Why Batista Left WWE In 2010, Explained
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When it comes to many names who have wrestled within WWE, it is very common for them to leave at some point. Whether that be to venture into new things, due to being fired, down to frustration, or even retirement, the vast majority of superstars make their exit at some point. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they can’t come back in the future, and that was the case when it came to Batista. In 2010, one of WWE’s biggest stars of the last decade made his exit from the promotion, but why exactly was that?
Batista Was WWE Champion Just A Few Months Before Leaving In 2010
In the month prior to Batista leaving WWE, he was positioned as one of the top names in the company. Heading into 2010, he had just become a heel for the first time since his days in Evolution, and it had led him to WWE Championship gold, igniting a feud with John Cena. He held the top belt for a couple of months before losing it in one of WrestleMania 26’s marquee matches. From there, Cena and Batista battled in two back-to-back PPV main events, with his booking not looking like it was for someone with one foot out of the door.
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However, following his “I Quit” Match against John Cena, in which he uttered those embarrassing words, causing him to lose, he came out on Monday Night Raw. Battered, bruised, and in a wheelchair, Batista looked like a broken man, and after cutting a scathing promo, with spit flying everywhere, he shouted out “I Quit”. This time, it was for real, and it was his last appearance in WWE for a whole four years. However, his seething rage and anger weren’t just a kayfabe reason for his departure.
WWE Denied Batista’s Wishes To Try Out Acting
Whilst he may have been angry in character, he was also angry in reality too. Batista had made it clear to WWE for quite some time that he wanted to try his hand at acting in either TV or movies, and when seeing others such as John Cena getting the opportunity to do so, he attempted to follow suit. Unfortunately, WWE said no to him on several occasions, and since Batista was such a big star, this refusal felt unjustified, and it is easy to see why.
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After wrestling for a decade, he wanted to explore something else that wasn’t professional wrestling, though he still intended to stay committed to the company whilst acting. However, with WWE’s complete indifference to his wants, he allegedly gave a year’s notice back in 2009 ahead of his eventual departure in 2010. From there, Batista would go on to appear in a few movies, most notably The Guardians of the Galaxy, in which he would retain a recurring role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Over the next few years, Batista continued appearing in Marvel movies, in addition to James Bond’s Spectre, the new Blade Runner, and other big hits such as Dune and Army of the Dead, the latter of which sponsored a WWE PPV in 2021. That last point was quite ironic, as WWE mostly ignored the fact that Batista was making moves in Hollywood when he returned for a short time back in 2014, so to see them heavily advertise one of his movies was a complete turnaround from their attitude towards him several years prior.
Batista Didn’t Like WWE’s PG Era
Batista’s wish to act wasn’t the only reason for him leaving in 2010, with another being the direction of the company. When Batista debuted, it was within the Ruthless Aggression Era of WWE, in which things were grittier and more authentic, with it being the perfect aftermath of the Attitude Era. Over time, WWE’s product became more family-friendly, especially after the official move to the PG Era in 2008. Batista felt that this move was going to destroy wrestling as fans knew it, and he wasn’t entirely wrong, with viewership plummeting over the years whilst WWE has been rated PG, with a move to a less gritty product with several more constraints.
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Both these points were key reasons for his departure, and another was his wish to delve into the world of MMA, though his career would be quite short-lived in that field. Batista left the WWE due to a collection of frustrations, which were all warranted. Instead of sticking around in a place, he was unhappy, he decided to pack up and find success elsewhere – and he certainly did just that, proving his acting credentials and making a huge name for himself in Hollywood, further distancing himself from the world of professional wrestling, though he now seems on better terms with WWE, especially following his retirement match in 2019.
