Deconstructing Dave Batista

[chisle94]

:Credit: Raw magazine, February 2005 -

Batista doesn't play well with others. he never has. From the time he left his mothers womb, Dave Batista has always been a loner. While the other kids were ont he playground, or trading Baseball cards, Batista wasa usually somewhere else, causing trouble and recieveing a fast education from the streets.
When it comes to following rules and developing interpersonal relatonships, Batista has always struggled. Interestingly enough, much of what you see today is a direct result of his childhood. In fact, in order for one to truly understand Batista's private, yet explosive nature, they must examine his early roots, where the seeds of his disposition were originally planted.
"My parents split when I was real young - I don't think I was even a year old," Batista says. "So I spent most of my childhood with my mom, and while I was still very young, we moved from Washington DC to San Fransisco because she wanted to move as far away from my dad as possible."
On the west coast, Batista's mother was forced to work in inordinate amount of hours to keep herself and her two children out of poverty. With his mother out of the house most of the time, Batista began to roam the streets and find trouble at an early age. Even before he became a teenager, he was out of control. He shoplifted, stole bikes, fought reguraly and ran away from home. His behavior became so bad that he was even kicked out of school.
"My mom couldn't control me anymore," he says. "So at age 13, she sent me to live with my dad in Washington DC. I didn't do anything major, like stealing cars or doing drugs, but she was a single mother, and she was never really home - you can't watch your kids 24 hours a day when you're a single parent - so my sister and I were given a huge window of oppportunity, which we took full advandage of. We were just rotten little kids."
Batista's father struggled to control the rowdy teen nearly as much as his ex-wife had. His father worked long hours as a hairdresser, and Batista's wild ways and imposing physical stature were fast becoming more then he could handle. On some weekends, his father went away on excursions, and left his son wth a small amount of money and the responsibility of watchign their home. Before his father's car made it's way around the block, Batista was already organizing a giant house party. Even though he was truly never social, the party was a cover for chaos.
As he matured, he showed moments of promise. His natural athleticism led to his involvement in various high school activities, including football, basketball, wrestling, and track and field. Yet, Batista had trouble keeping his grades up, and by the time the second half of the school year came arond, he found himself academically ineligable. It was around this time, that Batista started experimenting with weights.
"By my sophomore year, I was starting to get a little more muscular, and was putting on more weight," Batista says. "I took to it like a duck to water. I filled out really quick, and grew like a weed. And that's also when I really feel in love with amateur wrestling."
"I did good in county - wide competetions, but by the time the regional ones came around, I was usually ineligible because my grades were barely passing - I got a lot of D's," he says. "But more then anything, I think the reason I liked wrestling was because I found that I excelled at individual sports. I was always more competetitive when it was just me invovled, because I liked to push myself. I guess you can say I just wasn't a team sprt guy."
At age 17, during his senior year in high school, Batista moved out of his house, to live on his own. Less than a year later, he began working at nightclubs, in the greater DC area. Having largely grown up in the streets, Batista was well prepared for the altercations he saw night after night in the bars. Sometimes, he'd even get involved himself.

[chisle94]

