History Wrestling / BATISTA

David Michael "Dave" Bautista, Jr. (born January 18, 1969 in Arlington, Virginia) is an American actor, bodybuilder, mixed-martial artist and retired professional wrestler of Greek and Filipino descent.

David Michael "Dave" Bautista, Jr. (born January 18, 1969 in Arlington, Virginia) is an American actor, bodybuilder, mixed-martial artist and retired professional wrestler of Greek and Filipino descent. He was one of the top-tier [[ProfessionalWrestling wrestlers]] in Wrestling/{{WWE}} under the name ''Batista'', with his tenure there lasting between 2002 and 2010, and returning to WWE twice in 2014 and 2019 before retiring from wrestling.

During his time in WWE, he was part of the stable Wrestling/{{Evolution}}, and became a 4 time [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-world-h.html World Heavyweight Champion]], 2 time [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-h.html WWE Champion]], 1 time [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-t.html Tag Team Champion]][[note]]With Wrestling/ReyMysterioJr[[/note]], and 3 time [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-world-t.html World Tag Champion.]][[note]]2 times with Wrestling/RicFlair, once with Wrestling/JohnCena[[/note]] He is also a 2 time Royal Rumble winner, having won the 2005 and 2014 Royal Rumbles.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dave_bautista_by_gage_skidmore_2.jpg]]

* TheDandy: One of the few monster wrestlers to also be this

** In 2010, he debuted the Batista Bite (scissored armbar crossface), his more technical move to date. It was practically [[EvilCounterpart his answer]] to Cena's STF.

* DuctTapeForEverything: At Extreme Rules 2010, Batista lost his Last Man Standing match against Wrestling/JohnCena by getting his legs duct-taped around a ring post.

** In 2010, he debuted the Batista Bite (scissored armbar crossface), his more technical move to date. It was practically his answer to Cena's STF.

** After repeatedly failing to beat John Cena for the WWE Title, getting injured in their last match, and Wrestling/BretHart's showing NoSympathy towards his injuries, he quit Wrestling/{{WWE}}. But that was only on Kayfabe, because he had later stated that he didn't like the direction in which the company was going. Batista has been a longstanding detractor of the company's PG Rated mandate.

** After repeatedly failing to beat John Cena for the WWE Title, getting injured in their last match, and Wrestling/BretHart's lack of concern towards his injuries, he quit Wrestling/{{WWE}}. But that was only on Kayfabe, because he had later stated that he didn't like the direction in which the company was going. Batista has been a longstanding detractor of the company's PG Rated mandate.

** His 2010 heel run was centered primarily on demanding recognition from all around him. During his VillainousBreakdown in his last night, he went on a rant about the fans and WWE being nothing with him, even going as far as to claim that the company would go bankrupt in a week with him gone.

* ''Film/Heist2015'': Cox

* TheRival and WorthyOpponent: He and John Cena are both these to each other ever since the 2005 ''Wrestling/RoyalRumble''. After Batista's FaceHeelTurn, he became the RivalTurnedEvil in their ''Wrestling/{{WrestleMania}} 26'' match.

* VillainousBreakdown: Batista opened the May 24, 2010 episode of ''Raw'' badly injured and very angry over being forced to say "I Quit!" in said match against John Cena but Bret Hart, uncaring of his battered state, offering him another opportunity against Cena if he could beat Randy Orton in a qualifying match only to name Orton the winner via forfeit when Batista refused by twice citing his injuries made him go ballistic enough to [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere quit WWE]].

** After repeatedly failing to beat John Cena for the WWE Title, getting injured in their last match, and Wrestling/BretHart's lack of concern for his injuries, he quit Wrestling/{{WWE}}. But that was only on Kayfabe, because he had later stated that he didn't like the direction in which the company was going. Batista has been a longstanding detractor of the company's PG Rated mandate.
** He also admitted in his return interview that he actually suffered a legitimate back injury during his "I Quit" Match with John Cena, which only sped up his decision to leave.

* ''Army of the Dead'': Scott

** His 2010 heel run was centered primarily on demanding recognition from all around him.

** After repeatedly failing to beat John Cena for the world title, and getting injured in a match, he quit Wrestling/{{WWE}}. But that was only on Kayfabe, because he had later stated that he didn't like the direction in which the company was going. Batista has been a longstanding detractor of the company's PG Rated mandate.

* WeUsedToBeFriends: With Rey Mysterio Jr. (See above for reason)

* StarMakingRole: When it comes to filmmaking his visibility skyrocketed among those who don't follow wrestling after he was cast in ''Guardians of the Galaxy.'' Critics and even comic book fans praised his performance in particular.

* ''Room 104'' episode "Avalanche": Doug "Raw Dawg Avalanche" Avalon

* StarMakingRole: His visibility skyrocketed among those who don't follow wrestling after he was cast in ''Guardians of the Galaxy,'' with critics and even comic book fans praising his performance in particular.

* ''Film/{{Dune|2020}}'': Glossu "Beast" Rabban Harkonnen

* ''Dune'' (2020): Glossu "Beast" Rabban Harkonnen

David Michael "Dave" Bautista, Jr. (born January 18, 1969) is an American actor, bodybuilder, mixed-martial artist and retired professional wrestler of Greek and Filipino descent. He was one of the top-tier [[ProfessionalWrestling wrestlers]] in Wrestling/{{WWE}} under the name ''Batista'', with his tenure there lasting between 2002 and 2010, and returning to WWE twice in 2014 and 2019 before retiring from wrestling.

** Wrestling/TripleH was considered the man who made Batista's career due to his star-making role in Wrestling/{{Evolution}}, and since then they've always had a deep respect for one another. Or so Dave thought…when, after he expressed a desire to make an appearance at Wrestling/SummerSlam 2014 to do some cross promotional work for ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' shortly following his departure at the end of Wrestling/TheShield feud earlier that year, Triple H and Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon actually laughed at the idea, saying "We don't even know if that movie will be any good." Needless to say, the best revenge is success; in this case, ''Guardians'' becoming such a huge critical and financial success it put to shame ''the entire WWE Studios catalog combined''.
*** To add a cherry on top of the sundae, Dave's performance as Drax was singled out by many critics as one of the best parts of the movie.

* TheScapegoat: For WWE's terrible booking. Dave himself outright admitted he knew that his return was not going to end well when he learned of their original plans, but he wasn't able to convince creative to scrap those plans until the backlash became too great to ignore. After time had passed and the fans looked at things more objectively, they began to feel apologetic that Batista had to take the heat and have his return ruined like that, but at the same time were unapologetic because it was the only way they had to get the company to listen them and change their plans and get Bryan on top. Dave became the FallGuy for their BS -- understandably, after he left to promote ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' and was offered tons of movie roles thanks to that film's success, he decided not to come back until WWE gives him an unrestricted program with Triple H.
* ScreamingWarrior: During his initial evolution run and his face run on Smackdown. WWE.com had an article comparing him to the Ultimate Warrior.

** Has stated on Wrestling/ChrisJericho's podcast that Wrestling/VinceMcMahon fining him $100,000 for blading when Jericho beat him in a steel cage match for the World Heavyweight Championship by knocking him off with a piece of the cage was a moment that broke his heart and gave birth to his exit strategy from WWE, as he realized the company's business had changed in a direction he didn't want to be a permanent fixture in anymore.

* FallenHero: During his last heel run. Emphasized during his feud with John Cena at ''[=WrestleMania=] 26''.

** In 2010, he debuted the Batista Bite (scissored armbar crossface), his more technical move to date.