Batista Knew WWE Would 'Never Be the Same' After Astonishing $100k Fine

Batista previously revealed the moment he knew his WWE career and relationship with Vince McMahon was “never going to be the same”.

Batista – real name David Bautista Jr. – competed in the WWE from 1999 to 2010 before briefly returning in 2014.

And during his time with the company, he became one of the most popular wrestlers on the roster, winning the World Heavyweight Championship four times while also winning the WWE Championship twice.

Even after departing the WWE in 2010, he returned in typical fashion by winning the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match in 2014, which then earned him a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight title at WrestleMania 30.

But it was a 2008 incident that left Batista with a sour taste in his mouth, with the 56-year-old looking back on the moment as when he knew “things had changed” for the worse at the company.

Speaking on the Talk Is Jericho podcast back in 2014, Batista recalled when he and then-WWE promoter McMahon butted heads.

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Batista in action in 2007 (Credit:Getty)

Jericho explained how he was due to face Batista in Tampa, Florida, with the latter explaining how he expected to bleed when being hit over the head despite McMahon being against WWE stars bleeding during match-ups.

It was agreed that Jericho would win the contest after hitting Batista with a metal pipe.

“This was a point where we weren't shedding blood anymore," Batista recalled.

"We were PG, and that didn't make any sense to me. I just didn't want to hear that, especially when there's a title match involved."

Batista then revealed that he used a blade to “shed a little blood” before Jericho weighed in, saying that "there was a lot of yelling” once the pair went backstage after the match due to the wrestler taking matters into his own hands.

The duo then explained how McMahon refused to discuss the blood rule with them and even told Jericho to “f*** off” in a short phone call before deciding to fine them both.

Vince McMahon fined Batista (Credit:Getty)

"I knew we weren't supposed to do it? I knew I would get consequences, but I thought I would get the consequences, and I didn't think they'd be as harsh as they were," Batista said when discussing the blood incident in 2014.

"So my fine was $100,000? My heart dropped. I thought it would be like $25,000? When he said $100,000, I was just heartbroken.

“I literally think that he sucked the life out of me that day. I think that's the day that I knew things were never going to be the same."

According to Wrestling Inc, Jericho was fined just $5,000.