"A couple of times I hurt some people and got arrested for it," Batista says. "But it was always because the guy I'd beat the crap out of was only 200 pounds, whereas I was close to 300. When the cops saw the size difference, it didn't matter who started it. In their minds, I was automatically the guilty one because I was so big."
While Batista regularly got into melees, there was one time things got so heated that Batista nearly did something he'd regret for the rest of his life.
"There's this one fight that really stands out in my mind," he says. "Two guys were bullying around another one of our bouncers, who wasn't very big, and they had him out on the curb and were pushing him around. Well, I stepped out, immediatley started in on both of them, and beat the crap out of them to the point where they were both laying on the ground while I continued kicking the in the head. Next thing I know, their eyes are rolling back in their heads. It was then I realized they weren't getting up.
"Finally, the police show up, the ambulance shows up, and I get put in handcuffs and thrown in the back on a squad car," he continues. "So I'm sitting there, ready to go to jail and scared out of mind, wondering if these guys are going to die or not. That moment was the point where I finally realized a few things. I realized my own strength and I realized that losing my temper could be a very bad thing. That night is not something I'm real proud of."
Fortunatley for Batista, his victims recovered, and after spending one night in jail, he was released. Soon thereafter, though, both he and the nightclub faced charges from the victims, Batista was tried for assault and battery, which resulted in several fines and one year of probation, but from all the bad, came some good. The six-foot-5, 317-pounder learned a valuable lesson that changed his life, and when he returned to bouncing, he was better able to control his violent side. He also came upon the realization that when provoked, he was practically invulnerable - a trait that could translate into other occupations besides bouncing - and that surrounding himself with people who agitate him probably wasn't the best idea.
As Batista continued to grow both physically and mentally, he started to feel like something was missing from his life. he yearned for a place where he could let it all hang out, a place where he could harness is physicality and get paid to fight. Batista knew there was only one place where this type of behavior was allowed - WWE.

[chisle94]

So he joined former Wild Samoan Afa's wrestling school in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and began training. Like most athletes with an amature background, Batista progressed quickly, but it was his size, power, and aggressive nature that really separated himself from the pack. In short order, he was ready for WWE.
In early 2002, Batista debuted as D-Von Dudley's personal enforcer, but within a few months, the man-monster violently turned on his boss and left him lying motionless in the ring. The reason for attack: Batista's hatred of taking orders from others.
I wouldn't say I've ever really been a leader or a follower," Batista says. "I'm just a loner. I never really hung with the crowd, so therefore I was never really in the position to follow or to lead. I just kind of kept to myself."
Upon moving over to Raw, Batista initially competeted as a singles star, but within a month he was openly scouted by Ric Flair for a spot in a group that would be come to known as Evolution. At first, batista was luke-warm to the idea of joining, but upon some deliberation, he realized that a role in the group might be beneficial to his career.
"I think it was the perfect move. Tailor made." Batista said of Evolution. "I fit my enforcer role to a tee, and the thing was, I don't think one memeber was ever greater then the others - It wasn't like Team Angle, where Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas were Kurt's stooges. I saw this spot as an oppurtunity for me to learn from the best. I never looked it as me being second string. I just saw it as a teacher/student relationship."
At SummerSlam, Batista's fellow Evolution member, Randy Orton, who was then also in a learning role, captured the World Heavyweight Championship. The next night, he was unceremoniously dumped from the group by it's three remaining members. For Batista, this was a wake up call. No matter how great he became, he realized, he would always have the glass ceiling over his head while in Evolution. Despite the warning, Batista remained loyal.
"I never worried, because I knew it wasn't possible for me to be put in the same position Randy was," he says. "You see, I'm not the victim type - I'm more of the Predator. So I knew I'd never end up in that position."
In Late 2004, rumors of unrest in Evolution surfaced, and towards the end of the year, tensions between batista and Triple H became noticeable to the viewing public. It beame apparent that batista's marriage to Evolution was on borrowed time. Eventually, the chisled volcano of Philippine and Greek dissent was going to erupt.
"I actually consider myself somewhat passive," Batista says. "I'm naturally intense, but it really takes a lot to piss me off to the point to where I'm out of control. I'm really not a bad-tempered person, but if or when you do get me mad, it's really on."
There's an old expression that says, "some things never change." For Batista that couldn't be any truer. From birth, he's been the same person - his own person. Anyone who knows his history realizes that his fate rests on his own shoulders, alone.
"I'm not one to look into the future," says Batista as he looks off into the distance. "I'm more of a day-to-day kind of guy. But my time is coming, and it's coming soon. 'Nuff said."

[MAVEN]

what a bad ass. his life sounds so bad ass to. seems like he had a bit of riod rage at times lol.

