Difference between revisions 6389600 and 6546777 on simplewiki

{{Infobox wrestler
|name=Dave Batista
|names='''Batista'''<br />Deacon Bautista<br />Leviathan<br />Kahn
|image=Dave Batista - Guardians of the Galaxy premiere - July 2014 (cropped).jpg
|img_capt=Batista at the premiere of ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' in July 2014
|height={{height|ft=6|in=3}}
|weight={{convert|272|lb}}
|birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1969|01|18|mf=y}}
(contracted; show full)

=== World Wrestling Entertainment ===
He began his WWE career on May 9 2002 as '''Deacon Bautista''',<ref name="aboutcom" /><ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SmackDown - May 9, 2002 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/020509.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling
 |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> Batista had his first WWE match in a tag match teaming with [[Devon Hughes|D-Von]] against [[Randy Orton]] and [[Ron Simmons|Faarooq]]. Batista pinned Orton to win that match.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SmackDown - June 27, 2002 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/020627.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> Batista later moved to ''[[RAW]]'', and was renamed '''Dave Batista''' (or simply '''Batista'''). He joined with [[Ric Flair]]<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - November 18, 2002 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/021118.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> and fought many times with [[Glen Jacobs|Kane]], whom he beat in his first [[pay-per-view]] at [[WWE Armageddon|Armageddon 2002]].<ref>{{cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | date = 2007 | pages = 112 | language = English}}</ref>

==== 2003-2004 ====
In January 2003, Batista joined with [[Triple H]], [[Ric Flair]], and [[Randy Orton]] to form the group [[Evolution (professional wrestling)|Evolution]].<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - January 27, 2003 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030127.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> Batista did not wrestle for much of 2003 after he tore his right [[Triceps brachii muscle|triceps]].<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Live Event - March 1, 2003 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/liveevent/030301r.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> Batista re-tore his triceps while training. He had more problems when after his second [[surgery]] to repair his triceps he got an [[infection]]. He needed a third surgery to clean out the infection. He made his return on October 20 interfering in a match between [[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]] and [[Shawn Michaels]].

At Armageddon 2003, Batista took part in two matches. He lost to [[Shawn Michaels]] in a singles match but won a [[Tag team]] along with Ric Flair to become the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|World Tag Team Champions]]. By the end of the PPV, all four members of Evolution held every male championship on ''RAW''.<ref>{{cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | date = 2007 | pages = 114 | language = English}}</ref>

Batista and Flair held the titles until February 16 2004 when they were defeated by [[Booker Huffman|Booker T]] and [[Rob Van Dam]].<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - February 16, 2004 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040216.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> They later won the titles back for a short period.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - March 22, 2004 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040322.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref>

==== 2005 ====
[[File:David-Michael-Bautista-denis-apel-edited.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Batista during his first [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] reign]]
(contracted; show full)ted a plan to have Batista run over in a [[limousine]] similar the one used by Layfield. At first, Batista did not want help from Evolution in dealing with JBL. Triple H said that Evolution needed to stick together and went with him anyway. Triple H saved him from the [[vehicle]] before he got hit.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - February 14, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050214.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling
 |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> Batista found out about the plan while listening Evolution members when they did not know he was there. He signed a [[contract]] for a match with World Champion Triple H at WrestleMania 21.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - February 21, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050221.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> Batista went on to win the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] on April 3 2005 at [[WrestleMania 21]].<ref name="PWI Staff 2007 117"/>

On June 30 2005 Batista was moved back to SmackDown!<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SmackDown - June 30, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050630.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> JBL and Batista wrestled for the championship at the Great American Bash on July 24 2005. JBL defeated Batista by disqualification after the referee saw Batista use a steel [[chair]].<ref name="PWI Staff 2007 118">{{cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | date = 2007 | pages = 118 | language = English}}</ref> They wrestled at [[SummerSlam]] on August 21 2005 in a [[No-Holds-Barred match]]. Batista pinned JBL to win the championship title.<ref name="PWI Staff 2007 118"/>

WWE.com reported that Batista suffered a muscle tear in his back at the taping for the November 11 2005 edition of ''SmackDown!''.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SmackDown - November 11, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051111.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> Plans had been made for Batista to defend the title in a match with Eddie Guerrero and Randy Orton on November 18 2005. The match did not take place because of the death of [[Eddie Guerrero]] on November 13 2005.

==== 2006 ====
(contracted; show full)author = McElvaney, Kevin | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated, July 2007| work = "WrestleMania 23" | publisher = Kappa Publishing |date= June 2007 | pages = 74-101 | language = English}}</ref> They continued to fight over the title to a tie in a match at [[WWE Backlash|Backlash 2007]].<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Backlash 2007 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/backlash07.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling
 |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> After a [[Steel Cage Match]] between the two men on May 11, [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]] won the title from the Undertaker by using his [[Money in the Bank ladder match|Money in the Bank]] title opportunity.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SmackDown - May 11, 2006 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/070511.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref> Afterwards, Batista challenged Edge three times but never won the championship. The third match included the statement that if Batista lost, he could no longer get another chance at the World Heavyweight Championship while Edge remains champion.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Vengeance 2007 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/vengeance07.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 }}</ref>

Edge later was injured and gave up the belt just before he was to wrestle Kane at the 2007 Great American Bash pay-per-view. [[The Great Khali]] became the new World Heavyweight Champion, winning a [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|Battle Royal]] and eliminating Batista. Batista and Kane faced Khali at The Great American Bash where Khali retained the title. Batista finally defeated Khali, and [[Rey Mysterio, Jr.]], at [[WWE Unforgiven]] to claim his third World (contracted; show full)[[Category:Actors from Washington, D.C.]]
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