Every Monday and Friday I write a wrestling column for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review which can be found online at Triblive.com.
Today, I talk about the rumors and reality of a Batista WWE return. The following is an excerpt:
I expect WWE to promote his return similar to how it did with Rob Van Dam in July. There is no point, especially with the rumor of his return being public, of having Batista make his return at in a surprise situation.
If the people don't know he's going to be there, you can't make money off it. Advertise he's returning at Royal Rumble or the night after.
It was the same situation when Kevin Nash returned at the Royal Rumble in 2011. He was just hours removed from getting out of his TNA contract. WWE wanted him to return as Diesel. His philosophy was he can't help the buys of the pay-per-view if people aren't thinking or expecting him. Needless to say, with cameras following us, Nash and I had a fun video conversation in the Boston airport that went viral. It provided the exact buzz he wanted and the pay-per-view made good money.
Batista will get a babyface reaction as anyone does when they make a return. That needs to quickly be done away with if not the night he returns, then shortly thereafter. Batista NEEDS to be a heel.
WWE has a good pool of babyfaces: John Cena, Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Big E. Langston, Big Show, Rey Mysterio, Cody Rhodes, Goldust, Xavier Woods. It lacks credible heels, and Batista is credible.
Batista shouldn't be put in any novelty match at WrestleMania with another part-time talent or an established main event name. He needs to work with a younger babyface.
Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler come to mind. I could see WWE's logic of Sheamus, who is expected to return also around Rumble, needing to regain relevancy as he's been out since the summer with injury. He and Batista would be a physical match. However, I don't know how many fans will buy into it, and I think Sheamus is a babyface they don't need. Turn him back to heel as the big, tough, nasty Irish fighter.
Ziggler would have a fantastic match with Batista. With Batista's power, combined with Ziggler's athletic ability and art of being able to sell, would make an entertaining contest. Anything with Ziggler mentioned in it has to be taken with heavy consideration as he seems to have fallen out of favor with the decision makers. WWE isn't going to put Batista against anyone it doesn't care about.
Bryan, Punk and Cena are all guys who don't need an opponent such as Batista. Plus, I think all of them will be occupied with other booking plans for WrestleMania.
I don't think this run is just for WrestleMania. I think it will be similar to Chris Jericho two years ago. Come back in January and hang around until SummerSlam. This could allow for some time to put Batista up against an established name, but not at WrestleMania. Make a new star at WrestleMania. Batista versus a Bryan or Punk could be beneficial after WrestleMania to headline a May or June pay-per-view.
Batista has to be the heel he was in 2010 as he finished up with WWE before leaving. It was his most successful heel run in a feud with John Cena. The white hat, the glasses, the dress clothes. He had a swagger of obnoxiousness to him. It was as if he was dressing up and portraying Kanye West.
How about Titus O'Neil for an opponent?
Why Titus O'Neil is a great fit for Batista's opponent— read the full column and I explain.
