Batista Feared WWE Was Going To Fire Him After Infamous Royal Rumble Botch

Batista hasn’t received his WWE Hall of Fame induction yet, but he was set for a 2020 induction before the pandemic had other plans and cancelled the ceremony. That day will certainly come eventually for The Animal, and now the Mad Max actor can look back at his amazing career in the ring; thankfully, it wasn’t cut short.

WWE Royal Rumble 2005 is remembered for one of the most infamous finishes in wrestling history. The final two competitors in the Men’s Royal Rumble, John Cena and Batista, simultaneously went over the top rope in an unplanned spot, resulting in both being eliminated. John Cena has also opened up about this nightmare botch.

What followed was chaos, as Vince McMahon stormed to the ring, only to famously tear both of his quads in the process. After the match was restarted, Batista ultimately claimed victory and secured his path to WrestleMania.

While speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Dave Bautista opened up about what was going through his mind during the botched finish and the chaotic day leading up to it. Bautista recalled that the entire experience felt like a nightmare.

“The whole day, I thought I was getting fired. I knew I was supposed to win the Royal Rumble, but everything started going wrong from the beginning. We had a show in San Francisco the night before, but instead of driving to Bakersfield for the Rumble, I stayed back to spend time with my mom. I ended up being really late to the show, and I knew Vince was pissed. I was supposed to go over that night, and I was going to WrestleMania, but Vince thought I was being disrespectful by showing up late. He reamed me out as soon as I got there, and I honestly thought he was going to change the whole storyline.”

Bautista then discussed the botched ending, taking full responsibility for what happened in the ring. “The finish was planned, but I just went over too early. Thankfully, Cena and I landed at almost the exact same time—it was a miracle. But when I saw Vince coming down, all I could think was, ‘I’m getting fired.'”

Batista admitted that throughout much of his early career, he constantly feared he was on the verge of losing his job, especially during his time in OVW. “I was just so happy to be there,” he added, reflecting on the rollercoaster of emotions he experienced on that historic night. He obviously didn’t want to lose the dream job that he had, and any idea of him getting the axe sent him into a bit of paranoia, which is understandable for anyone who lands their dream job.

Despite the botched finish and the chaotic backstage situation, Batista’s victory at the Royal Rumble solidified his rise to main event status, and he went on to have a Hall of Fame-worthy career in WWE.

What’s your take on this story from Batista? Are you super happy that WWE didn’t fire him all those years ago? Let us know what you think in the comments section!