World Wrestling Entertainment (2002–2010):
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He made his [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] debut in 2000 under the ring name Leviathan, where he immediately joined forces with Synn. As a member of the Disciples of Synn [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|stable]], he went undefeated until being beaten at ''Christmas Chaos'' by [[Glenn Jacobs|Kane]] with help from [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]]. He later won the [[OVW Heavyweight Championship]] from "The Machine" [[Doug Basham]] before losing the belt to [[John Cena|The Prototype]]. A few months later, Bautista left OVW after he was promoted to World Wrestling Entertainment.
He made his [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] debut in 2000 under the ring name Leviathan, where he immediately joined forces with Synn. As a member of the Disciples of Synn [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|stable]], he went undefeated until being beaten at ''Christmas Chaos'' by [[Glenn Jacobs|Kane]] with help from [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]]. He later won the [[OVW Heavyweight Championship]] from "The Machine" [[Doug Basham]] before losing the belt to [[John Cena|The Prototype]]. A few months later, Bautista left OVW after he was promoted to World Wrestling Entertainment.
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===World Wrestling Entertainment===
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===World Wrestling Entertainment (2002−2010)===
====Debut and Evolution (2002–2005)====
====Debut and Evolution (2002–2005)====
He began his WWE career on 9 May 2002 episode of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'' as Deacon Batista, a [[heel (professional wrestling)|villainous]] enforcer for [[Devon Hughes|Reverend D-Von]]. He made his WWE in-ring debut in a [[tag team]] match teaming with D-Von against [[Ron Simmons|Faarooq]] and [[Randy Orton]], [[Pin (professional wrestling)|pinning]] Orton. Over several weeks, Orton tried to beat D-Von and Batista with different partners, but ultimately lost each time. Batista suffered his first loss in a match against [[Solofa Fatu|Rikishi]] after D-Von accidentally punched him, allowing Rikishi to take advantage and pin Batista. Batista and D-Von argued over the forthcoming weeks, with Batista eventually turning on D-Von. After splitting with D-Von, he signed with [[WWE Raw|Raw]] and was renamed Dave Batista (or simply Batista). He aligned himself with [[Ric Flair]] and [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feuded]] with [[Glenn Jacobs|Kane]], whom he defeated at [[Armageddon 2002|Armageddon]].
He began his WWE career on 9 May 2002 episode of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'' as Deacon Batista, a [[heel (professional wrestling)|villainous]] enforcer for [[Devon Hughes|Reverend D-Von]]. He made his WWE in-ring debut in a [[tag team]] match teaming with D-Von against [[Ron Simmons|Faarooq]] and [[Randy Orton]], [[Pin (professional wrestling)|pinning]] Orton. Over several weeks, Orton tried to beat D-Von and Batista with different partners, but ultimately lost each time. Batista suffered his first loss in a match against [[Solofa Fatu|Rikishi]] after D-Von accidentally punched him, allowing Rikishi to take advantage and pin Batista. Batista and D-Von argued over the forthcoming weeks, with Batista eventually turning on D-Von. After splitting with D-Von, he signed with [[WWE Raw|Raw]] and was renamed Dave Batista (or simply Batista). He aligned himself with [[Ric Flair]] and [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feuded]] with [[Glenn Jacobs|Kane]], whom he defeated at [[Armageddon 2002|Armageddon]].
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====World Heavyweight Championship pursuits and reigns (2005–2008)====
====World Heavyweight Championship pursuits and reigns (2005–2008)====
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Batista won the World Heavyweight Championship on 3 April in the main event of WrestleMania 21. WrestleMania 21 received 1.09 million pay-per-view buys worldwide - the then-highest ever number of buys for any non-boxing pay-per-view. Batista's match with Triple H was described by sports journalist [[Dave Meltzer]] as "the peak of one of [WWE's] best storylines in years" Batista won a rematch with Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at [[Backlash 2005|Backlash]]. After Batista retained his title against Edge, he was betrayed by Ric Flair, who helped Triple H viciously attack the champion as Triple H challenged Batista to a [[Hell in a Cell]] match at [[Vengeance 2005|Vengeance]]. Batista won the match at Vengeance, retaining his title yet again. With this win, Batista became the first wrestler to pin Triple H in a Hell in a Cell match.
