Does Batista have staying power?

[UZI Suicide 0]

The WWE has built this up perfectly IMO, Batista quietly rebelling more and more against HHH every week and getting people on his side. It's an excellent buildup to the Batista-HHH match at WM.

 

But what about after that? Say Batista wins and is the World Champion.. is he still going to be as over? Part of me thinks he's getting all love from the crowds because he's going against Trips rather than anything else. I mean honestly, he's a bulked up Randy Orton in the sense that there is nothing really significant that sticks out about him. Basically he's just really big and dresses nice. Although he hasn't been shoved down our throats like Orton.

[Myxamatosis 0]

Although he hasn't been shoved down our throats like Orton.

And that is the main difference. His turn is a slow burn and is dictated by the fans and their overwhelming response.

 

If I remember correctly, Orton had a smattering of cheers and BAM! they turned him.

 

I think he'll have staying power, as long as the RAW brand keeps the contenders coming. That's the thing about Batista. He is only as good as the man standing across the ring from him.

[Guest Rrrsh]

No, because he has no heels that will make him look great after WM.

 

And everyone is dreaming if you think he is getting the strap at WM. He needs to hold the IC belt for a while before he even gets a real chance. He is Sid, 13 years later.

 

And for all of those who say Brock, Brock was gonna get the strap the second he debuted. It was very Yokozuna-ish. With Batista, he is over due to a fued and his charicter. When that happens, the WWE always makes a guy either win the IC belt for a while or lose a couple Main Events before he wins "The Big One." I think its smart, as Edge should get the belt before Batista.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

If they treat Batista like they did with Brock (as a monster), Dave is gonna be just fine.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Quote: "there is nothing really significant that sticks out about him"

 

Tonight on Raw he shoved a flagpole in a man's ass after promising to so.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Not a chance.

 

Batista is over in relation to HHH and very protective booking. There are very few feuds beyond HHH they can do, and even fewer that can be done effectively and successfuly. And there is only so much protection that can be done, esp. for someone as old as Batista. His body will breakdown if he works a World Champ Main Event schedule. It's a matter of how far and how much the WWE is willing to invest in him. Will they turn Orton back to a heel, Jericho into a heel, Benoit into a heel, HBK into a heel, Kane into a heel (aka, turning all the top faces into heels), bring back Brock Lesnar, successfully elevate and transition Hassan into a ME player just so Batista can squash him, all-the-while keeping these matches under the amount of time it takes to expose Batista and over the amount of time to make a dramatic main event (and these two things contradict each other, Batista has a Goldberg-like killer appeal, rather than a Hulk Hogan Hero appeal, which is why Hogan -someone who was bigger than Batista- could get away with getting beat up without losing his mystique). Batista is not a good worker, anyone fooled into believe that is a testiment to WWE booking and Chris Benoit being God, but make no mistake, you're being fooled. Batista has gotten over on short, retaliatory lines to HHH's long-winded speeches. Can he get away with that as a main eventer? I can't see it happening. In other words, everything that it takes to make a champion is the opposite of what is getting Batista over.

[The Amazing Rando 0]

Quote: "there is nothing really significant that sticks out about him"

 

Tonight on Raw he shoved a flagpole in a man's ass after promising to so.

I don't think that's what they meant by "stick out", man.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

No, but having a monster finally do to La Resistance with their trademark pole definately stuck out as awesome.

 

Batista's gonna be just fine as a main eventer. Every single person watching Rumble with me Sunday is rooting for his victory.

[Vyce 0]

I never find myself agreeing more with RRR than when he dissects the "Batista phenomena".

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Maybe the "experts" should wait for Batista to BECOME a full-time main event face before they explain why it isn't working...

[CBright7831 0]

Looking at Batista, I look and say "That could have been Orton had WWE not have pushed the fucking thing down our throats."

[Guest Brian]

If they treat Batista like they did with Brock (as a monster), Dave is gonna be just fine.

If they treat Batista the way they treated Brock, he'll get murdered. Getting beating down by the Undertaker like he did before he got a job out of him, turning him too early, among other things will not help out Batista. Especially for a guy who is not as athletic or credible.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Maybe the "experts" should wait for Batista to BECOME a full-time main event face before they explain why it isn't working...

 

*after Batista doesn't sustain popularity*

 

"C'mon guys, why bother even talking about it, it's done, over, finished. Let's move on..."

