Batista works through injury

BY JIM VARSALLONE

Despite a back injury, world heavyweight champion Batista is working through the pain and ready to give his all for the cause -- the SmackDown cause -- during WWE's pay-per-view Armageddon 8 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 18.

''I've just been working around it, not really using it much,'' he said. ``I'm not throwing punches in matches because I'm limited, but I'm able to work around it. I've been rehabbing it. It's a little bit of a challenge.''

Just off their recent WWE tag team title victory, new champs Batista and Rey Mysterio carry the SmackDown banner against Raw tag champs Big Show and Kane at Armageddon.

''I'm really excited about the match,'' Batista said. ``This is for bragging rights - SmackDown vs. Raw.''

He continued: ``Kane and Big Show. Those are two big, scary guys. They are a wrecking crew, but I know I can always count on Rey. He is a tough SOB. If you're in bar fight, you want Rey on your side, watching your back.''

Batista needs someone of Mysterio's caliber watching his injured back. The world champ decided to forgo back surgery in order to compete.

''I'll just have to suck it up and go,'' he said. ``It helps being in a tag match because I am a little limited.''

Batista's legacy is already cemented in WWE lore as a singles and tag team champ. He is proud to wear singles' gold and very proud to hold a tag team belt.

''I was a world tag champ with Ric Flair,'' he said. ``That links me to Ric Flair, an all-time great. Now winning the [SmackDown] tag titles links me to Rey Mysterio, one of the greatest of all time. Hey, they may not remember me when I'm done, but they will remember Rey Mysterio and Ric Flair, and I'm linked to them.''

Batista has done pretty well himself, building an impressive resume. He is also a team player, working through the pain.

In early November, Batista injured his back during a SmackDown television taping in Indianapolis. He traveled to Birmingham, Ala., to see Dr. James Andrews.

The Animal was informed he had a decision to make concerning the treatment of the injury. He could either rehab his back or opt for surgery. If he decided surgery, Batista would miss as much as three months.

''There were a lot of reasons not to have surgery,'' he said. ``It was a very uncommon injury for a wrestler, but it happens to a lot of baseball players. It was a muscle tear. They could sew it back together, and then I would not be able to use it at all for three to four months. I would just have to have my hands by my side and do nothing.

``Still not sure how it would heal, there would be a better chance of sewing it back together after developing scar tissue. I'm very vulnerable to infections with surgery. I just need to get my strength back.

``Wrestlers are always beat up. You learn to deal with it. I'm in a top position right now, and the roster is not power packed. I don't want to take time off and be a detriment to our show. I love being champion. I love it. If I can walk to the ring, I will wrestle.''

Batista has no plans of missing any action, but he doesn't worry about losing his spot if he did take time off.

''if guys have problems getting back to their spot, then they're just taking time off,'' he said. ``I would study tapes and keep up with the show. It's not hard to work your way back, if you're very committed to the product or the show and bust your butt. You can pick up where you left off.''

WWE has a very demanding schedule, and the company has expanded internationally. Batista recently returned from a WWE promotional tour, traveling to Asia, Australia and Thailand.

''Our product has branched out so much,'' he said. ``When I walked off the plane in Thailand, they mobbed me. You just don't realize how it branches out across the world until you go there. The travel was tough [especially with the back injury], but you just grin and bear it. I'm seasoned and used to it.''

Batista remembers his friend Eddy Guerrero.

''I was worried that Eddy's death would be taken the wrong way,'' Batista said. ``He was clean for a long time. He wasn't on anything. It is real important to me people know that. He worked so hard to clean himself up. I didn't want to [read or hear] of any misconceptions.''

WWE implemented a stricter drug policy.

''We take a heck of a beating year round, and it's a wear-n-tear on your body,'' Batista said. ``Drug testing will help. You don't want to see a guy messed up. What if you're working against someone who is messed up and he drops you on your head.

``People tend to point a finger at us a lot. In one aspect, I can understand it, but the testing policy is to protect us from people pointing a finger.''

• WWE's PPV Armageddon is 8 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 18.

• Monday Night RAW is 9 p.m. ET Mondays on the USA Network.

• Friday Night SmackDown is 8 p.m. ET Fridays on UPN.

• Mike Meyer, a sales rep for the Miami Heat, offers discounted prices on Royal Rumble tickets in various sections - lower and upper levels.

Group tickets are also available at a discount and include a raffle for a chance to win a meet-n-greet with a WWE wrestler.

Deadline is Jan. 13. Call or e-mail now. The Royal Rumble is Sunday, Jan. 29 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. Call 786-777-4222 or e-mail [email protected].