Batista: I Was Broke In WWE Until I Became World Heavyweight Champion In 2005

Batista reveals he was broke until he became WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Back in 2002, Deacon Batista emerged on our screens alongside Reverend D-Von, later known as D-Von Dudley. This was fans’ first glimpse of the man that would go on to become ‘The Animal’, going on to reach the main event scene when he went to the RAW brand and joined forces with Ric Flair, Randy Orton and Triple H as part of Evolution. Despite his success in the group, Batista has now revealed he wasn’t making serious money in WWE, until he defeated his former stablemate Triple H at WrestleMania 21 for the World Heavyweight Championship.

During a recent interview with the W.O.L.F GYMS Youtube channel, former WWE star Batista stated he wasn’t making money in WWE until he became World Heavyweight Champion in 2005.

“I can’t speak for how it is now, but when I was there, you’re just grinding. You’re pulling your own weight. Most of the time it’s not only physically very difficult and mentally very difficult, but it’s also expensive. When I was wrestling, they pretty much provided you with airfare and that was it. Not food. Not cars. Not hotels. None of that. So my first few years of wrestling, I was broke until 2005 when I became World Champion and started to make some money. I was still borrowing money from people. I was living in a tiny apartment when I was World Champion because I had just become World Champion. I hadn’t started making money yet. I used to go to those check cashing places and get like a $300 loan. And then you’d come back, pay it and borrow another $300 and do that week after week. Around 2005 is when I didn’t have to do that anymore and I started to make money, but until then, I was grinding.”

-Batista

Batista ended his full-time from wrestling in 2010 and pursued a career in MMA and acting. However, the former WWE Champion made brief returns to the company in 2014, 2018, and 2019, including his No Holds Barred encounter with Triple H at WrestleMania 35, which the 57-year-old believes is his final match.

Of course, Batista now enjoys a successful career as an actor in Hollywood with starring roles in films such as Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

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As always we will aim to bring you the latest news on Batista’s storied WWE career as soon as we hear more.