

Few insiders anticipated Batista’s rapid ascension in the pro wrestling ranks. Jim Cornette, who oversaw Batista’s training in WWE’s Ohio Valley Wrestling developmental territory, was the exception, and boldly predicted five years ago that Batista would headline Wrestlemania within five years.

"That’s nuts, because Chris Jericho just brought that up to me the other day," notes Batista. "I’ll have to be honest and say I never saw this coming."

With his chiseled, bodybuilder’s physique, the 6-4, 285-pound powerhouse thought he could make a living in the business, but had no idea he’d make such an impact in so short a time.

"I certainly didn’t get into it thinking that I was going to be world heavyweight champion and be in the main event at Wrestlemania," he says. "I got into it because I loved it and just wanted to be part of it. I was really fortunate to have gotten some really lucky breaks and then fortunate enough to be taken under the wing of Triple H and Ric Flair. Lately they’ve given me the ball, and I’m just trying to do my best with it. I’m still learning a lot and taking it as it comes."

Although Batista (real name Dave Bautista) clearly feels the pressure to have a solid match that lives up to the lofty expectations for a Wrestlemania main event, he’s trying hard to put things into perspective.

"Triple H gave me some real good advice, and that’s to enjoy the ride. That’s just what I’m trying to do — enjoy it."

The biggest question mark surrounding the former bouncer, who grew up in Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va., is that he’s untested as a champion. His in-ring shortcomings thus far have been overshadowed by an entertaining storyline that has portrayed him as Triple H’s massively muscular enforcer-turned-adversary.

"I’m physically able to do a lot more stuff than I’ve done in the ring, but I don’t know that it would fit my character," he says. "I don’t know if I need to. The things I do, I feel I do them well. That’s also some advice from Hunter (Triple H): Pick a few things, do them well and that’s all you need to do. It’s more of the ring psychology that I want to perfect rather than the moves and all that stuff."

Batista, who is on the cover of this month’s Flex bodybuilding magazine, was given the Wrestlemania main-event position when his popularity skyrocketed and fans embraced him as the roster’s top babyface. Franchise player Randy Orton initially had been penciled in for that slot, but his good-guy turn backfired and was largely rejected by the discerning WWE audience.

A close friend and former Evolution cohort, Batista feels the 25-year-old’s mega-push may have been rushed. But he’s confident Orton’s time in the sun will come.

"There hasn’t been a strain on our relationship. We still talk a lot," says Batista. "I’m actually a lot closer to Randy than most of the guys in the locker room. We came up together and we’ve always shared very personal things. Randy is still so young. I can’t tell if he’s hurt by not having that responsibility or it’s a relief to him not having that responsibility. I wouldn’t wish that responsibility on anybody his age. I don’t think he was prepared for that at all. Now that he’s had a taste of it, maybe if it returns to him he’ll have a better view of it and will be able to handle it a little better."

Batista, who turned 36 in January, also feels the timing just wasn’t right for Orton vs. Triple H.

"A lot of times I don’t know if I bought him being in the ring with Triple H. It always seemed like a boy in there with a man. And that’s not putting Randy down. That’s just where he was in his life. I don’t know if people really bought into it. He’s the most naturally talented professional wrestler I’ve ever seen. I’ve said that since day one. The kid has got it. He just needs that maturity."

source: http://www.charleston.net/stories/?newsID=18334&section=sports (published Sunday, April 03, 2005)

New User: Thanks for sharing your time today, Mr. Batista. My first question is how long have you been gardening?

Dave Batista: I’ve been growing things for as long as I can remember. I think I planted my first garden when I was 2 years old.

New User: Wow! You got an early start on your green thumb. What are some of your favorite things to grow?

Dave Batista: *chuckles* Believe it or not, I really like pink roses the best. Tomatoes and herbs, like basil and    oregano are good too because I like to cook a lot.

New User: The US had a long winter this year, will that effect your garden any?

Dave Batista: I moved to Tampa last year where it’s pretty warm. I think my garden will be fine.

New User: Do you have any tips to pass along to begining gardeners?

Dave Batista: You have to treat your plants with love. I don’t have much of a singing voice, but I’ve found if I sing a little Sinatra to the plants, they grow bigger and stronger.

New User:  I bet that tip will help a lot of the people reading this. Thank you again for your time today.

Dave Batista: No problem at all.

by Matys @ 10:52:00 AM on 3/23/2006

As reported, Dave Batista was in Cologne, Germany last Thursday. After the press conference (PWInsider reported it last week) he took the time to talk to us. Batista was pretty tired and fell asleep when we met him. Here are some highlights of the interview, which took about 20 minutes:

He liked his time in Ohio Valley Wrestling and mentioned how green he was coming to WWE. The toughest thing still is being apart from his home and his family. When he worked for OVW he was able to go home every night. That isn’t possible no more. But, he wouldn’t change his life right now. He’s pretty happy and thankful for each day.

He laughed about the internet questions about his "real age". It’d make him crazy, he said. He was born in 1969 and he wanted to show us his passport to prove it.

One of his best friends still is D-Von Dudley. He learned a lot from D-Von in the beginning of his WWE career, especially concerning life on the road.

Asked about a Brock Lesnar feud, which never happened, he said he would have loved to. Back in 2002/2003 he wasn’t ready for this. But now, if there would be any chance he’d push the office for it to take place at a WrestleMania. It probably be the kind of match WWE wanted to have with the big line up of Lesnar vs. Goldberg at WrestleMania XX. He still hopes that one day it might happen, but not this year he joked and laughed again.

He enjoyed his time with Evolution and thought that it brought a lot of old fans back to the business. Evolution, originally four of them, were pretty cool. Being compared to the IV Horsemen would have been such a huge honor. While his time in Evolution not only he made good friends with Triple H and Ric Flair, but he also learned a lot from both of them and thinks they might be the best in the business ever.

Being World Heavyweight Champion was the thrill of his life. A lot of emotions were set free at WrestleMania 21 after his victory, when he finally noticed how much trust the company put into him. He enjoyed being a heel but being the champion is the biggest thing he ever had in his career. Batista mentioned that he never thought about being the #1 in WWE, never in his wildest dreams!

Asked about Triple H’s ego Batista started laughing and took it with humor. Dave said that many people wouldn’t understand how hard it is carrying the company and that Triple H knows what’s good for the business. He isn’t that selfish, as many people would say. Triple H knows business and that he could stand the pressure in relation to other guys from the past. Hunter’s got all the elements you need being a successful World Champion. He couldn’t say anything bad about him whatsoever.

Batista also talked about TNA being a possible serious competitor to WWE. He’d wish that would happen. TNA has got a lot of talent but their problem is their low budget, which keeps them from being a serious competitor so far. He wishes them all the best and competition would always be the best for the business. He understands that some of his friends left WWE and went to TNA, because many of them needed to in order to feed their family and make a living. It might be selfish saying it, but he wants Christian back to WWE. Christian is still one of his best friends and many people underrate his talent. Batista hopes TNA builds anything around him because Christian is great worker and very creative. He’s so happy for him being in the spotlight right now and wishes him and TNA all the best.

You can listen audio version of this interview by CLICKING HERE
To see more pictures CLICK HERE. 

credit to www.pwinsider.com, www.wwe-germany.net

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