[IronTank]

Good post man. I haven't bought a WWE magazine since it had Hogan and The Rock on the cover, hyping their match for Mainia.

[chisle94]

Thanks. Yeah, I got a subscription for Raw magazine since they split the two magazines up between Raw and Smackdown! This one I was especially happy to get cause when I come home from school I see Batista on the front cover laying on my table, and I'm like, "sweeett" haha

[IronTank]

Originally Posted by chisle94

Thanks. Yeah, I got a subscription for Raw magazine since they split the two magazines up between Raw and Smackdown! This one I was especially happy to get cause when I come home from school I see Batista on the front cover laying on my table, and I'm like, "sweeett" haha

I had every WWE/F mag since 96 to the Hogan/Rock cover. Some of them have mysteriously gone missing. I remember the first Raw magazines, on the cover it had written "for the mature fan." Those RAW mags were sick. I aslo would get the special mags ex. Wrestlemainia mags, HHH mag etc.

[chisle94]

Originally Posted by IronTank

I had every WWE/F mag since 96 to the Hogan/Rock cover. Some of them have mysteriously gone missing. I remember the first Raw magazines, on the cover it had written "for the mature fan." Those RAW mags were sick. I aslo would get the special mags ex. Wrestlemainia mags, HHH mag etc.

Yeah, I got the WM 17 & 18 magazines, the game's magazine and a couple of SD magazines and the old wwf/wwe magazines. Most of the one's I have are the raw magazines because like I said the subscription.

EDIT: I sometimes will get the PWI(Pro Wrestling Illustrated) or the Pro Wrestler. and I used tog et every WOW(World of Wrestling) Magazine. I loved the WOW magazines.

[IronTank]

Originally Posted by chisle94

Yeah, I got the WM 17 & 18 magazines, the game's magazine and a couple of SD magazines and the old wwf/wwe magazines. Most of the one's I have are the raw magazines because like I said the subscription.

EDIT: I sometimes will get the PWI(Pro Wrestling Illustrated) or the Pro Wrestler. and I used tog et every WOW(World of Wrestling) Magazine. I loved the WOW magazines.

Ya I used to get PWI. I remember PWI would have their wrestling awards. I have one WOW magazine and it is the first ever one they made.

[chisle94]

Originally Posted by IronTank

Ya I used to get PWI. I remember PWI would have their wrestling awards. I have one WOW magazine and it is the first ever one they made.

Yeah, I loved the PWI 500

and the end of the year awards.

[IronTank]

Originally Posted by chisle94

Yeah, I loved the PWI 500

and the end of the year awards.

Same here bro.

[chisle94]

Originally Posted by IronTank

Same here bro.

I'm figuring WOW went down after ECW & WCW were finished. Am I right?

[IronTank]

Originally Posted by chisle94

I'm figuring WOW went down after ECW & WCW were finished. Am I right?

I don't know. But they did primarily focus on WCW and ECW, your probably right.

[HardGainer82]

WOW magazine was the ****! The only problem was that it involved Bill Apter, so it was at least partially written in kayfabe...
I usually pick up the PWI 500, too... Brock won last year, funny how the industry changes, ain't it?

[chisle94]

Originally Posted by HardGainer82

WOW magazine was the ****! The only problem was that it involved Bill Apter, so it was at least partially written in kayfabe...
I usually pick up the PWI 500, too... Brock won last year, funny how the industry changes, ain't it?

Yeah, really. The last one I bouth was when Triple H won(I believe 01?)

I just looked at the others when I went to the store, but never picked them up. Who has got this year?

[HardGainer82]

Don't know yet. I'll have to check it out. They sell the PWI 500 at my grocery store, if you believe that! BTW Danny, did you actually type that whole thing out? If so, you really need to be repped for it...

[Big Slim DaDDy]

lol his dad was a hairdresser who would have thought..

[IronTank]

Originally Posted by HardGainer82

Don't know yet. I'll have to check it out. They sell the PWI 500 at my grocery store, if you believe that! BTW Danny, did you actually type that whole thing out? If so, you really need to be repped for it...

