WWE Legend Clears The Air On Alleged Real-Life Animosity With John Cena

A WWE legend has opened up about his rumored animosity with John Cena.

When Batista first made his WWE debut, he turned a lot of heads due to his size and appearance. The turning point in his career came when he joined Evolution along with Triple H, Ric Flair, and Randy Orton.

Batista continued to be a part of Evolution until he turned on Triple H after winning the 2005 Royal Rumble. He then challenged Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 21 and won. Batista’s WWE career followed the same trajectory as John Cena. In fact, both men won their first World Title on the same night. However, Cena went on to become the face of the company, and he ended up receiving many opportunities outside the company. The same could not be said about Batista. Although Batista was a top star, he was nowhere near Cena’s star power. Hence, he left the WWE to become an actor in Hollywood. However, there have been rumors circulating for several years that The Animal has a lot of animosity towards Cena.

Batista denies having any animosity towards John Cena

During a recent interview with W.O.L.F. GYMS, Batista made it clear that he doesn’t have any animosity towards John Cena. He said he has nothing but love and respect for the 17-time World Champion. The Animal also said that he thought it was unfair that Cena was receiving opportunities outside the company while he was picking up the slack.

“This is not like an animosity thing towards John Cena. I don’t have anything but love and respect for John Cena… I root for John Cena. To see him being successful in films, it makes me feel good…..But while he was doing films and commercials and magazines and endorsements, I was working. I was picking up slack here and there, and it was a grind. I thought it was unfair and I thought I should have those same opportunities within the company.”

The former World Champion also noted that the company was going in a different direction that didn’t suit his character.

“The company had taken this really PG turn and there was nothing f***ing PG about me. Like nothing. Not the way I wrestle, not the way I look, not my background, not my upbringing—nothing. John Cena, in that way, couldn’t be any more opposite.”

He further added that since he was not getting the opportunities he wanted, he thought he would go outside the company. However, WWE didn’t allow him to do so, which forced him to eventually exit the promotion.

“So I was like, ‘If I can’t have these opportunities here… well, I should be able to go and have them outside of the company.’ And they said, ‘Absolutely not. No. We need you here… You’re intellectual property. You cannot work outside the company unless it’s approved by us.’

And I said, ‘Oh, well then I’m going to let my contract run out and I’m going to leave.’ And they said, ‘No, you’re not.’ ‘Just watch me.’” [H/T Ringside News]

Batista made the right decision to leave WWE because it turned him into a global star.

Also read: John Cena Makes Honest Confession About WWE CCO Triple H

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