10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About Batista

7. He Was Originally Named Leviathan And Debuted As Deacon Batista With Reverend D-Von!

It took several years for WWE to settle on one name for Batista. When he started out in Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2000, his ring name wasn't Batista. It was Leviathan. A quick search of what a Leviathan is gives us this definition: "Leviathan is a sea monster referenced in the Tanakh, or the Old Testament. The word has become synonymous with any large sea monster or creature."

Sounds silly right? It's a good thing that they ended up changing his name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3KJdZRTBY0

He debuted on Smackdown on May 9, 2002 as Deacon Batista. He was the friend or bodyguard of Reverend D'Von, which was the new character portrayed by D'Von Dudley after the brand extension. He carried a briefcase in his hands. D'Von said introduced Deacon Batista as a follower that would protect the "D'Von Building Fund" as D'Von's heel character called it.

Batista ended up leaving D'Von towards the end of 2002 because WWE had high hopes for him. D'Von's character wasn't a big hit anyway, so it was best for both guys to go their separate ways. The goal was always to make Batista a singles star. Putting him with a veteran like D'Von was a good way to introduce him, though.

The Batista name stuck once he became a singles star on his own and eventually joined Evolution. Since his real last name is Bautista, it was an easy name to get used to for him.

A lot of fans probably don't know him as Leviathan or as Deacon Batista. They just assume he started in Evolution. As we always say in wrestling, you have to start somewhere.