8 Ridiculous Fines WWE Gave Wrestlers

2. Batista's Bloody-Mindedness

ELIZABETH JERRY SAGS FART
WWE Network

In the summer of 2008, WWE decided to sanitise their product for the benefit of sponsors - or more, specifically, their cash - for a second time. Batista, one of the company's top heels at the time, was in receipt of the memorandum - he just didn't give a fig.

A week after claiming the World Heavyweight Championship from Chris Jericho at Cyber Sunday, The Animal had the opportunity to regain his crown in a cage match scheduled for Monday Night Raw - and he was going to use colour for maximum dramatic effect. "We weren't shedding blood anymore," Batista told his Jericho during a 2014 podcast. "That didn't make sense to me."

Sure enough, Big Dave lacerated his wrinkly bonce, producing a queasy stream of red. The following Monday, he was hauled into Vince's office, where the match was replayed over and over until he understood what it was all about, after which he was handed a mammoth $100,000 fine. Despite the ludicrous financial hit, Batista doesn't regret it one bit - and it's easy to be philosophical with all those Hollywood bucks in the bank - telling Jericho "it was good business."

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.