I'm guessing he did. I Looked at the time on his posts.

[chisle94]

Originally Posted by HardGainer82

Don't know yet. I'll have to check it out. They sell the PWI 500 at my grocery store, if you believe that! BTW Danny, did you actually type that whole thing out? If so, you really need to be repped for it...

Yeah, I did. Right from the Raw Magazine. I typed the Chris Benoit workout routine, but this one took longer. haha

EDIT: Yeah they sell it at the local store here, so it makes it pretty convientant.

[EliteLifts]

PWI 500=Horse ****. I remember that Lance Storm brought up soem good points about it a couple years ago.

[chisle94]

The bad ass known as Batista had one hel of a night tonight at the Rumble. can't wait til Raw to see how everything plans out.

[IronTank]

Originally Posted by chisle94

The bad ass known as Batista had one hel of a night tonight at the Rumble. can't wait til Raw to see how everything plans out.

Ya, RAW should be very good. I just can't wait to see HHH's face now that Batista won the Rumble.

Oh and it was hilarious when Flair actually tried to eliminate Batista. Then Flair acted like he didn't mean to do that.

[Uber-neggR]

His father worked long hours as a hairdresser

LMAO.

[Mr-Mist]

Originally Posted by EliteLifts

PWI 500=Horse ****. I remember that Lance Storm brought up soem good points about it a couple years ago.

Storm went after the DVD (deathvalleydriver.com) 500 Workers list, not the PWI 500.

The PWI 500 seems to always be made up based partially on kayfabe, as well. I still have the 1997 500 where Dean Malenko was ranked No. 1 (I even cut out the poster of him and STILL have it up in my room to this day) and Big show (then "The Giant") cracked the top ten along with Lex Luger. Which was the oddest thing I've ever seen as the rest of the choices were pretty decent at the time. The magazine obviously tried to juggle putting on the best workers while cowtowing to the biggest names of the WWF and WCW at the time. Here's the top ten of '97:

1. Malenko
2. Misawa
3. Austin
4. Page
5. Luger
6. Undertaker
7. Shin'ya Hashimoto
8. The Giant
9. Jushin Liger
10. Chris Benoit

[OmahaBoy2003]

Batista is one mean ass dude!!!

[DieselWeasel]

I was always under the impression that Batista's ancestors were from Spain. I quickly glanced through that article and it mentioned he was Philipino (sp?) and Greek.

[HardGainer82]

Originally Posted by DieselWeasel

I was always under the impression that Batista's ancestors were from Spain. I quickly glanced through that article and it mentioned he was Philipino (sp?) and Greek.

Why were you under that impression? The name has more roots in Italian than in Spanish. Then again, Kane was born in Spain.

[DieselWeasel]

Originally Posted by HardGainer82

Why were you under that impression? The name has more roots in Italian than in Spanish. Then again, Kane was born in Spain.

I was under that impression because that's what my dumbass "pro wrestling expert" brother said.

He needs to get his facts straight!

[chisle94]

Originally Posted by DieselWeasel

I was always under the impression that Batista's ancestors were from Spain. I quickly glanced through that article and it mentioned he was Philipino (sp?) and Greek.

Yep. before the article I heard he was Philipino, but then I also heard he was Greek, and these came from several different sources,(websites, bio's, etc..) but this article cleared up all confusion, apparently, and confirms that he is both. My dad always said he was Mexican. lol

& Hardgainer, when I read that Kane was born in Madrid, back when I first found wwemirrorimages.com, I don't know why, but that cracked me up. He just doesn't seem like it. Seems like the Missouri/St. Louis/Tennesee type of guy that he has been since coming over from Spain. Everyone always calls me a liar when I tell them he was born in Spain. But then I show them the prove and then it's great to see their faces. I love spittin the good ol wrestling knowledge at them.

[HardGainer82]

Fun, ain't it?