Ever since Batista had left WWE in 2014, there’s been a bitter sweet relationship between the two parties. After returning to the company in 2013, he had faced a major fan backlash over his movie career which forced him to stop competing inside the ring.
It is due to the “I Quit” moment that happened on Monday Night Raw; we speculated to see him back for one last stint, as he was said to be under contract with the WWE for two years. However, that never happened, and sources like cagesideseats.com had also previously suggested that Batista is willing to cut all the ties with the company.
He has not forgotten the combined negative reactions that he received during his 2014 stint. In an interview with MLW Radio, Batista previously said that if he’d ever had to make a return, then he would understand things going around him properly. Here’re his comments:
“If I ever went back it would be a lot different, a lot different for sure. For one, I’d make sure even before I went back that I knew what I was getting into and they had a plan and stuck to it and I’d hold them accountable for what they promised me. The last time, I really didn’t, and I’m really sorry about the way the whole thing went, man, still. I’m a little sour about it still.”
Batista later had another interview with MLW’s Radio Writers Room where he continued that he wanted to make a comeback around Summerslam 2014 but Triple H & Stephanie denied him. It was because Guardians of the Galaxy movie featuring the Animal was still in the theatres and another fan backlash might have drowned the film.
“I wanted to come back around [the time of] the release of the film, around Guardians. And I said, ‘wouldn’t it be great if I was back and I was also in the number one movie in the world?’ And they kind of had a snicker, and there was, you know, ‘yeah, well, we don’t know if the movie’s going to be that good.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGoPDWVP8Ag
Batista also picked up a conflict between the McMahons after Vince once fired his good friend, Titus O’Neil, last year by commenting directly towards him.
It’s arguable that “the slap” is my character’s finishing maneuver. Who do you think was hit the worst? #StephBookhttps://t.co/rXuSEYY8Pn
— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) May 18, 2016
@StephMcMahon also Batista when you slapped his sunglasses off ? pic.twitter.com/bRvu9RkI4C
— steph (@StephK424) May 18, 2016
Plus it helps to get guys over!And it builds a great angle for when you get your receipt? it looks good? I tried! ? https://t.co/m4zlY9BzeJ
— Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) May 18, 2016
Furthermore, he also hit back Stephanie McMahon on Twitter after she called the slap was her last finishing manoeuvre. With so much hot water between both sides, we can say that we might have seen the last of Batista in the WWE.