Interview: Batista on His WrestleMania 35 Match Against Triple H and Retirement from Wrestling

As noted before, a recent episode of the Wrestling Sheet Radio podcast show had Batista as the guest and some of the other topics discussed included his thoughts on his match against Triple H at WrestleMania 35 and his retirement from wrestling.

On the topic of his match against Triple H at WrestleMania 35, Batista stated that he did not practice their match ahead of time due to Tripe H being very concerned over the possibility of re-injuring his pectoral muscles.

“We were scheduled to train, and we did go to the training facility, but we didn’t train. Because he said ‘I can get in the ring, and I can work out and I can feel a little more confident,’ He said, ‘or I can get in the ring and I can re-tear my pec.’ He said, ‘let’s be safe about this, we’ve been in the ring enough, we know each other.’ So we did. We did not touch each other in the ring until we got to WrestleMania, that was it. So I am really proud of what we could accomplish. Because it could’ve been better, it could’ve been better, but it could’ve been a lot f*cking worse. Like, It could’ve been disastrous and I think, considering, I’m very proud of what we accomplished.”

Batista also stated that the reason for the Evolution reunion segment on the October 16, 2018 episode of SmackDown Live was due to him resolving lingering personal issues that had prevented him from having a retirement match in WWE.

“The reason is, I said I want to go back and I want to tease the thing with me and Triple H because I want to know if people are still interested. Cause it had been so far removed and it has been so many years since our rivalry. I didn’t know if people would care anymore. We teased it and it went over great. As I was leaving, and Hunter knows I’ve wanted this match at Mania for years to end my career — I wouldn’t officially retire or even consider going into the Hall of Fame until I had this match to close out my career — but as I was leaving Hunter goes, ‘get in shape, motherf*cker.’ And I was like ‘alright, it’s on!’”

On the topic of his retirement from wrestling, Batista stated he was proud of being able to go out the way he wanted and was proud of his match at WrestleMania 35.

“I’m proud of that match. I was proud to close out my career that way with the guy I wanted to close it out with. That was personal for all kinds of reasons and now I just finally have closure on my career. Like that night. And I wanted to announce it [retirement], I didn’t want to make it a company thing. I didn’t want them to have me come on the show and do the big spot where I’m announcing my retirement. I just wanted to announce it and slowly just kinda fade away. That’s it. I’m done. I should’ve hung up my boots a long time ago, but I was very stubborn and adamant and I just wanted to do it on my terms. And I got the opportunity to do that.”

Transcript via Fightful.com.