 

Maybe you should consider what this thread is actually asking before making asinine statements...

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

10 Years later, can Big Daddy Dave to the same?

 

I should note that I marked out for Batista last week on Toronto, and do enjoy his work on RAW. But let's get real, he is what he is.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

But I feel Batista will sustain popularity.

 

He has a decent enough power moveset, gives real-sounding interviews, has a cool look, has even won the male fans over, is marketable, can work with a variety of sized wrestlers, and if put over by HHH properly, will be solidified.

 

Hell, if JBL can be WWE Champion for 7-9 months, Batista can definately do much, much better.

[Guest Brian]

Hell, if JBL can be WWE Champion for 7-9 months, Batista can definately do much, much better.

 

I think the question you need to be asking then is: Does JBL have staying power, or is he just staying? Because using JBL as a measuring stick may not be the best (or even a decent) comparison for the case you're making.

[Guest Rrrsh]

JBL isn't over and has canned heat. And is a heel (which is much easier to do in regards to getting over as champ)

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

He has a decent enough power moveset, gives real-sounding interviews, has a cool look, has even won the male fans over, is marketable, can work with a variety of sized wrestlers...

 

Honestly, John Cena had all this too at one point. RVD had this at one point. A few guys over the past 5 years have had this, and there's something that separates them from someone like Austin or Hogan when it comes to staying power.

[CanadianChick 0]

He has a decent enough power moveset, gives real-sounding interviews, has a cool look, has even won the male fans over, is marketable, can work with a variety of sized wrestlers, and if put over by HHH properly, will be solidified.

 

Real sounding interviews? He gives interviews? Because all I've ever heard him do is have backstage promos that make him seem like a cool badass. They are different.

 

Word with a variety of sized wrestlers? He wrestles the exact same all the time! His offence doesn't change, because he's always sold as the strongest guy. He doesn't exactly adjust.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

RVD had this at one point. A few guys over the past 5 years have had this, and there's something that separates them from someone like Austin or Hogan when it comes to staying power.

 

[Naked Snake 0]

Regardless if it can work, the company needs to elevate and work with whatever is hot right now. WWE needs a big breakout star. I don't think Batista is that star, but it doesn't hurt to try.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

My point was, JBL's reign has sucked, produced few, if any good matches (only his initial bouts with Eddy had anything remotely interesting). JBL's reign sucks, however, it hasn't kept WWE from keeping him at the top. And you know what? Regardless of whether or not he had "staying power" (he didn't), they STAYED with him. And now he's getting over as a credible champion. The ratings has improved and his PPV title match and current angle on Smackdown! is seen as "could be good" instead of the usual "God, it's JBL..."

 

My point: WWE will create its own "staying power" with who they choose to feed us. This isn't 1998. There is no Austin. No Rock. No Foley. They're desperate. That's why Orton's main evented every Raw show since SummerSlam, despite the hostility towards his megapush. That's why Batista, like it or not, and we seem to like it, is next. And that is why he will stay around, because he has the basic tools (like JBL, but much better and more potential development) and is ready for them to strike when the candle is hot. This Sunday.

[iggymcfly 0]

I don't see any problem with a four or five month reign by Batista. Give him a rematch with Trips (only pissed off angry Trips instead of cocky smug Trips), maybe a quick feud with Big Show, (someone's going to come over from Smackdown right), and then a feud with a resentful, angry Randy Orton. Then, if they still want to go with Orton as a champ, they can give him a real heel run, and if not they can transition it to someone else in a multi-man match.

 

Batista's not the next Austin or Rock, or "the guy" to turn around business, but there's no reason he can't main event Wrestlemania, and have a fun little run this spring/summer. He's fresh, and this the time to strike with a title run, kind of like December 2001 was for RVD.

[CBright7831 0]

I can't see anything bright coming out of this.

 

Sad.

[NoCalMike 0]

Not a chance.

