Batista "Not Interested" In Wrestling For ANYONE Except WWE

Don't expect to see 'The Animal' in AEW anytime soon.

by Andy H Murray
Batista AEW
AEW/WWE

It was reported earlier this week that not only was former WWE Champion Batista in "deep" talks regarding a return to the company, but also that All Elite Wrestling had reached out to 'The Animal' about making a Double Or Nothing appearance on 25 May (h/t Pro Wrestling Sheet).

Now, it looks like the Guardians of the Galaxy star only has eyes for WWE.

This is according to Dave Meltzer in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, who writes that the former Evolution man "is not interested in wrestling anywhere else."

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Batista met with WWE officials in Stamford, Connecticut on 7 February. There's currently no deal for him to even appear at WrestleMania 35, let alone wrestle, but WWE had pinpointed Batista vs. Triple H for the big event prior to 'The Game' tearing his pectoral at Crown Jewel. There's currently no word on whether or not the recovering 49-year-old will be ready to go by 7 April, though the match isn't totally off the table.

Meltzer adds that Batista had met with AEW's Chris Jericho on 12 February. Nobody knows what came of those talks, but that he's only interested in working for WWE suggests any return would be more about loyalty than anything else.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.