Batista
Batista's last appearance in the ring was during SmackDown's 1000th episode screening. In this picture, Actor Dave Bautista attends the premiere of Global Road Entertainment's "Hotel Artemis" at Regency Village Theatre on May 19, 2018, in Westwood, California. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

The WWE rumor mill has been awash with talk of a possible return to the ring for Batista in recent months especially after his taunt to "The Game" Triple H during SmackDown’s 1000th episode in October.

Batista popularly known as “The Animal” came out to the ring as part of the “Evolution” reunion alongside Ric Flair, Randy Orton and Triple H. That was when he taunted the latter about how Triple H had never come out on top during fights between them.

The six-time WWE champion’s taunts led to talks suggesting that WWE could be planning a comeback match at their WrestleMania pay-per-view between Batista and Triple H. The speculation, however, came to an end when the latter injured his pectoral muscle during WWE’s Crown Jewel pay-per-view recently.

Triple H’s injury did not dissuade talks about Batista’s return with speculation shifting to his potential new opponent for WrestleMania. It was believed WWE could pit current Universal champion Brock Lesnar against “The Animal” as one of the main events of their flagship pay-per-view event.

However, Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer has poured cold water on a potential clash between Batista and “The Beast” by suggesting WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon does not see the "Guardians of The Galaxy" star as a big-ticket performer anymore.

The pro-wrestling expert admitted a return for Batista could happen, but made it clear it is not the plan at the moment. And the main reason being McMahon, who does not consider Batista to be a WWE legend.

“That is not the plan so, I mean could it happen? Eh, sure. I don’t think that Vince wants to do that with Lesnar,” Meltzer said, as quoted on Wrestling-World. “I don’t know, I don’t think he sees Batista in that way anymore, you know I mean? There are guys he sees as legends and obviously, whatever it was Batista was a big star for many, many years. But it just feels like Vince… I don’t know.”

“He did bring him back that one time and he did put him in the main event of WrestleMania against Randy Orton — it was supposed to be the Mania main event and what a miscalculation that was. But yeah let’s put it this way, right now Brock Lesnar and Dave Batista is not a plan,” Wrestling Observer’s pro-wrestling expert added.

At the moment, Lesnar, who will have the main event at WrestleMania is likely to fight Braun Strowman. According to Fox Sports, the “Monster Among Men” is currently sidelined until at least Royal Rumble after undergoing surgery following a brutal assault during this week’s Monday Night Raw.

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