darkpower
09-24-2006, 05:17 PM
This was in the Sept. 22nd edition of the Miami Hearld that I got from their website about Batista. A good read.
Batista works for gold on the new CW
BY SCOTT FISHMAN
Miami Herald Writer
In January, WWE SmackDown! star Batista was forced to vacate the world heavyweight championship because of an injured right tricep. He returned in July to a different SmackDown!
''The strangest things that has gone on is the roster change,'' said Batista who helps Friday Night SmackDown! debut on the new CW Network 8 p.m. [ET] Friday, Sept. 22.
``Losing Kurt [Angle] was a big deal. He went off our show and onto ECW. Kurt is just one of those staples. You're just used to seeing him in the company. With him not being there it's sort of strange.''
Besides the influx of new faces and exodus of some old ones, the Animal entered an environment laced with some uneasiness upon his return.
One specific incident causing such a reaction was the much-talked about scuffle between Batista and King Booker at the 2006 SummerSlam pay-per-view commercial shoot, reported on the WWE's website.
''I came back with a little tension at first,'' said Batista. ``This was because I had some problems with a few guys. We kind of made peace, and it's been business as usual.''
Shortly after working with Mr. Kennedy, the intense superstar began to make a run for King Booker's world heavyweight championship. Ironically, the two men competed against one another at SummerSlam, the very pay-per-view they were trying to promote when the incident occurred.
It was truly art imitating life. However, the match and the ones after never really had a clear-cut winner. King Booker is now working with rising upstart Bobby Lashley, while Batista is contending with the veteran brawler Finlay.
''For various reasons Booker, and I aren't working together,'' said Batista. ``It's nothing personal because there is no behind the scenes drama going on or anything like that.
``It's just the way things are right now. I do [think the feud ended abruptly], but it's one of those things where when I got back I went right into a thing with Mark Henry, and he got injured. It kind of left me with nobody. Then I had the thing with Kennedy which was kind of out of nowhere and out of left field.
``There are different things we want to do to maybe stretch out my run for the title a little bit. Maybe a lead to WrestleMania. I'm not really sure at this time, but I'd like to regain the world heavyweight championship at WrestleMania 23.''
Batista hopes to expand his arsenal and give the fans something new.
''My arm is at 100 percent,'' said Batista, who had a piece of his hamstring removed to reinforce the repaired tricep.
``It feels better than it ever has. Physically I'm on top. I've dropped a few pounds as far as my cardiovascular shape. I just want to go out there and have the best match possible.''
In the near future, Batista wants to cross uncharted territory.
''I've never worked with the Undertaker,'' said Batista. ``A match with the Undertaker at WrestleMania 23 would be a dream come true.
``I would never be so bold to say [I would end his undefeated streak], but definitely, just to have the match with the anticipation, the crowd for that one would be off the charts.''
While he looks for potential opponents who are already on the show, Batista feels shuffling the stars from different brands would freshen the product.
''I would love to work with guys like Edge, Cena, Kane,'' said Batista. ``Any of the guys like that. I think change never hurts.''
For the animal, this also means a certain star from Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW).
''I would love to see guys like Sabu come to SmackDown!,'' said Batista. ``He's just incredible. He's a nut. Sabu, just the excitement he brings, he's just insane and brings something new to the table.''
Despite being an established name and a proven top tier talent, Batista still turns to some old friends for advice.
''Triple H is not only a good friend but a mentor,'' said Batista, who defeated The Game three times - consecutively - on pay-per-views last year including WrestleMania 21.
``I constantly go to him and [Ric] Flair for advice. For Ric, here's a guy who has seen and done it all. So I'm constantly would call and ask him for advice.
``Eddy Guerrero was a guy who helped me out on how to deal with certain aspects of this business because it is a hard business. It's a hard-knock life. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed to pick up that phone saying, `I'm having this problem. How should I deal with this, or how would you deal with this?'''
Much like Flair and Triple H are to Batista, the superstar is also seen as a role model for children because of the obstacles he overcame during his life.
While growing up in Washington D.C. and Virginia, he often found himself on the wrong side of the law but managed to turn his life around.
''When I talk to kids, I always make sure I don't fool them,'' said Batista. ``I don't want to make them think I've been an angel my whole life or that I'm lecturing them or preaching to them. I always tell kids to learn from my mistakes because I've made a lot of them.
``I don't want to tell kids I did that right or this right because I've made a lot of mistakes, but I learned from them the hard way.
``If I can talk to a kid and have them learn the easy way and tell him, `This is what I did wrong, and this is how I paid for it. Please don't make the same mistake.'
``In that aspect I might be considered a role model. To this day, I still continue to make mistakes. I may be a little hard-headed, but I learn from them.''
