The Wrestling Observer reports that there were stories going around backstage that Batista refused to work with Daniel Bryan at the upcoming Payback because of the size difference. The Observer "doesn't know if this is the case," pointing out that Big Dave had previously stuck up for Bryan when everyone else was squashing him. It should be noted Batista also put Bryan over by tap out at WrestleMania 30. The Observer sees his refusal to work with Bryan at Payback as evidence that he wasn't happy about losing a second time. The Batista vs Bryan match at Payback had been scheduled for some time to be Batista's final night in his comeback, a match in which he would put Bryan over clean. He decided a few weeks back that he didn't want to do this, he would instead leave after Extreme Rules, resulting in all advertising of Batista being pulled for shows after the first week of May. Vince McMahon remained convinced he could get Batista to still do the Bryan match. Even after Batista took the loss against The Shield on the night of Extreme Rules, Vince was still trying to sell The Animal that he should do the Payback event with Bryan. Eventually a compromise was reached: Batista would work Payback but he wouldn't have to face Daniel Bryan. This has caused disruption in WWE, with Bryan's planned one-off match with Kane now being extended to a second pay per view. "Essentially it was viewed that Batista got his way," states Dave Meltzer. The original plan for Batista when he returned in January was that he would win the Championship as a hero at WrestleMania 30. WWE would have then reaped the benefit of having a Champion who was starring in one of the big movie releases of the summer (Guardians Of The Galaxy). What happens with Batista after Payback is unclear, he will leave to promote his film and then presumably may return to WWE.
