Wrestling fans know Batista as a man of few words, but the current world heavyweight champion has plenty to say in his autobiography, Batista Unleashed WWE/Pocketbooks, $26), which was released a couple weeks ago. In the book, Batista opens us about subjects such as his brushes with the law when he was younger, coming from a broken home and being raised by his mother (who is a lesbian), his failed marriages, being a grandfather at 38 and life on the road with WWE.
I spoke with Batista in a telephone interview on Monday, the day after he defeated The Undertaker in the main event of Cyber Sunday in Washington.
Q: How difficult was it for you to open up about some very personal things in the book?
A: Honestly, it wasn’t very hard. I only agreed to do the book if I could be open and honest about it. I made sure the people that I am close to and I love knew what I was writing about them and made sure they were OK with it first. I’ve always been honest – to the point where it’s gotten me in trouble.
Q: Did you find writing the book to be somewhat therapeutic?
A: In a way. It wasn’t really therapeutic getting it all written out, but it kind of opened up the door for communication between my ex-wife [Angie] and I. We had just built up a lot of anger toward each other, and I think neither one of us looked at our situation from the other side’s point of view. We really started talking a lot about it. She saw things in a different light and so did I. It’s funny, because we’re closer now than we have been in years. She said she learned a lot about me in the book and the way I looked at our marriage and the problems that I had on the road, because she said she never had any idea what I was dealing with on the road.
Q: In the book, you write about how you are naturally shy and quiet, and how your peers have sometimes perceived that as arrogance or aloofness. Has the book changed that perception of you backstage?
A: I hope it has. I think I’ve been around long enough to where guys know me well enough to know who I am and why I am the way I am. I’ve just developed such good relationships with a lot of guys on Smackdown and on Raw. I just don’t think they see me like that anymore. All the feedback I’ve gotten from the book so far from all the boys has been very positive and very supportive. There’s always going to be some guy who is going to look for the worst in you. Hunter [Triple H] always told me that when you get to a certain spot on the roster, you’re just always a target no matter what. You’re always going to have guns pointed at your head and it’s kind of up to you how many bullets you give them to shoot you with (laughs).
Q: You have some harsh words in the book for Dewayne Bruce, who ran WCW’s Power Plant when you had a tryout there about 10 years ago. What do you think he will think about the book?
A: I don’t [care]. He’s a [jerk], and he’ll always be one in my book. He probably chased a lot of talent away from WCW just because he has a really bad Napoleon complex. He made me feel like the biggest loser in the world for no reason. I busted my [butt] for him the day I went to that tryout to the point of [vomiting]. I’ve worked as a personal trainer and I’ve been working out my whole life, and anytime you push somebody to where they’re throwing up, it’s got to be obvious that they’re working pretty hard to show you that they want something. And I did that and more, and he still told me I was a piece of [trash] and I would never make it in this business.
Q: You and The Undertaker had another good match together last night, and the two of you always work well together. Can you talk about the chemistry in the ring that you two have?
A: It’s one of those things that is hard to put your finger on, but there definitely is something there. When we get in the ring together, I think it’s magic. I think we always have the same goal, and that’s just to give a heck of a competitive match. It’s not easy with us both being babyfaces, but as long as we’re competitive and we’re physical and give the crowd their money’s worth and take them on a ride, then it’s going to work. I think people have really been sucked into this rivalry, myself included. It’s like a dream come true. Him being such a large man and so athletic, he’s the perfect opponent for me.
Q: We all know that wrestling is entertainment and the winners and losers are predetermined. But what does it mean to you to get a win over someone of The Undertaker’s stature in the business?
A: It means everything. And maybe even more so, because it’s something that was a conscious choice. A win over The Undertaker, especially a win like that – I didn’t do anything shady to win, the referee wasn’t involved in anything shady; it was a clean, right-in-the-middle-of-the-ring victory over The Undertaker. That is a big deal. I don’t think most people probably wouldn’t even think about that, but I did.
Q: Did you say anything to The Undertaker afterwards about him putting you over like that?
A: You bet I said a mouthful. Undertaker knows I love him and I respect him very much. He did something very special for me last night. I made sure he knew. I looked him dead in the eye and I said, “Thank you for what you did for me.” It came from my heart.
Q: Wrestling fans and critics all have their opinion as to what constitutes a good worker. How important is it for you to be regarded as a good worker?
A: I have a certain style that works for me. Sometimes I would like to do things that I’ve been taught, because I’ve worked a lot with Fit [Finlay] and I know a lot of holds, but they just don’t fit with my style. I could jump off the top rope all day long, but it would look stupid. It wouldn’t work for me. I have a certain brawler style that works for me, and I’m not stupid – I go with my strengths. I know how I look and I want to wrestle how I look. I don’t want to look how I look and wrestle like Jamie Noble. Not that I would ever be able to wrestle like Jamie Noble – who I really wish they would do something with, by the way.
Q: Do you get ribbed at all about being a grandfather?
A: The only guy who has ever ribbed me about it is Triple H. He seems to rib me about everything (laughs). I think everybody else has been pretty empathetic about it. They know it’s been heartbreaking for me – not having grandchildren, but the troubles I’ve had with my daughter. I love my grandkids. It sounds weird and it’s weird for me to say it – that I have grandchildren – but they’re beautiful boys, and I’m definitely not ashamed to be a granddad.
Q: In reading the book, I was surprised to learn that you have skills as a breakdancer. When discussing your off-camera skirmish with Booker, you wrote that it was a “personal problem” but you didn’t reveal the specifics. You guys weren’t arguing about who had the best breakdancing moves, were you?
A: (Laughs) No, it was a lot more personal than that. I wish it was something as stupid as that.
Q: Would you ever do any breakdancing on WWE television if the story line called for it?
A: Actually, we did a SummerSlam commercial a few years back – 2004, I think it was – where I did a little break dancing in it. I think you can see that on YouTube.
Here it is:
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Also in the Miami Herald there is an article "Batista Book speaks volumes"