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Batista won the World Heavyweight Championship on 3 April in the main event of WrestleMania 21. WrestleMania 21 received 1.09 million pay-per-view buys worldwide - the then-highest ever number of buys for any non-boxing pay-per-view. Batista's match with Triple H was described by sports journalist [[Dave Meltzer]] as "the peak of one of [WWE's] best storylines in years" Batista won a rematch with Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at [[Backlash 2005|Backlash]]. After Batista retained his title against Edge, he was betrayed by Ric Flair, who helped Triple H viciously attack the champion as Triple H challenged Batista to a [[Hell in a Cell]] match at [[Vengeance 2005|Vengeance]]. Batista won the match at Vengeance, retaining his title yet again. With this win, Batista became the first wrestler to pin Triple H in a Hell in a Cell match.
On 30 June, Batista was revealed as the last pick in the [[2005 WWE Draft Lottery]]; he made a surprise appearance while JBL was celebrating his victory in a six-man elimination match to win the new SmackDown! Championship. JBL defeated Batista at [[The Great American Bash 2005|The Great American Bash]] by disqualification after the referee saw Batista use a steel chair. They had a rematch at [[SummerSlam (2005)|SummerSlam]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#No Disqualification match|No Holds Barred match]] in which Batista pinned JBL. The feud culminated in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Strap match|Bull Rope match]] with Batista retaining his championship. Soon after retaining the title in a feud with [[Eddie Guerrero]], WWE.com reported that Batista suffered a muscle tear in his back at the taping for the 11 November episode of ''SmackDown!'' due to a double chokeslam from [[Big Show and Kane]]. Plans had been made for Batista to defend the title in a Triple Threat match with Eddie Guerrero and Randy Orton on 18 November episode, but the match did not take place due to the unexpected death of Guerrero on 13 November, the date of the taping. Batista paid homage to Guerrero during the ''SmackDown!'' and ''Raw'' tribute shows dedicated to Guerrero's memory.
On 30 June, Batista was revealed as the last pick in the [[2005 WWE Draft Lottery]]; he made a surprise appearance while JBL was celebrating his victory in a six-man elimination match to win the new SmackDown! Championship. JBL defeated Batista at [[The Great American Bash 2005|The Great American Bash]] by disqualification after the referee saw Batista use a steel chair. They had a rematch at [[SummerSlam (2005)|SummerSlam]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#No Disqualification match|No Holds Barred match]] in which Batista pinned JBL. The feud culminated in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Strap match|Bull Rope match]] with Batista retaining his championship. Soon after retaining the title in a feud with [[Eddie Guerrero]], WWE.com reported that Batista suffered a muscle tear in his back at the taping for the 11 November episode of ''SmackDown!'' due to a double chokeslam from [[Big Show and Kane]]. Plans had been made for Batista to defend the title in a Triple Threat match with Eddie Guerrero and Randy Orton on 18 November episode, but the match did not take place due to the unexpected death of Guerrero on 13 November, the date of the taping. Batista paid homage to Guerrero during the ''SmackDown!'' and ''Raw'' tribute shows dedicated to Guerrero's memory.
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During this time, Batista tried to regain a world title, facing both Big Show for his [[ECW Championship|ECW World Championship]] on ''[[ECW on Syfy|ECW]]'', and [[Booker Huffman|King Booker]] for his World Heavyweight Championship at [[SummerSlam 2006|SummerSlam]] and on ''SmackDown!''. Batista won the SummerSlam match, but not the title as the contests ended via disqualification meaning Booker retained the title. In the ''SmackDown!'' about a few weeks later, Booker retained with help from his [[King Booker's Court|Court]]. Batista remained a top contender to the World Championship, competing against King Booker on several occasions while feuding with Finlay, before finally defeating Booker to regain the World Heavyweight Championship at [[Survivor Series 2006|Survivor Series]]. Ironically, the win occurred at the same arena where he surrendered the title in January.
