It is quite clear that the WWE was counting on Batista's return to be a major spark for the rest of this year. In fact, he was promised the WWE Championship at WrestleMania as part of his return. What the WWE did not consider was just how much the man had changed from his time in the company just a few years prior. The "Animal" gimmick doesn't actually work so well anymore when the guy has dropped as much weight as he has, in addition to aging considerably. Batista's entire appeal during his first run was his look, this massive guy that would just dominate opponents. Today, when Evolution comes out, Batista appears to be the smallest guy in the group (behind Orton, even). Crowds and their preferences change over time, as do the men who portray the characters on screen. With that said the WWE could never have foreseen the extent to which their crowds would turn on Batista upon his return. If they had realized this would happen, perhaps they would have elevated some other young talent from within rather than relying on an old standby like Batista to be part of the main event picture this year. This leads directly into our next point...
