Batista Gives Away His WWE World Heavyweight Title
Batista has given away a WWE World Heavyweight Title as a special gift.
Since leaving the pro wrestling world behind in 2010, Batista has carved out a successful Hollywood career that has seen him starring in hit movies including Guardians of the Galaxy, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune. The star’s latest project is the JJ Perry-helmed The Killer’s Game, which is scheduled to be released this September.
In a video posted to social media, The Animal revealed how he planned to mark the ocassion of the film wrapping shooting, by presenting the Director with a personalised World Heavyweight Championship belt, the same version he won four times while in WWE.
“So tonight I’m going to give this [World Heavyweight Championship] to J.J. Perry. It’s become kind of a tradition of mine to give these out as wrap gifts on films. Some people might look at this as a fun gift, a silly gift maybe coming from anybody else [laughs]. But coming from a guy who held this title for a very long time, numerous times, I always thought it would be kind of a special, personal gift.”
“If You Get One Of These It means I Really Respect You A Lot” – Batista On Gifting WWE Title Belts
Batista went on to explain that the gift shows how much he respects the recipient, as it’s something that is near and dear to his heart.
“If you get one of these it means I really respect you a lot. This is something that is very personal and near and dear to my heart. The first time I won this title, it was like a dream come true. I earned something that I never in a million years thought that I would be holding.
“When I give this it’s not a silly gift, it’s not a toy this is a token of my respect and I give these to people I love and respect. If I don’t give them out it doesn’t mean I don’t love and respect them it’s just that some people have really gone out of their way to make me feel special and it just means a lot to me.
“So as a personal token of my love and appreciation I give him one of these to a guy I love and respect very much, J.J. Perry.”
Back in February, Batista revealed why he still hasn’t been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. The star revealed he was supposed to be inducted in 2023, but filming of a move prevented him from being able to make it happen. This was the second time his induction was postponed, as he was originally set to enter the HoF in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed that year’s ceremony.
H/T to Inside The Ropes for the above transcription.