Batista also leads by example in expanding his talents in other forms of entertainment. The larger-than-life superstar makes his acting debut in the sixth episode of the ninth season of Smallville on the CW Network. Shooting is expected to begin in October.
``I'm crazy excited about that,said Batista, who will play a villain from the Phantom Zone. ``I get a chance to branch out and reach potential future viewers of our show. Also, just because I'm a big super hero buff and to be followed in something like that is sort of another dream come true.''
Batista is one of the main fixtures on WWE Friday Night SmackDown! and is promoted heavily for the show's move to the CW Network.
''In the next few months, I would really like to see our ratings boast now that we are on the new network,'' said Batista. ``Really, my biggest concern is to get people to watch SmackDown! because it's a really good show.
'I think a lot of times we don't get credit for that. A lot of times people call it the `B' show, and that really irks me because we're not by any means second to anyone.''
• Batista will kick off Friday Night SmackDown! on the new CW Network starting at 8 p.m. [ET] Friday, Sept. 22.
• The SmackDown! brand pay-per-view No Mercy is 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 from Raleigh, NC.
King Booker defends the world heavyweight title against Bobby Lashley. The United States champ Mr. Kennedy battles The Undertaker. Batista goes against Finlay. More matches will be announced.
• The WWE Shop Zone on the WWE website is selling Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology DVD.
The new four-disc set covers the greatest superstar in sports entertainment's history.
• WWE's The History of the Championship is available on DVD.
The three DVD set package includes many historic WWWF/WWF/WWE championship matches: Pedro Morales vs. Ivan Koloff, Bruno Sammartino vs. Superstar Billy Graham, Iron Sheik vs. Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan, Bob Backlund vs. Greg Valentine, Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart, Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior, Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart, The Rock vs. Triple H vs. Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle, Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Chris Jericho, Triple H vs. Cactus Jack, The Rock vs. Stone Cold and more.
This is a great collection for wrestling fans.
• To some, he is the sports-entertainment innovator and visionary corporate leader of a multimillion dollar company. To others, he is evil personified, the manipulative sadistic boss of a corral of WWE stars.
The McMahon two-disc DVD set is a complete look at the blurred reality between Vince McMahon, Chairman of WWE, and Mr. McMahon, TV's hated boss.
The DVD set includes candid comments from WWE stars and other members of the McMahon family. Plus many of his most infamous moments, matches and rivalries along with four hours of extras.
Batista works for gold on the new CW
BY SCOTT FISHMAN
Miami Herald Writer
In January, WWE SmackDown! star Batista was forced to vacate the world heavyweight championship because of an injured right tricep. He returned in July to a different SmackDown!
''The strangest things that has gone on is the roster change,'' said Batista who helps Friday Night SmackDown! debut on the new CW Network 8 p.m. [ET] Friday, Sept. 22.
``Losing Kurt [Angle] was a big deal. He went off our show and onto ECW. Kurt is just one of those staples. You're just used to seeing him in the company. With him not being there it's sort of strange.''
Besides the influx of new faces and exodus of some old ones, the Animal entered an environment laced with some uneasiness upon his return.
One specific incident causing such a reaction was the much-talked about scuffle between Batista and King Booker at the 2006 SummerSlam pay-per-view commercial shoot, reported on the WWE's website.
''I came back with a little tension at first,'' said Batista. ``This was because I had some problems with a few guys. We kind of made peace, and it's been business as usual.''
Shortly after working with Mr. Kennedy, the intense superstar began to make a run for King Booker's world heavyweight championship. Ironically, the two men competed against one another at SummerSlam, the very pay-per-view they were trying to promote when the incident occurred.
It was truly art imitating life. However, the match and the ones after never really had a clear-cut winner. King Booker is now working with rising upstart Bobby Lashley, while Batista is contending with the veteran brawler Finlay.
''For various reasons Booker, and I aren't working together,'' said Batista. ``It's nothing personal because there is no behind the scenes drama going on or anything like that.
``It's just the way things are right now. I do [think the feud ended abruptly], but it's one of those things where when I got back I went right into a thing with Mark Henry, and he got injured. It kind of left me with nobody. Then I had the thing with Kennedy which was kind of out of nowhere and out of left field.
``There are different things we want to do to maybe stretch out my run for the title a little bit. Maybe a lead to WrestleMania. I'm not really sure at this time, but I'd like to regain the world heavyweight championship at WrestleMania 23.''
Batista hopes to expand his arsenal and give the fans something new.
''My arm is at 100 percent,'' said Batista, who had a piece of his hamstring removed to reinforce the repaired tricep.
``It feels better than it ever has. Physically I'm on top. I've dropped a few pounds as far as my cardiovascular shape. I just want to go out there and have the best match possible.''
