Following in the footsteps (or biceps, really) of Vince McMahon, Brock Lesnar, Triple H, Batista graces the most recent issue of Muscle & Fitness.
Here's a look:
Following the WWE Draft lottery, Batista is a member of the WWE Raw roster.
PhillyBurbs.com has an interview up with WWE Diva Melina.
When asked whether she was surprised when Batista went public about their relationship, Melina replied:
"Kind of yes and kind of no. Like, I was surprised to see it but knowing him, he wears his heart, he'll tell people how he feels. He doesn't hide anything, and he didn't say as much as he would have said, and for reasons I guess?
But in his way, he put the most important people in his life in that book, and that's his way of saying that I'm an important person in his life."
He's known as The Animal.
And a look through a series of Batista photos makes it apparent why: this is one ripped dude! Click on the thumbnails now for larger versions of each image...
Batista has an interview with the U.K. Sun where he comments on fellow WWE superstars, including Melina, Randy Orton, Vince McMahon, Chris Benoit and The Great Khali.
Regarding his relationship with Melina: "It started out completely innocently, but I just fell in love with her. Itâs been on and off for a long time and I still love her death. But I canât see us getting married. I still don't think I'm over my ex-wife."
Regarding Randy Orton: "I told Randy I'm so proud of him, heâs finally found himself as a person and as a wrestler. He was lost for a while, he didnât know who he was or who his character was. I think heâs going to carry this business for a long time."
On Chris Benoit: "We were very close. Itâs a pretty big statement, but I always tell people Chris was the most honorable man Iâve ever met up until the day he killed his family."
His take on Vince McMahon: "He's just a regular guy. Everybodyâs terrified of him at first, but Vince wants you to be comfortable with him. He's very intimidating, especially when heâs p***ed at you, but at the same time he doesnât make you feel like heâs your boss."
On The Great Khali: "I didnât think he deserved the world championship. I donât want to say it made me sick to my stomach to see the title in his hands, but it really did make me sick to my stomach."
Mike Mooneyham of The Charleston-Post Courier has a new article online today. It focuses on WWE World Heavyweight Champion Batista. Below are excerpts from the piece:
Women as his weakness: It kind of hit me in the face. I had never really noticed it before. But everywhere I went I was flirting with a different girl. I don't where all that started, because my wife was only the fifth woman I had ever slept with. I had never been promiscuous or a woman-chaser. I was actually pretty silent when it came to girls. It kind of hit me in the face then.
On mistakes he's made: I'd like to go back and correct the mistakes I've made, but I guess that's all part of living your life. You've got one life to live, and you've got to go for it. But I miss the simple days ... sleeping in your bed every night. I didn't realize how good we had it. It was awesome just getting paid to go work out, and all the guys had a good camaraderie. But I wouldn't go back.
Regarding his relationship with Melina and John Morrison: He (Hennigan) knew everything from day one. From the day we started talking,' explains Batista. "That was one of the things that a lot of people didn't realize and didn't bother to ask. Melina and John weren't together anymore. He was always aware of what was going on, and she was very honest with him.
They split up and moved apart, and we started dating each other. She still considers him her best friend in the world. But he always knew exactly what was going on.
Batista will be signing copies of his autobiography at Bookends in Ridgewood, New Jersey on October 29.
The book, entitled âBatista Unleashed,â hits stores on October 16.
Batista issued the following statement via his official website in regards to false media reports:
To my fans and friends:
I categorically deny a report on ESPN.com, and repeated by other media outlets, that I am or ever have been a customer of Signature Pharmacy of Orlando, an on-line pharmacy company that is a target of an investigation by the Albany, New York District Attorney's Office.
I am being tested regularly by the WWE, and I am in full compliance with the WWE Wellness Program.
I regret the inaccurate reporting, and I will do all I can in the future to stop any publication or anyone from making such false accusations.
Batista upset several WWE fans from the UK earlier in the week at an autograph signing.
He didn't bother to speak or look up to the fans at the signing. He also refused to have pictures taken. One youngster named Kyle went home in tears after meeting his ex-wrestling idol. Kyle's dad said:
"Kyle got a ticket and couldn't sleep the night before, he was so excited at meeting Batista and he had the afternoon off school. All his mates were telling him how jealous they were. But when he got there we were told Batista would only be signing WWE merchandise. We queued for nearly two hours and he signed a WWE book, didnât even look at him or say a word and that was it. His mum was trying to take a picture of the two on the mobile phone but his bouncers kept standing in the way to stop it."
Arash Markazi of SI.com is in Detroit, taking notes on Wrestlemania 23.
He spoke with Batista and the champion confired that his match with the Undertaker would not be the main event of the evening:
"Even if it's lost now by the time we hit the ring at 'Mania it won't be, I'm telling you right now," he said. "We're going to give them a match they're always going to remember. I guarantee it. We're going to tear the house down. As of right now we're not in the main event, which breaks my heart, but wherever we are on the card I feel sorry for the match that has to follow us. When we found out that we wouldn't be the main event we both looked at each other and we knew what we had to do."
Markazi said WWE Divas Ashley Massaro and Mickie James began posing in front of him. But before he got a big head, they pointed out that he was actually in the way of their intended audience: a full-length mirror taped to the wall.
Click here to read the entire article.
The following is an interview with Batista from The Detroit News:
When did you know you wanted to become a professional wrestler?
It was late '90s, maybe '98, I was up in Minneapolis doing some training up there, and I noticed on TV that WCW was having open tryouts. I was a big fan of Goldberg, so I watched WCW all the time, and I just thought I'd give it a try. That was my first inclination that I wanted to be a pro wrestler. It was a long time after that that I realized I might actually make it (laughs).
So what happened?
I'll give you an abbreviated version of the story: After that, I spent some time trimming down because I was very heavy. I was about 370 pounds. So I trimmed down and I went for my tryout at WCW, and they kicked me right out the door said, "You'll never make it. You don't have what it takes, get out of here!" So I called the WWE, and they didn't have open tryouts, so they suggested a private school. It was the Wild Samoan Training Center, and I went there for a year and they hooked up a tryout for me. I went for a tryout with the WWE and the next day they called me and offered me a contract.
Was the back tattoo before, after or during all this? The tattoos came along with the years and training. I had a small tattoo on my back, and the big tattoo I have now on my back is what I had on my back before, it was just very small. I said I want it bigger, so they blew it up and now it's huge.
Outside of the ring, what do you like to do?
When I am outside of the ring I am actually the most boring person on the face of the earth. I'm one of those guys who just sits at home and doesn't really do anything. I have a 14-year-old daughter, I spend time with her. I do stuff everybody else does: I go to the grocery store, I go to the gym, I go to the movies.
To read the full interview, click here.
