What Did Batista Say About Hollywood That Changes Everything About Pro Wrestlers?
For a time, Batista was one of the biggest draws in the WWE. The 6'4" chiseled powerhouse was a fixture in the main event scene, positioned on the same tier as Randy Orton and John Cena.
Everything from his catchy entrance theme to his mid-match shaking of the top rope while stomping his foot, he had the aura needed to be a superstar and helped usher the company through the middle and end stages of the "Ruthless Aggression" era.
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Like Orton and Cena, Batista could have spent decades in the squared circle but decided to take his talents to Hollywood, with roles in everything from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the Dune franchise. In a recent media availability, Batista hinted at why he was so comfortable hanging up his boots prematurely, and it might not be for the reason you think.
Dave BautistaGetty Images
During an interview with Film Inside, Batista expressed the truth about performing in WWE and on the silver screen.
"WWE is like nothing else; they're not only durable people, but it's just the hardest grind that I could ever imagine," Batista said. "Being in Hollywood and being on a film set, long hours, but compared to the grind of being a professional wrestler, it's just a cakewalk. It's night and day. I'm in this business, and I find it hard to relate to people who are just always unhappy on set and always complaining about something. I don't relate to that at all."
When Batista was on top, the WWE scheduling was far different. Outside of television tapings, there were multiple house shows each weekend, plus monthly pay-per-views, meaning most wrestlers were competing 140+ times a year.
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Now the promotion has axed nearly all of its live events, and wrestlers routinely are afforded time off to refresh and heal. The current regime has sliced the required dates in the ring by nearly half. Many of the marquee names even have tour buses to ease the wear and tear from life on the road.
With these current conditions, Batista perhaps would've switched careers a bit later, but with his current trajectory and endless success, it's hard to say he regrets how everything played out. Regardless, his endorsement should help paint a better picture around the grueling nature of professional wrestling, and help with the businesses' mainstream acceptance.
Related: John Cena Reveals His Top 3 Career Rivals
Related: John Cena Reveals Origin of His Iconic Catchphrase
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