8 Exact Moments WWE Fans Turned On Popular Wrestlers

7. Batista (Royal Rumble 2014)

Ronda Rousey Survivor Series
WWE.com

WWE's incurable myopia was never more in evidence than the complete botch they made of Batista's huge return at Royal Rumble 2014.

A disgruntled Big Dave had walked out on the company in 2010, unhappy with his direction and eager to try his hand in Hollywood. Four years later, he'd made such a success of his shift to the silver screen that his ex-employers were practically begging for a rethink. To convince him, they'd need to roll out the red carpet.

And that they did, promising a huge Royal Rumble win ahead of a WrestleMania XXX main event against Randy Orton. Every stop possible was pulled out to ensure the company's coveted Hollywood star was satisfied - but not, crucially, the fans.

It was bad enough that Batista returned unfit and uninterested, placed in the Rumble's plum 28th spot to limit his work to mere minutes. But the bigger problem was that he simply wasn't Daniel Bryan. In the months preceding the Guardian of the Galaxy star's comeback, the groundswell of support for a man many felt had been dealt an unfair card began to grow exponentially. Come Philadelphia's pay-per-view, there was only one man they wanted to see emerge victorious - and it wasn't a part-time movie maker.

When it became apparent Bryan was not doing double duty, having lost to Bray Wyatt earlier in the evening, the Consol Energy Center mutineed. Poor Rey Mysterio bore the brunt of their boos, but the lion's share of antipathy was reserved for the eventual winner Batista. Night one, and the man who was supposed to be the biggest babyface in the company had become its most hated figure.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.