Pro Wrestling Illustrated Wrestling Annual -- April 2006
January
Batista wins the Royal Rumble
Batista: Winner: Rumbled down the road to Wrestlemania
February
Batista chooses World Champ Triple-H as 'Mania 21 opponent
Batista: Winner: Evolved out of Evolution
March
Helmsley-Batista confrontation degenerates into brawl
Batista: Winner: "Knew how to play The Game"
April
Batista wins World Title from Triple-H at Wrestlemania 21
WRESTLER OF THE MONTH: BATISTA
The big thumbs down. That's the signal Triple-H gave new World champion Randy Orton just before Batista backdropped him to the mat and Evolution feasted on his carcass in August 2004. Then again, many fans took the thumbs down as a sort of anti-blessing that would give Orton --free of Evolution-- enough momentum to dominate the Raw brand well through WrestleMania 21.
At the time, no one realized WrestleMania 21 would belong to Batista, the 318-ouund enforcer who went on to power-bomb Orton to hell on that August night. In January, the dynamic changed when Helmsley --with Batista's help-- regained the World title in the Elimination Chamber at New Year's Revolution. Later that month, Batista out-lasted 29 other men to win the Royal Rumble and earn a title shot at WrestleMania. He targeted his conniving mentor, Triple-H, and became the most popular star in WWE.
How did Batista steal the fans' affection from Orton? Something about Batista was just more likeable. Maybe it was his soft-spoken demeanor, his wry smile, or his quiet confidence. Or maybe it was because his mighty Batista bomb spoke louder than words.
Orton, on the other hand, was never believable as a fan favorite, lacking vulnerablilty and charm. The strongest aspect of Orton's personality was his arrogance, which he exuded all to convincingly. The Undertaker padded his WrestleMania undefeated streak to 13-0 at Orton's expense. One hour later, Batista won the World title.
Yes, Batista did steal Orton's night of glory. But maybe Batista was the one who deserved it in the first place.
Batista: Winner: Took TripleH's big gold belt.
May
Batista retains World Title against Triple-H at Backlash
Batista: Winner: The bomb beat the pedigree
June
John Cena and Batista switch brands in WWE draft lottery.
Batista: Loser: Smacked down to the junior league
July
JBL beats World Champ Batista by DQ at Great American Bash.
Wrestler of the Month: Batista
While the fans clearly couldn't decide who was better, World champion Batista or WWE champion John Cena, the editors at London Publishing were forced to make the gut-wrenching decision just before the "PWI 500" was to be sent to the printing plant and made available for newsstands in the fall. As it turned out, Batista got the call in mid-July.
As of the end of July at least, the year 2005 belonged to Batista. Within only a few months, Batista emerged from being the soft-spoken enforcer of Evolution, to being the man who brought down Triple-H, defeating him for the World title at WrestleMania 21. How did this metamorphosis occur? Batista had the fans to thank for his newfound success. It was their vocal support that led to WWE giving him a real chance.
Batista's career was intertwined with that of Triple-H during the first half of 2005. He won the 2005 Royal Rumble in ofder to get a shot at the champion and, after beating him at 'Mania, went on to pin him in two rematches, one at Backlash and another inside the dreaded "Hell In A Cell" at Vengeance.
Even as Batista was crowned the number-one wrestler in the "PWI 500" a serious question was coming to the fore: Would John Cena surpass Batista as the undisputed megastar of WWE? Just as Batista ursurped the spot meant for Randy Orton, the WWE champion was poised to do the same to "The Animal." The fact that WWE's major champions switched brands during the draft lottery, with WWE champ Cena going to Raw and World champ Batista being sent to Smackdown, didn't bode will for Batista's future as the company's top star.
Batista: Winner: Three spots ahead of Triple-H in the "500"
August
World champ Batista pins Layfield in No-Holds-Barred match.
October
World champion Batista defeats Eddie Guerrero at No Mercy.
November
Oddball story of the Month: Coach vs Austin becomes Coach vs....Batista?
