This article contains Smackdown taping information from last night which will air on Friday...
After watching Monday Night Raw, here is hoping WWE is going to go through with the underlying tease of Batista and Shawn Michaels. Yes, you read that right, they need to make this feud happen. Big Dave is bored, and it showed through at WrestleMania 24.
Batista doesn't appear motivated unless his opponent is higher up on the roster. He mopes through matches with Umaga and MVP while amping up his intensity with Edge and Undertaker. He plodded though his matches with Ken Kennedy when he had a chance of giving and making Kennedy a stronger opponent. When he is placed in the ring with smaller worker down the chain he doesn’t step up his performance. However, he has some of his best matches with people who are better workers and who are more over than him. His match at WrestleMania 23 was a personal favorite as the crowd was behind Undertaker but still cheered Batista in spots. This is why the tease with Shawn Michaels is intriguing.
The news that Michaels showed up on Smackdown and was confronted by Batista opens the door for Dave to get motivated again. Sure, I could discuss the usual problems with wrestlers from one brand appearing on a different show, but in this case it is welcome. There is still the possibility that all of this show jumping is leading to a big angle that culminates with a draft and stricter rules about jumping in between shows.
If this is the plan, it is the perfect opportunity to get Batista back on Raw. This way Shawn can be placated by not being moved to Smackdown, and it opens up new opponents for Batista for, hopefully, some more motivation.
Depending on who gets moved or if it happens at all, Batista will have some bigger names to work against on Raw. For the sake of this argument, Batista will have Chris Jericho, Triple H, JBL, John Cena, Randy Orton, and the aforementioned Shawn Michaels. Sure, some of these people could be moved, and some of them don’t strike much interest, but these fresh matches may perk up Dave.
Batista still has plenty of time left in his career if he chooses. He came in to the industry late and rose extremely fast. Of course having Triple H and Ric Flair as mentors certainly helped his cause and most likely is the source of his attitude. It also helped that Randy Orton was too immature to be relied upon and Batista naturally took his place. Well, there is that and the horrible face turn no one wanted.
Dave is nearing 40 years old, and that should be a concern, but he doesn’t have the tread wear of Shawn Michaels or Undertaker. If he can stay healthy, he can be an important cog in WWE's plans for at least another five years.
You don’t have to like Batista or his matches, but just like John Cena, you have to understand and respect the appeal. He is one of WWE's most marketable wrestlers. Kids love him as well and buy his merchandise. Sitting in the cheap seats (with who we termed "the commoners"), you really gain an insight on what people like. People like Batista and consider him a legitimate wrestler. They will by him as both a heel and a face. Remember, he was a heel and the crowd turned him face before breaking away from Hunter and Flair.
Even Batista's fashion sense makes him stand out above just about everyone in WWE. He dresses like a star where others seem to be pretending to be a star. Dave Batista conducts himself like a star. Dusty always says on “The Audio Experience” that Dave Batista wears a suit better than anyone in wrestling. He is the epitome of what Vince McMahon likes in his wrestlers. He is tall, brawny, and looks like someone important without trying. He is a smooth operator.
A motivated and interested Dave Batista is good for WWE’s business and good for WWE fans. He will never win over everyone and he will never be a great worker, but he can be better. He is one of WWE’s most marketable wrestlers, and that makes him valuable. You don’t have to like him nor even cheer for him, but you have to realize his value.
Jeremy Maes is the “J” of the DEJ Audio Experience. You can listen to that group of organized crime perpetrators every Wednesday night on the member’s portion of PWTorch.com. You can read Jeremy’s thoughts every Sunday on PWTorch.com. You can even contact Jeremy or any member of the DEJ faction on the PWTorch VIP Forum, or by email at torchmaes@yahoo.com.
LATEST PRO WRESTLING TORCH NEWSLETTER #1039 (17 PAGES)
This issue begins with a cover story by Wade Keller who attended Brock Lesnar's first UFC victory on Saturday night in the semi-main event in front of a record-setting crowd in his hometown. Keller's BBL looks at Lesnar's place in MMA and in what ways he seems more comfortable than ever... Bruce Mitchell's Memo examines the dilemma of Chris Benoit and the Hall of Fame... Sean Radican reviews the two latest TNA DVD releases... In-depth coverage of the TNA Hard Justice PPV including Keller's match report with star ratings and the newsletter-exclusive Roundtable Reviews... Jason Powell's "Page 2 Buzz" with scoops and insider analysis... WWE Newswire, TNA Newswire, and ROH Newswire with insider news, big story analysis, and notebook tidbits... Plus Keller's reports on Raw, Smackdown, and Impact, the Top 5 Stories of the Week, and more....