 

Batista is over in relation to HHH and very protective booking. There are very few feuds beyond HHH they can do, and even fewer that can be done effectively and successfuly. And there is only so much protection that can be done, esp. for someone as old as Batista. His body will breakdown if he works a World Champ Main Event schedule. It's a matter of how far and how much the WWE is willing to invest in him. Will they turn Orton back to a heel, Jericho into a heel, Benoit into a heel, HBK into a heel, Kane into a heel (aka, turning all the top faces into heels), bring back Brock Lesnar, successfully elevate and transition Hassan into a ME player just so Batista can squash him, all-the-while keeping these matches under the amount of time it takes to expose Batista and over the amount of time to make a dramatic main event (and these two things contradict each other, Batista has a Goldberg-like killer appeal, rather than a Hulk Hogan Hero appeal, which is why Hogan -someone who was bigger than Batista- could get away with getting beat up without losing his mystique). Batista is not a good worker, anyone fooled into believe that is a testiment to WWE booking and Chris Benoit being God, but make no mistake, you're being fooled. Batista has gotten over on short, retaliatory lines to HHH's long-winded speeches. Can he get away with that as a main eventer? I can't see it happening. In other words, everything that it takes to make a champion is the opposite of what is getting Batista over.

Well then, that saved me a post in this thread.

[LessonInMachismo 0]

I don't think anyone can say that Batista isn't the one. We can speculate, but to proclaim it like it's gospel and etched in stone seems like conditioned negativity. And that is understandable, considering TV for the last four years or so.

 

I think Batista has it. He is a big guy, he has the look, he has the momentum. If he fails, then it probably won't be his fault. And it won't be Snitsky's, either. Just like it isn't Orton's own fault that his push is and has been failing. Just like it isn't Jericho, Benoit and Eddie's faults for their title pushes failing.

 

As for Batista's ring ability, he has room to improve. Go back and look at old tapes of some of the better wrestlers and then watch them now. Differences are noticeable.

 

I just don't think we should prognosticate a path of doom for Batista. Sure, it could be a possible path, but there is also a chance that he will be the next breakout star. I for one have never been big on Bat-man...until last month. I am jumpin' on the bandwagon.

 

On a lighter note...

 

I think his "Demon Bomb" needs a better name. I noticed that in the skits with HHH, he always has a voice of reason. What if the DB was renamed the Voice of Reason?

 

And has anyone noticed that his entrance theme sounds like something from the title screen of an NES game?

[Guest jumpingbombangel]

To me, he has just as much staying power as anyone else. The real question is will the WWE continue to utilize it correctly?

 

Probably not. Randy Orton would have had a lot more staying power if they'd just let him get older and more recognized first before dropping gold in his lap.

 

I'm not one of those people viciously behind getting the World Title on Batista as soon as possible. He's good enough in my eyes to stay over without it for a good while. Once the feud with HHH is done (and whether or not Batista has the belt by then), it's not really his stress to find quality competition. That's the WWE's task (sadly), and if they can't hold up that end, then yeah, he'll end up being a waste.

[Black Lushus 0]

it's all moot anyway considering we all know HHH is going for the World Title record. Honestly, tossing it onto Dave won't hurt anything because he'll eventually lose it back to HHH anyway within months...

[2GOLD 0]

Batista has a natural charisma about him and that is one of the biggest keys. He sounds very relaxed when they give him the mic on RAW, the man has style down packed, and for a hoss he does have reasonable speed.

 

If I had to choose between him, Randy Orton, and even Chris Jericho then I'm picking Batista. I could give a flying damn if he is against Triple H, the guy has a charisma about him that translates very well in my opinion.

 

Batista should be allowed to cut an in-ring promo before he is said to not have the staying power. Right now he does have many of the key Rock elements, he is relaxed when in front of the camera, he has natural charisma that actually MAKES me want to pay attention when he is in the ring (unlike 90% of the damn roster), and his moveset may be basic but so far it has been a believable one. He's not going to be a Rock or Hogan or Lesnar or Austin because that era is dead and buried. The days of the non-scripted promo are history.

 

Only a few people in the company look more relaxed in front of a camera than Batista. Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels and Triple H. The rest of the roster acts very stiff when put on screen, even in "taped" promos.

 

I'm waiting on the in-ring promo before I judge but if I that goes well, I'm sticking to my guns that I'm a fan of Batista. I haven't left my belief that Randy Orton is the most uncharismatic main eventer since Lex Luger was chasing Yokozuna.

[MARTYEWR 0]

To those who have pointed out Batista's weaknesses (i.e. HTQ, RRRudo, etc.). Not arguing with you guys about them, but do you still think they should or shouldn't push him to the title at WMXXI?