NEW DELHI: Former WWE Superstar turned Hollywood sensation, Dave Bautista, widely known as Batista, has candidly shared details about his mental health struggles during his tenure as a WWE Superstar.
The revelation came during an interview with Arizona’s Family, where the actor also discussed his unconventional method for overcoming anxiety before entering the wrestling ring.Batista, who hasn’t stepped into the WWE ring since his loss to Triple H at WrestleMania 35, admitted to experiencing severe anxiety before every match. However, the Guardians of the Galaxy star disclosed a unique tactic he employed to cope with his pre-match nerves.
“When I started wrestling, I was literally physically sick before I walked out from the curtain,” Batista confessed. “I used to walk out and [screams]. And all my anxiety was gone. And that’s what it is. I get nervous, and I get self-conscious, and then I get anxious, but as soon as I go [screams] it goes away. It’s easy for me to do that – I can relax from there. As soon as I get that out, I can relax from there,” he explained.
Batista, a six-time World Champion during his full-time WWE career from 2002 to 2010, revealed this unique coping mechanism that allowed him to find a sense of calm before facing the audience and opponents in the squared circle.
Having successfully transitioned to Hollywood, Batista is currently featured in Dune: Part Two, which hit theaters on March 1, showcasing his versatility and continued success beyond the wrestling world. The actor also briefly returned to WWE in 2014, headlining WrestleMania that year with Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson in AEW).
(Inputs from agencies)