Getting into pro wrestling was tough for Batista.
He talked about his experiences getting into the industry, talking to Jim Ross on his podcast recently. He talked about getting into the business at 30 years old, not too sure what to do with himself, trying to figure himself out while trying to adjust to his new profession.
There [were] a few people that believed in me and there [were] a few people that just didn't know what the hell to make of me. And sometimes, I didn't know what the hell to make of myself. I tell people I got into [pro] wrestling for all the wrong reasons. I was desperate, man. I was going on 30 [years old] and I didn't have a dime to my name and I just didn't know what to do with myself. I was somewhat of an athlete and I had somewhat of a look. I had some athletic capability, so I gave it a shot. And then, once I did, I just fell in love with it. I was obsessed with it, but often times, I found myself lost. I didn't know what to do with myself, who to be. It was a big puzzle I was trying to figure out.
Signed to WWE's developmental territory in 2000, Batista managed to do well enough to be called onto the main roster two years later. But even then, it was a tough process for him to figure out who he was within the industry.
Even when I moved up in WWE, I wasn't ready. It took me a long time to figure out things. I just kind of… I just kept putting my best foot forward and kind of tried to show people I was working hard and that I really wanted it, but I was still trying to figure out that puzzle of being very much an introvert and it wasn't easy. A lot of times, people took me the wrong way, so, no, it definitely wasn't easy and I have to be the first to say I wasn't ready."
Batista eventually did find himself. Known later on in his career as The Animal, he was a big part of WWE's roster in the mid 2000s, eventually leaving in 2010 to pursue acting. He scored a breakthrough role as Drax the Destroyer in the Guardians of the Galaxy film series.
