How was Batista's first title run supposed to end?

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I was thinking about this today because his title run was allegedly supposed to end two times before he had to vacate it. I've heard that Muhammad Hassan was supposed to win it at Summerslam before that got nixed after the SmackDown terrorist angle. Then I've heard Eddie was supposed to win it but he passed away in November. And then Batista had to vacate it due to an injury. Has anyone heard what the actual post-Eddie plan was or if those two other plans were actually going to happen?

[Jindrak Mark]

Has the Eddie thing ever been confirmed or is that just a rumor that's gone round over the years? Just a year earlier he requested to drop the title because he couldn't handle the pressure of being the champ and face of the show. Would he even want the title back?

If Batista didn't get injured I think Orton would have been the one to take the title from him. I remember in late 2005 Cena v HHH and Batista v Orton being talked about as the Wrestlemania title matches. If that was the plan with Orton winning they dodged a bullet though because Orton got suspended after Wrestlemania and was gone for 2 months which would have been a disaster if he had just won the world title.

Rey Mysterio was always going to win a world title even if Eddie didn't die, I've always stood by that belief. The way he was booked in 2005 it was obviously coming. I think it would have came later in 2006 though. I don't think they'd have done face v face with him and Batista and had Rey win.

[Instant Classic]

I would imagine Randy Orton at Wrestlemania 22.

[A Platypus Rave]

I think the WWE were absolutely going to have Hassan beat Taker and then face Batista in Washington DC for the title.

I have no idea if they'd pull the trigger on a Hassan reign... but they were at least setting it up.

Jan 17, 2022 16:51:09 GMT -5 Jindrak Mark said:

Has the Eddie thing ever been confirmed or is that just a rumor that's gone round over the years? Just a year earlier he requested to drop the title because he couldn't handle the pressure of being the champ and face of the show. Would he even want the title back?

never been confirmed but with the way the storyline was going and the Triple Threat set for a title when news came out Batista was injured.

Eddie winning it made the most sense. I think Eddie would have been fine with a short reign as I think his issue was being THE GUY on Smackdown.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

I think Batista was supposed to drop the title in the triple threat match with Orton and Eddie that was to have taken place that fateful day, but not to Eddie. Likely, he would have dropped to Orton, and then Eddie would have gotten pissed that neither he or his "friend" Batista were champion, and he would have shown his true colors and attacked Batista, allowing him to take a couple months off.

[Jindrak Mark]

Jan 17, 2022 17:04:02 GMT -5 Oh Cry Me a Screwball said:

I think Batista was supposed to drop the title in the triple threat match with Orton and Eddie that was to have taken place that fateful day, but not to Eddie. Likely, he would have dropped to Orton, and then Eddie would have gotten pissed that neither he or his "friend" Batista were champion, and he would have shown his true colors and attacked Batista, allowing him to take a couple months off.

That makes a lot of sense. I forgot that Batista actually got hurt in November and was supposed to immediately take time off but Eddie's death obviously hurt the main event ranks so he stuck around and worked hurt for a couple months to help out, doing tag matches at Survivor Series and Armageddon.

I can see your scenario happening then the Orton/Undertaker hell in a cell blowoff is now for the title and Batista gets revenge on Eddie when he returns before trying to regain the title. In this scenario I think the Wrestlemania title match is Orton v Mysterio. Angle was drafted over from Raw after Eddie died and Batista got hurt but with one of them still being around in this scenario they might not have bothered doing that.

[Mozenrath]

Jan 17, 2022 17:03:59 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

I think the WWE were absolutely going to have Hassan beat Taker and then face Batista in Washington DC for the title.

I have no idea if they'd pull the trigger on a Hassan reign... but they were at least setting it up.

Jan 17, 2022 16:51:09 GMT -5 Jindrak Mark said:

Has the Eddie thing ever been confirmed or is that just a rumor that's gone round over the years? Just a year earlier he requested to drop the title because he couldn't handle the pressure of being the champ and face of the show. Would he even want the title back?

never been confirmed but with the way the storyline was going and the Triple Threat set for a title when news came out Batista was injured.

Eddie winning it made the most sense. I think Eddie would have been fine with a short reign as I think his issue was being THE GUY on Smackdown.

Right, particularly as a heel or something, the dynamic would have been different.

[ChitownKnight]

Pre Eddie’s death, Batista said he suggested Eddie to win the title, but Eddie told him that he appreciated the gesture but to have Orton go over. I think Eddie winning it would of made more sense though, he could defend against JBL at Armageddon and then drop it to Orton at the rumble if he was face, or defend against Benoit then drop it back to Batista before mania if he was heel.

Post Eddies death, I think he would of held it to mania and would of taken Kurt’s spot in the triple threat vs Orton and Mysterio.

Either way Rey was gonna win the title at mania 22 or atleast Summerslam the way he was being built up in 05

[Spider2024]

Jan 17, 2022 17:01:15 GMT -5 Instant Classic said:

I would imagine Randy Orton at Wrestlemania 22.

That's my best guess as well. I definitely think the 2 would face each other for the WHC at WM22. In the case of Batista winning that match, King Booker would be the eventual one to dethrone him, because they were definitely going to give Booker a 'thank you run' that year at some point.

[Tiffany Stratton's Daddy]

Jan 17, 2022 17:01:15 GMT -5 Instant Classic said:

I would imagine Randy Orton at Wrestlemania 22.

I think Orton takes the title off Batista too, but he likely does before Mania. I'd assume Batista loses the belt to Orton and then wins it back at WrestleMania 22.

But that's just my guess.

[Instant Classic]

Jan 17, 2022 23:25:56 GMT -5 Spider2024 said:

Jan 17, 2022 17:01:15 GMT -5 Instant Classic said:

I would imagine Randy Orton at Wrestlemania 22.

That's my best guess as well. I definitely think the 2 would face each other for the WHC at WM22. In the case of Batista winning that match, King Booker would be the eventual one to dethrone him, because they were definitely going to give Booker a 'thank you run' that year at some point.

You could keep Batista looking strong as well by having Booker’s court helping him win.

[EvenBaldobombHasAJob]

He probably would have put someone over before taking time off if they hadn't booked him into that false rape accusation story with Melina. He was suddenly too injured to perform and I cant blame him.

[nickcave]

I feel like the thinking at the time was that Orton was going to win heading into the match.

[lildude8218]

I'm guessing someone was going to either pin his shoulders to the mat for a 3 count or cause him to submit. Unless it was a gimmick match then they might escape the cage before him or be the last man standing or touch 4 cornerposts or grab the title hanging from the top of the building or....