10 Times Famous Wrestlers Shared A Nickname
8. Batista and George Steele
George Steele, who passed away in 2017, was an extremely popular wrestler during the '70s and '80s.
His biggest moment with The Federation came when he aided Ricky Steamboat during his legendary match with Randy Savage at WrestleMania III, helping Steamboat capture the Intercontinental Championship from the villainous Macho Man.
Steele's "Animal" persona actually came about by accident.
Steele, an extremely intelligent and eloquent man in real life, was told by Vince McMahon to stop sounding so smart in his promos. Frustrated, George then spouted a series of garbles and grunts, thinking it would put McMahon off. However, in true McMahon fashion, he loved it.
Thus, The Animal was born.
Two decades later, a young man named Dave appeared at ringside with D-Von Dudley, carrying a collection box and sporting a dashing soul patch.Deacon Batista would eventually morph into just "Batista", adopting "The Animal" nickname when he joined Evolution.
The nickname fits both men very well, but for very different reasons. Steele was an animal in the sense that he was uncivilised, whereas Batista was brutal and ruthless, like a wild killer.
Of course, another wrestler to carry the name "Animal" was one half of The Road Warriors.
Speaking of...