Batista Talks Returning To WWE & His Frustrations With The Creative Team

Press junkets for the new James Bond film Spectre recently took place in Mexico City, Mexico. Former WWE Superstar Dave Bautista (Batista) was there partaking in the press junket interviews as he landed a role in the new 007 film. Bautista plays one of the movie’s villains; he is a henchman who goes by the name Hinx. WSVN-TV entertainment reporter Chris Van Vliet shared his interview with Bautista where Dave discusses some of his frustrations with working with the WWE, his latest WWE return, and if he ever plans on stepping back in the squared circle.

Bautista’s thoughts on his return to the WWE in 2014, butting heads with WWE creative, and what he would have done differently:

“I don’t know if it would go any different because it was just butting heads. I was just constantly butting heads with them creatively which is something we talked about well beforehand and I was promised things that weren’t delivered to me. For one, I didn’t want to go back as a babyface. I said it’s not going to work. They don’t want to see me as a babyface. I’m the worst babyface ever. But I’m a good heel, I know how to be a heel, I’m comfortable being a heel and the fans want me to be a heel. But they tried to shove me down everybody’s throats and they rebelled. They’re not idiots and they don’t like it and they don’t want it. Then it became a state of confusion where they didn’t know what they wanted to do with me so they’d just send me out every week regurgitating the same crap and it was just horrible.”

Whether or not he would ever want to come back to the WWE:

“Oh yeah. At the end of the day I love WWE and I’ve proven that I wouldn’t wrestle anywhere else. I feel like wrestling anywhere else would be a step down. I love the company and I will always be appreciative for what they’ve done for me. I would love to go back, they’re just really hard to deal with and also right now my passion is acting and I’m pursuing it. But if the opportunity comes up and they were a little more flexible with me as far as creative, I’d love to.

Bautista’s comments on just wanting to work house shows/live events upon returning:

“I would do it in a heartbeat and I don’t want big money. I don’t want a limited schedule. If they would allow me to go back and just do house shows I’d be all over it. Because then you just skip all of the red tape and you don’t have to deal with creative, the writers and all that bullshit. You just go back and do your thing, and my thing is wrestling. Ring, wrestlers, audience. That’s all I want.”

Bautista also talks about how advice from Jim Ross helped him score his role in Spectre. He also shares advice he received from The Rock about balancing wrestling and acting. If you would like to check out this interview in its entirety, you can watch this video below:

Mark’s reaction:

The first thing I have to mention is that Batista seems like a very kind and genuine guy. If any of his comments above read to you in a nasty tone, then I’d suggest giving the video in which the interview is conducted a watch. During press junkets like these, if a reporter asks a question that’s not regarding the current film their doing press for, then the actors/actresses will sometimes look like they’re getting frustrated or maybe just won’t even answer the question. The interviewer talked a lot about the WWE and Dave was very cool with it. He was respectful towards the interviewer and he even gave the guy some more time at the end to get his question answered. So for that Batista, I give you an A+.

When it comes to his comments about how he’s a better heel than he is face, I’ve got to agree with him. I’ve never really been a big fan of Batista as a wrestler in general. The only time I was really into his character was during his time in Evolution, his split up from the group, and his eventual feud with Triple H culminating in their main event match at WrestleMania 21. He’s absolutely right how they mishandled his return in 2014. I really think the crowd would have been behind him if he didn’t win the Royal Rumble immediately upon returning. He’s right in saying that he was shoved down our throats because he was and the people (including myself) rejected it. If he wasn’t thrown into such a prominent position on the roster right away, but handled more like RVD was in his return 2013, then maybe people would have been more accepting of Batista.

I think his idea of working house shows/live events is great. It would be a nice treat for those in attendance and would make the live events feel a little more special. It can also be something that the WWE could capitalize on when they want to do their exclusive WWE Network specials like their last two from MSG and Tokyo. If it can possibly help WWE Network subscriber numbers in any way, I’m sure Vinnie Mac would be up for it.

Would you like to see Batista return to the WWE? If so, would you prefer him to be on Raw, Smackdown, or just the WWE live events? How would you have handled his return in 2014 differently? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.