Batista Reveals WrestleMania Match He Believes Should’ve Been Inside Hell In A Cell

Former WWE Champion Dave Batista revealed that his highly anticipated match against Triple H at WrestleMania 35 was originally planned as a Hell in a Cell bout.

Batista shared this detail during a 2019 appearance on Chris Jericho’s podcast, “Talk is Jericho.” Although the match was ultimately contested as a No Holds Barred match with the added stipulation that Triple H would be forced to retire if he lost, he noted that the original vision was much different.

Originally, we wanted it to be a Hell in a Cell.

He stated, offering insight into the creative direction initially planned for their showdown. However, the change in match type came directly from WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, who had a different view on the matter. Batista explained:

Vince didn’t want it because of the pay-per-view.

Dave elaborated on the need for a stipulation that would amplify the drama between the two veteran performers.

We needed bells and whistles, we needed the drama. We are two old guys that haven’t wrestled in a while, we have already got the history, we just needed the violence.

Despite not taking place inside Hell in a Cell, the No Holds Barred match delivered on intensity and physicality, fitting the history and rivalry between Batista and Triple H. The match not only marked the end of Batista’s in-ring career, but it also brought Triple H closer to his own retirement, as he competed in only a few more matches before officially hanging up his boots a few months later.

What Moment Did Batista Think Ended His WWE Career In 2005?

Batista spoke about how he thought his WWE career was over in 2005. Following the accidental ending of the 2005 Royal Rumble where Batista and John Cena both were eliminated from the match at the same time which wasn’t supposed to happen, Vince McMahon stormed down to the ring to restart the match. It was at that moment Dave thought that he was going to get fired.

H/t to ITRWrestling.com