In the near future, Batista wants to cross uncharted territory.
''I've never worked with the Undertaker,'' said Batista. ``A match with the Undertaker at WrestleMania 23 would be a dream come true.
``I would never be so bold to say [I would end his undefeated streak], but definitely, just to have the match with the anticipation, the crowd for that one would be off the charts.''
While he looks for potential opponents who are already on the show, Batista feels shuffling the stars from different brands would freshen the product.
''I would love to work with guys like Edge, Cena, Kane,'' said Batista. ``Any of the guys like that. I think change never hurts.''
For the animal, this also means a certain star from Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW).
''I would love to see guys like Sabu come to SmackDown!,'' said Batista. ``He's just incredible. He's a nut. Sabu, just the excitement he brings, he's just insane and brings something new to the table.''
Despite being an established name and a proven top tier talent, Batista still turns to some old friends for advice.
''Triple H is not only a good friend but a mentor,'' said Batista, who defeated The Game three times - consecutively - on pay-per-views last year including WrestleMania 21.
``I constantly go to him and [Ric] Flair for advice. For Ric, here's a guy who has seen and done it all. So I'm constantly would call and ask him for advice.
``Eddy Guerrero was a guy who helped me out on how to deal with certain aspects of this business because it is a hard business. It's a hard-knock life. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed to pick up that phone saying, `I'm having this problem. How should I deal with this, or how would you deal with this?'''
Much like Flair and Triple H are to Batista, the superstar is also seen as a role model for children because of the obstacles he overcame during his life.
While growing up in Washington D.C. and Virginia, he often found himself on the wrong side of the law but managed to turn his life around.
''When I talk to kids, I always make sure I don't fool them,'' said Batista. ``I don't want to make them think I've been an angel my whole life or that I'm lecturing them or preaching to them. I always tell kids to learn from my mistakes because I've made a lot of them.
``I don't want to tell kids I did that right or this right because I've made a lot of mistakes, but I learned from them the hard way.
``If I can talk to a kid and have them learn the easy way and tell him, `This is what I did wrong, and this is how I paid for it. Please don't make the same mistake.'
``In that aspect I might be considered a role model. To this day, I still continue to make mistakes. I may be a little hard-headed, but I learn from them.''
Batista also leads by example in expanding his talents in other forms of entertainment. The larger-than-life superstar makes his acting debut in the sixth episode of the ninth season of Smallville on the CW Network. Shooting is expected to begin in October.
``I'm crazy excited about that,said Batista, who will play a villain from the Phantom Zone. ``I get a chance to branch out and reach potential future viewers of our show. Also, just because I'm a big super hero buff and to be followed in something like that is sort of another dream come true.''
Batista is one of the main fixtures on WWE Friday Night SmackDown! and is promoted heavily for the show's move to the CW Network.
''In the next few months, I would really like to see our ratings boast now that we are on the new network,'' said Batista. ``Really, my biggest concern is to get people to watch SmackDown! because it's a really good show.
'I think a lot of times we don't get credit for that. A lot of times people call it the `B' show, and that really irks me because we're not by any means second to anyone.''
• Batista will kick off Friday Night SmackDown! on the new CW Network starting at 8 p.m. [ET] Friday, Sept. 22.
• The SmackDown! brand pay-per-view No Mercy is 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 from Raleigh, NC.
King Booker defends the world heavyweight title against Bobby Lashley. The United States champ Mr. Kennedy battles The Undertaker. Batista goes against Finlay. More matches will be announced.
• The WWE Shop Zone on the WWE website is selling Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology DVD.
The new four-disc set covers the greatest superstar in sports entertainment's history.
• WWE's The History of the Championship is available on DVD.
The three DVD set package includes many historic WWWF/WWF/WWE championship matches: Pedro Morales vs. Ivan Koloff, Bruno Sammartino vs. Superstar Billy Graham, Iron Sheik vs. Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan, Bob Backlund vs. Greg Valentine, Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart, Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior, Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart, The Rock vs. Triple H vs. Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle, Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Chris Jericho, Triple H vs. Cactus Jack, The Rock vs. Stone Cold and more.
This is a great collection for wrestling fans.
• To some, he is the sports-entertainment innovator and visionary corporate leader of a multimillion dollar company. To others, he is evil personified, the manipulative sadistic boss of a corral of WWE stars.
The McMahon two-disc DVD set is a complete look at the blurred reality between Vince McMahon, Chairman of WWE, and Mr. McMahon, TV's hated boss.
The DVD set includes candid comments from WWE stars and other members of the McMahon family. Plus many of his most infamous moments, matches and rivalries along with four hours of extras.