Dave Batista is one of the most feared and respected wrestlers in the world but he has a secret that his enemies would love to know of.
Batista, the five-time world heavyweight wrestling champion, says he is still afraid of his mother even if he is now a grown-up with kids of his own. Mom to the wrestler is Donna Raye Bautista, who is Greek. His father is David Michael Bautista, a Filipino.
“It’s really more of respect than fear,” says Batista during the media lunch for energy drink Xplode at Crowne Plaza Galleria.
Edwin Totanes, general manager for beverages of Universal Robina Corp., says there is no better spokesperson to personify the brand than the World Wrestling Entertainment superstar.
Xplode is different from other energy drinks because it is carbonated. It is packed with vitamins and nutrients like taurine for increased mental alertness, inositol for healthy brain functioning and ginseng and comes in Atomic Orange, Lemon Blaze and Flaming Cola.
“It’s the energy drink for today’s man,” Totanes says.
“Most energy drinks don’t taste very good. Xplode is different. I would drink this all day long,” says Batista.
Batista’s pride in his Filipino heritage is evident in the flag of the Philippines merged with that of Greece tattooed on his left arm. He is also a big fan and supporter of boxer Manny Pacquiao.
He says there is some sort of rivalry between himself and fellow wrestler and good friend Rey Mysterio, who is a supporter of Pacquiao’s last opponent, Miguel Cotto.
Batista also points out that Triple H, another wrestler, is close to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“This will be interesting,” he says, referring to the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.
But, Batista adds, “Manny will kill Mayweather.”
Apart from the five heavyweight championships, he has also won the World Tag Team Championship three times (twice with Ric Flair and once with John Cena) and the WWE Tag Team Championship once with Rey Mysterio. Batista was also the winner of the 2005 Royal Rumble match.
The wrestler has lived a colorful and interesting life. Batista has also seen some of his friends, including Eddie Guerrero, pass away.
“I can’t watch Eddie on DVD to this day and it’s been years since he dies. He was a really good friend and idol,” he says.
Batista’s paternal grandfather is also his idol.
“He was very hard-working with a strong work ethic and he took pride in his craft,” says Batista, adding that his grandfather often held more than two jobs.
Another interesting fact about Batista is that unlike other contact sport athletes who need a boost of energy before a fight, he says he actually needs to relax.
“I try to get myself calm. I listen to music,” says the wrestler, who loves R&B, rap and metal.
Batista credits his agility to being a former breakdancer. His strength, of course, comes from bodybuilding and proficiency in other martial arts like muay thai and jujitsu.
Five years from now, he sees himself “fat and retired” and perhaps still working for WWE behind the scenes.
If there is one thing that Batista regrets, it is that he believes that the other wrestlers of his generation are a dying breed.
“We’re dinosaurs in this age of instant gratification. We are not just athletes, we are also storytellers and I don’t see that in the newcomers,” he explains.
On his fifth visit to the Philippines, Batista regrets not being able to visit the beaches, especially Boracay as he has heard so much about the island.
Away from the ring, the wrestler enjoys watching movies and collects tin lunchboxes. He also loves being with his two-year-old son. Batista has two daughters from a previous marriage with a Filipina.
“It’s rough having daughters,” he shares. “But my girls are tough. They don’t need me to protect them.”
Actually, Batista says with a naughty smile on his face, “I feel sorry for the guys who will date my daughters.”
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