10 Times WWE Had A BLACKOUT
4. Batista Addresses John Cena (Monday Night Raw, March 22nd 2010)
Expanding a cool recent entrance addition into his go-home promo for a WrestleMania XXVI WWE Championship defence against John Cena, Dave Batista was bathed in a lone spotlight in glorious contrast to a blackened building.
Nailing a speech on exactly why he hung around in WWE (the money, the titles, the glory) in contrast to John Cena's brand of well-worn brand-friendly bullsh*t, the Champion's words (and, indeed, his entire persona) was hugely elevated by the sole beam of light than shone on him throughout.
He was presenting himself as the bigger star he believed himself to be, whilst using the darkness cast on everybody else to obscure his insecurities about having to face Cena in a match far more even-handed than the one-sided battering he'd given 'The Champ' a month or so earlier at Elimination Chamber.
Cena's cheesy retort returned the scene to normal, right the way down to 'The Champ' battering Big Dave and the security he'd brought along with him. But the messaging, just days ahead of a WrestleMania blockbuster, was made beautifully clear.