During this time, Batista tried to regain a world title, facing both Big Show for his [[ECW Championship|ECW World Championship]] on ''[[ECW on Syfy|ECW]]'', and [[Booker Huffman|King Booker]] for his World Heavyweight Championship at [[SummerSlam 2006|SummerSlam]] and on ''SmackDown!''. Batista won the SummerSlam match, but not the title as the contests ended via disqualification meaning Booker retained the title. In the ''SmackDown!'' about a few weeks later, Booker retained with help from his [[King Booker's Court|Court]]. Batista remained a top contender to the World Championship, competing against King Booker on several occasions while feuding with Finlay, before finally defeating Booker to regain the World Heavyweight Championship at [[Survivor Series 2006|Survivor Series]]. Ironically, the win occurred at the same arena where he surrendered the title in January.
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At [[WrestleMania 23]], Batista lost the championship to the winner of the Royal Rumble match, [[The Undertaker]]. They continued to battle over the title to a stalemate in a [[professional wrestling match types#Last Man Standing match|Last Man Standing match]] at [[Backlash 2007|Backlash]] and a [[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|Steel Cage Match]] on 11 May episode of ''SmackDown!'', in both matches Batista and The Undertaker ended in draw, thus Undertaker retained the championship. Following the latter, [[Adam Copeland|Edge]] took advantage and won the title from The Undertaker by cashing in his [[Money in the Bank ladder match|Money in the Bank]] contract. Afterward, Batista challenged Edge unsuccessfully for the World Heavyweight Championship at [[Judgment Day 2007|Judgment Day]], [[One Night Stand 2007|One Night Stand]] (in a Steel Cage Match), and [[Vengeance: Night of Champions]] (in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Last Chance match|Last Chance match]]). The loss at Vengeance stipulated that Batista could no longer get another chance at the World Heavyweight Championship while Edge remained champion.
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At [[WrestleMania 23]], Batista lost the championship to the winner of the Royal Rumble match, [[The Undertaker]]. They continued to battle over the title to a stalemate in a [[professional wrestling match types#Last Man Standing match|Last Man Standing match]] at [[Backlash 2007|Backlash]] and a [[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|Steel Cage Match]] on 11 May episode of ''SmackDown!'', in both matches Batista and The Undertaker ended in draw, thus Undertaker retained the championship. Following the latter, [[Adam Copeland|Edge]] took advantage and won the title from The Undertaker by cashing in his [[Money in the Bank ladder match|Money in the Bank]] contract. Afterward, Batista challenged Edge unsuccessfully for the World Heavyweight Championship at [[Judgment Day 2007|Judgment Day]], [[One Night Stand 2007|One Night Stand]] (in a Steel Cage Match), and [[Vengeance: Night of Champions]] (in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Last Chance match|Last Chance match]]). The loss at Vengeance stipulated that Batista could no longer get another chance at the World Heavyweight Championship while Edge remained champion.
Batista accepted an open challenge from [[The Great Khali]] at [[The Great American Bash 2007|The Great American Bash]]. Edge relinquished the title due to an injury the week before the pay-per-view, and Khali became the new World Heavyweight Champion, winning a [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|Battle Royal]] and eliminating Batista. Batista and [[Glenn Jacobs|Kane]], Edge's title opponent, faced Khali at The Great American Bash in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Triple Threat match]] where Khali retained the title. Batista received a disqualification victory against Khali at [[SummerSlam 2007|SummerSlam]] after Khali used a steel chair, thus retaining the title again. Batista finally claimed his third World Heavyweight Championship after eight consecutive attempts, by defeating Khali in a match that included Rey Mysterio at [[Unforgiven 2007|Unforgiven]]. His first challenge was from The Great Khali in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Punjabi Prison match|Punjabi Prison Match]] at [[No Mercy 2007|No Mercy]] where Batista retained his title. He won the match by leaping from the inner bamboo structure to the outer one, shortening his escape route and beating Khali to the floor.
