10 WWE Matches That Changed Your Mind About Wrestlers You Hated

Batista's 2014 Royal Rumble victory would have killed the crowd, even if he put forth a performance resembling the Batista of old. He did not; woefully but understandably out of ring shape, he could not have looked more antithetical to the on-fire Daniel Bryan. His first singles match during that return run, opposite Albert Del Rio at Elimination Chamber, resembled a parody of a rote WWE match. A very long, very safe 7 minutes, this was pitched to get Batista over. It really was dire.

WrestleMania XXX represented the final chapter of Daniel Bryan's main event redemption - but Batista's own redemptive subplot should not be overlooked. The man who coasted through January and February on the fast-track to 'Mania willingly absorbed brutal-looking punishment in his remit of putting Bryan over. Painful barricade bumps, a back-first meeting with the ring steps - Batista even knelt, subserviently, as Bryan walloped him with a series of stiff kicks. This was miles removed from the Rock's timid, story-driven affairs with John Cena in the two years prior. Batista sold like a champ to provide Bryan's audience with long-overdue catharsis. This was a selfless performance from a man many had overwhelmingly received as a selfish spotlight hog.

Much like Batista submitted, many of his detractors did, too.