UPN28/38’s Wrestler of the Week

(week ending July 24, 2004)

 

Batista

 

Accomplishment:

            Evolution’s enforcer, Batista, played a critical role this past Monday night on Raw.  The “animal” delivered a severe beating to current World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit just one week before the champ’s Iron Man Match against Triple H, quite possible altering the outcome of next week’s main event and bringing the World’s Title back to Evolution.  Batista, however, wasn’t just out to do Triple H’s dirty work.  The mammoth superstar had his own agenda, namely Chris Jericho.  Batista was instrumental in costing Jericho a win against the monster Kane.  With a powerful whirlwind clothesline, Batista was able to level Jericho, leaving him for “easy pickings” at the hands of Kane.  Batista certainly seems ready to give some solid competition to the title holders in the singles division.  The question the now remains to be answered is whether Evolution is an asset or an anchor to his career…

 

Real Name:  David Bautista

Aliases: Khan (WXW), Leviathan (OVW), Deacon Batista (WWE)

Height: 6 ft 5 in

Weight:  275lbs.

Hometown: Washington, DC

Finishing Move: Batista Bomb (sit-down powerbomb)

Major Titles Held:  OVW Heavyweight Title, WWE World Tag Team Titles (2X with Ric Flair)

Major Organizations: WXW, OVW, WWE

Years Pro: 6 years

PWI Ranking: #257 in 2001, #27 in 2002, DL in 2003

Tidbits:

            Dave Batista made is professional wrestling debut in July 1999 defeating Gillberg in Afa’s WXW.  In WXW he learned the basics of the mat-game under the tutelage of the Wild Samoan.  Impressed by his ring presence, the WWE brass assigned Batista to OVW.  There under the guidance of Jim Cornette, Batista was re-chrisned Leviathan, The Demon from the Deep.  In OVW, Levithan faced the liked of Brock Lesner, John Cena, Randy Orton and the Bashams.  Levithan defeated Doug Basham for his first title reign and dropped the belt to John Cena three months later. 

            In 2002 Batista was called up the WWE Smackdown! roster.  There he debuted as Deacon Batista, guardian of Reverand D-Von’s donation lockbox.  This venture didn’t last long, as Batista turned on the Reverand and jumped to Raw.  On Raw, Ric Flair took Batista on as protégé, later joining Triple H and Randy Orton as Evolution.  Batista returned after a series of injuries and won back his position within Evolution by taking out Goldberg.  Since then Batista has enjoyed a pair of World Tag Team title runs with Ric Flair.  If he can avoid injury, this monster, Batista, will be a force to be reckoned with in the years too come.  His best days are yet ahead of him.

 

Official website: http://www.demon-wrestling.com/

 

 

Sources:

http://www.wwe.com

http://www.demon-wrestling.com/

2003 PWI Almanac and Book of Facts

2003 PWI 500

 

 

 

 

 

 

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