Batista accepted an open challenge from [[The Great Khali]] at [[The Great American Bash 2007|The Great American Bash]]. Edge relinquished the title due to an injury the week before the pay-per-view, and Khali became the new World Heavyweight Champion, winning a [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|Battle Royal]] and eliminating Batista. Batista and [[Glenn Jacobs|Kane]], Edge's title opponent, faced Khali at The Great American Bash in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Triple Threat match]] where Khali retained the title. Batista received a disqualification victory against Khali at [[SummerSlam 2007|SummerSlam]] after Khali used a steel chair, thus retaining the title again. Batista finally claimed his third World Heavyweight Championship after eight consecutive attempts, by defeating Khali in a match that included Rey Mysterio at [[Unforgiven 2007|Unforgiven]]. His first challenge was from The Great Khali in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Punjabi Prison match|Punjabi Prison Match]] at [[No Mercy 2007|No Mercy]] where Batista retained his title. He won the match by leaping from the inner bamboo structure to the outer one, shortening his escape route and beating Khali to the floor.
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It was announced a few weeks before the [[Trish Stratus]]-hosted Raw that Batista would be making a career-altering announcement come that show. Batista returned on 14 September episode with his arm still in a vice and began his announcement. [[Randy Orton]], assuming Batista was announcing his retirement, then came out and stated that it was he who ended the career of Batista. Batista then went on to remove his arm vice, as it was a fake just to lure out Orton, and proceeded to attack Orton. He then announced that he will not be retiring, but moving to [[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]] instead. Later that night, he defeated Orton in a no-holds barred match which was to be his last match on the Raw brand.
It was announced a few weeks before the [[Trish Stratus]]-hosted Raw that Batista would be making a career-altering announcement come that show. Batista returned on 14 September episode with his arm still in a vice and began his announcement. [[Randy Orton]], assuming Batista was announcing his retirement, then came out and stated that it was he who ended the career of Batista. Batista then went on to remove his arm vice, as it was a fake just to lure out Orton, and proceeded to attack Orton. He then announced that he will not be retiring, but moving to [[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]] instead. Later that night, he defeated Orton in a no-holds barred match which was to be his last match on the Raw brand.
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Batista defeated [[Chris Jericho]] in his return match to SmackDown on 18 September; the following week, he defeated Jericho's tag team partner The Big Show. These two victories culminated in a tag team match against [[Jeri-Show]] with his partner [[Rey Mysterio, Jr.|Rey Mysterio]] at [[Hell in a Cell 2009|WWE Hell in a Cell]] for the [[Unified WWE Tag Team Championship]], in which [[Jeri-Show]] won. After winning a slot in a [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Fatal-four way match]] for [[Bragging Rights 2009|WWE Bragging Rights]], Batista turned [[heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] by attacking Mysterio, who was in the match, after Batista blamed him for not being able to win the match. After several encounters with Mysterio throughout December, Batista would become the number one contender for [[The Undertaker]]'s World Championship at [[TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2009|TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs]]. At the event, Batista would win the match as a result of an illegal maneuver, which resulted in [[Professional wrestling authority figures#General managers 2|SmackDown General Manager]] [[Theodore Long]] reversing the result of the match. The Undertaker would win and retain the championship in the restarted match.
