40 Greatest Stories Wrestling Ever Told

26. Batista Breaks Out From Evolution (WWE, 2005)

The journey Batista took from Evolution heavy to standalone World Heavyweight Championship threat was worthy of a standing ovation. He helped oust Randy Orton from the faction under orders from Triple H and Ric Flair, but subtly began to express disgust at the way his so-called superiors treated everyone else around them.

Spotting this, Hunter started to regard Dave as a looming threat to his status on top. In a bid to suffocate Batista's rise, he suggested that 'The Animal' elect not to compete in the 2005 Royal Rumble match. After all, he didn't want the more important cogs in the Evolution machine to view him as "selfish".

Batista ignored his leader and won the 30-man match, then handpicked Trips as the champion he'd challenge at WrestleMania 21. A fascinating "thumbs down" moment on TV fed into a powerbomb spot that brilliantly hyped the title match to come on the grand stage. Batista was growing in popularity before that, but now he was on the right path towards a top babyface role that seemed one million miles away from the largely mute 'scary heel enforcer' he'd played in Evolution.

Hunter was visibly determined to make the man, so he put Dave over at 'Mania and in subsequent rematches at Bashlash and inside Hell In A Cell at Vengeance over the summer. That trio of wins, combined with the clever character arc Batista worked on TV, told a gripping story of someone becoming too hot for Triple H and Flair to handle.

This is how you make a star.