2003 was a new dawn for Batista, but it was also a fairly odd year for him overall. Injury stopped him from working many matches, and he was pretty much out until October with a torn biceps problem. Nonetheless, his biggest gig to date was launched in January, as he formed the 'Evolution' faction with another promising name and a pair of genuine main event players. Aligning with Randy Orton, Triple H and Ric Flair in the stable was huge for Batista. Aforementioned injuries did limit him to a largely henchmen-style role with the group, but he was still hanging around with some of the biggest performers on the entire roster. Again, this was a good indication that WWE were serious about his ability to hit the top of the card, all he needed was time. The importance of rub cannot be under-stated when exploring Batista's time in Evolution. There was a definite pecking order to the group, but the chapter ended well for Batista. All-in-all, he came out of Evolution much stronger than he had been before it launched. Without the unit, he likely would have struggled to really gain traction on his own.