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Batista defeated [[Chris Jericho]] in his return match to SmackDown on 18 September; the following week, he defeated Jericho's tag team partner The Big Show. These two victories culminated in a tag team match against [[Jeri-Show]] with his partner [[Rey Mysterio, Jr.|Rey Mysterio]] at [[Hell in a Cell 2009|WWE Hell in a Cell]] for the [[Unified WWE Tag Team Championship]], in which [[Jeri-Show]] won. After winning a slot in a [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Fatal-four way match]] for [[Bragging Rights 2009|WWE Bragging Rights]], Batista turned [[heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] by attacking Mysterio, who was in the match, after Batista blamed him for not being able to win the match. After several encounters with Mysterio throughout December, Batista would become the number one contender for [[The Undertaker]]'s World Championship at [[TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2009|TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs]]. At the event, Batista would win the match as a result of an illegal maneuver, which resulted in [[Professional wrestling authority figures#General managers 2|SmackDown General Manager]] [[Theodore Long]] reversing the result of the match. The Undertaker would win and retain the championship in the restarted match.
Batista then became involved in WWE Chairman [[Vince McMahon]] and [[Bret Hart]]'s rivalry in February 2010 by assisting McMahon in attacking Hart. [[John Cena]] would attempt to help Hart, only to end up being attacked by Batista. At [[Elimination Chamber (2010)|Elimination Chamber]], as payment for Batista attacking Hart, McMahon allowed Batista to face Cena for the [[WWE Championship]] right after Cena won the title in an [[Elimination Chamber]] match. Batista would win the match and his second WWE Championship, which resulted in Batista moving back to Raw. At [[WrestleMania XXVI]] Batista lost the WWE Championship in a re-match against John Cena after he had held the title for 35 days. Batista had a [[Professional wrestling match types#Last Man Standing match|Last Man Standing]] rematch against John Cena at [[Extreme Rules (2010)|Extreme Rules]] once again for the WWE Championship, but lost after Cena duct-taped his legs around a ring post, preventing him from standing up. Later he once again became number one contender for the title and at [[Over the Limit (2010)|Over the Limit]] he lost his final match to Cena in an [["I Quit" match]]. On 24 May episode of Raw he opened the show in a wheelchair and quit the company after refusing the request of [[Bret Hart]], the new general manager of Raw, set up a match for him with an injured [[Randy Orton]] for qualify for a shot at WWE Championship against John Cena again at Fatal 4 Way PPV (with the qualifier won by Orton by Batista's forfeiture). His profile was subsequently being moved to the WWE.com alumni page. He later said in an interview that he left WWE because he did not like the direction the company was going in and would not be returning any time soon. In another interview in 2012, Batista said that he is planning a return to [[WWE]] in the future.
Batista then became involved in WWE Chairman [[Vince McMahon]] and [[Bret Hart]]'s rivalry in February 2010 by assisting McMahon in attacking Hart. [[John Cena]] would attempt to help Hart, only to end up being attacked by Batista. At [[Elimination Chamber (2010)|Elimination Chamber]], as payment for Batista attacking Hart, McMahon allowed Batista to face Cena for the [[WWE Championship]] right after Cena won the title in an [[Elimination Chamber]] match. Batista would win the match and his second WWE Championship, which resulted in Batista moving back to Raw. At [[WrestleMania XXVI]] Batista lost the WWE Championship in a re-match against John Cena after he had held the title for 35 days. Batista had a [[Professional wrestling match types#Last Man Standing match|Last Man Standing]] rematch against John Cena at [[Extreme Rules (2010)|Extreme Rules]] once again for the WWE Championship, but lost after Cena duct-taped his legs around a ring post, preventing him from standing up. Later he once again became number one contender for the title and at [[Over the Limit (2010)|Over the Limit]] he lost his final match to Cena in an [["I Quit" match]]. On 24 May episode of Raw he opened the show in a wheelchair and quit the company after refusing the request of [[Bret Hart]], the new general manager of Raw, set up a match for him with an injured [[Randy Orton]] for qualify for a shot at WWE Championship against John Cena again at Fatal 4 Way PPV (with the qualifier won by Orton by Batista's forfeiture). His profile was subsequently being moved to the WWE.com alumni page. He later said in an interview that he left WWE because he did not like the direction the company was going in and would not be returning any time soon. In another interview in 2012, Batista said that he is planning a return to [[WWE]] in the future.
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==Return to WWE (2014-Present)==
==Return to WWE (2014-Present)==