Batista not being used.

[mrbananagrabber]

Like, at ALL.

So a superstar returns. He wins the freakin' Rumble on his return and then pretty much vanishes, save for a terrible promo and an obligatory table shot with Del Rio.

Why isn't he involved in anything? Where's the six man tags? Where's the squash matches? Where's the "can he beat.." Matches against beasts like Ryback? Why aren't they utilizing Batista to make new fans care about him and old fans a reason to tune in to see him?

Instead they have him show up a week before the PPV, looking embarrassed to even be there. He's sure earning his no doubt sky high fee.

[BorneAgain]

WWE seems really reluctant to do to much with him in front of a live audience after what happened at the Rumble.

[Raskovnik]

You would think they'd give him something to do to maybe shake off his ring rust before his big return match (I'm not counting the RR because he did jack shit in that) but I guess they're afraid to put him out there for fear of how hard he'll be booed.

[molson5]

He is working house shows, which should help with the ring rust.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Feb 18, 2014 20:05:19 GMT -5 Raskovnik said:

You would think they'd give him something to do to maybe shake off his ring rust before his big return match (I'm not counting the RR because he did jack shit in that) but I guess they're afraid to put him out there for fear of how hard he'll be booed.

Crowd reaction has never stopped them from pushing who they want to push before.

[mrjl]

He did two house shows over the weekend and according to the reports I read he might have tweaked his shoulder in the second one

[rnrk supports BLM]

He's Batista. Did he ever go a full year as a wrestler without ending up needing a few months off for injuries? And that was back when he wasn't as old and out-of-shape. They're handling him like glass because that's the only way to keep his body from crumbling into bits before he even makes it to 'Mania.

[Deleted]

To make him feel like more of a "special attraction"


Same reason you dont see The Rock or lesnar work matches on Raw.


Though I wouldn't even class Batista as anywhere near either of their levels, but WWE thinks differently, and at the end of the day they're the big corporation with entire departments whose job it is to work these things out, so what do I know as a lowly fan?

[Shark]

He's back for 2 years so WWE doesn't need to blow their load on him early especially since he'll be doing way more in the build to Mania. Also right now they're focused on the Wyatts vs. the Shield and the stuff with Randy Orton and the title. It is also likely that WWE wants to try and ease back with him given the reception he's gotten since he came back.

[Deleted]

If the Bobs did a rundown of the WWE roster, Batista would be the guy they sit down with and ask "what exactly, would you say.....ya do here?"

[kerda]

Feb 18, 2014 20:16:42 GMT -5 @graant said:

To make him feel like more of a "special attraction"


Same reason you dont see The Rock or lesnar work matches on Raw.


Though I wouldn't even class Batista as anywhere near either of their levels, but WWE thinks differently, and at the end of the day they're the big corporation with entire departments whose job it is to work these things out, so what do I know as a lowly fan?

But WWE themselves aren't presenting Batista as an attraction on the level of those guys. Whenever Rock would show up, they would spend the entire week prior running promos on their shows screaming "ROCK WILL BE AT RAW MONDAY OH GOD PLEASE WATCH!!!!", and though Brock oftentimes does just show up on Raw out of the blue, they spend the entire rest of the show with the commentators asking "Where's Brock?" and showing highlights of whatever destruction he hath wrought.

With Batista last night, for example, he pops on screen for 3 minutes as an addendum to an Orton promo, and proceeds to do nothing more than remind people that he's fighting Del Rio on Sunday. Cole and JBL bicker for a few seconds afterwards on whether or not Del Rio is justified, aaaaand.... that's it. It was treated as wholly inconsequential, when this is a guy who was brought back and instantaneously dropped into the WM main event because they perceive him as being SUCH a big star.

While I'm not saying WWE has given up on Big Dave, I do think we're seeing a dash of buyer's remorse at this point, as even people within their bubble have to see that Batista hasn't been greeted with the heroes welcome that they were probably expecting. Bryan continues to garner Austin-esque crowd support, Roman Reigns is getting bigger reactions by the week, and even the casual fans seem to have fully bought into the hijinks of the Wyatt Family, and yet the company is stuck trying to justify why their prospective WM main event is a heel champ who's been booked as a gargantuan loser and a 40+ year old C list actor who not even the writers care about.

[Chip]

Feb 18, 2014 20:16:36 GMT -5 rnrk supports BLM said:

He's Batista. Did he ever go a full year as a wrestler without ending up needing a few months off for injuries? And that was back when he wasn't as old and out-of-shape. They're handling him like glass because that's the only way to keep his body from crumbling into bits before he even makes it to 'Mania.

This was gonna be my response. If you have him work a regular schedule he's probably gonna get injured before Mania. Judging by a comment in this thread, he already has.

[TWERKIN' MAGGLE]

Batista is too busy wandering the halls looking for Alberto. They're in an abusive relationship, but Alberto isn't ready to tell.

[Sam Punk]

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[bootytea]

Feb 18, 2014 20:16:36 GMT -5 rnrk supports BLM said:

He's Batista. Did he ever go a full year as a wrestler without ending up needing a few months off for injuries? And that was back when he wasn't as old and out-of-shape. They're handling him like glass because that's the only way to keep his body from crumbling into bits before he even makes it to 'Mania.

My thoughts summed up perfectly.

[Mesousa287793]

So basically, WWE doesn't mind Cena being booed, but they do when it comes to Batista?

Instead of, oh, I don't know, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT?!

[SEAN CARLESS]

Feb 18, 2014 21:06:18 GMT -5 Mesousa287793 said:

So basically, WWE doesn't mind Cena being booed, but they do when it comes to Batista?

Instead of, oh, I don't know, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT?!

I think somehow WWE thinks Dave having a belt on his shoulder come the release of Guardians of the Galaxy means something. Not realizing that he's like 4th or 5th billing and won't be first pick by studios to promote anything. They might as well have put Punk's belt on Nash before Magic Mike. It's about the same pecking order of stardom.

[JTG Fan]

I was in favor of Batista returning under the assumption that he was back full time. Not that he has to wrestle every week but jeez, it's been a month, he could stand to have a match on TV.

[Deleted]

Feb 18, 2014 21:06:18 GMT -5 Mesousa287793 said:

So basically, WWE doesn't mind Cena being booed, but they do when it comes to Batista?

Instead of, oh, I don't know, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT?!

With Cena it's unique to him, WWE can spin it (controversy!), plus he has the talent to work with it. I think it's really different for Batista and WWE doesn't want another situation like that. He's gonna have to turn heel.

[Mesousa287793]

Feb 18, 2014 21:12:49 GMT -5 SEAN CARLESS said:

Feb 18, 2014 21:06:18 GMT -5 Mesousa287793 said:

So basically, WWE doesn't mind Cena being booed, but they do when it comes to Batista?

Instead of, oh, I don't know, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT?!

I think somehow WWE thinks Dave having a belt on his shoulder come the release of Guardians of the Galaxy means something. Not realizing that he's like 4th or 5th billing and won't be first pick by studios to promote anything. They might as well have put Punk's belt on Nash before Magic Mike. It's about the same pecking order of stardom.

Magic Mike sucks.