Batista Confesses He’d Still Be in WWE If Not for Hollywood

WWE has seen a number of top Superstars leave for Hollywood, with The Rock pioneering the move and John Cena following in his footsteps. Dave Bautista, better known to WWE fans as Batista, also made the transition to acting. While fans have embraced his successful Hollywood career, it’s intriguing to think about what might have been had he stayed in pro wrestling.

Bautista has made his mark in Hollywood, starring in blockbuster films such as The Killing Game, Blade Runner 2049, Dune, and Knock at the Cabin. Before becoming a film star, he was a dominant force in WWE, known as “The Animal.” Although Bautista wrapped up his full-time WWE career in 2010, he made part-time returns in 2014 and 2019. Recently, he finished his long tenure as Drax the Destroyer in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

Speaking to BuzzFeed Celeb, Bautista was asked what he would be doing if he wasn’t acting. This was quite an admission, considering the current point of his career.

“I would still be involved with WWE, I hope. Because I really loved it. It wasn’t that I ever wanted to not be a part of that universe because I love the WWE Universe. It was just that I became so passionate about acting, and I’m still pursuing it with everything I have, but I still love that world. I have a good relationship with the company. I hope that they would always leave the door open for me because I just love professional wrestling.”

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Bautista’s final WWE match took place at WrestleMania 35, where he lost to Triple H. In the same interview, he also had high praise for fellow wrestler CM Punk.

WWE had planned to induct Bautista into their Hall of Fame in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic derailed those plans. His induction has yet to be rescheduled, but many believe it’s only a matter of time before Batista makes his return for that honor.

What do you think of Batista’s decision to leave WWE? Do you miss him in the ring, or do you think he’s found his true calling in Hollywood? Share your thoughts in the comments!