WWE icon Batista explains recent weight loss as shocking before and after images emerge

WWE legend Batista has explained his recent weight loss after images emerged of a striking difference to his ring appearance.

'The Animal' is one of the biggest behemoths in the history of WWE and won six world championships during his time with the company.

For the majority of his wrestling career, Batista walked around at 290lbs - though he has been even heavier.

The 55-year-old, real name Dave Bautista, made a successful transition to acting and had a final WrestleMania swansong with Triple H in 2019.

But with his new film The Killer's Game released this week, fans have noticed just how slimmer Batista looks compared to his WWE days.

According to the Guardians of the Galaxy star, it is the lightest he has been for more than 30 years.

He made a conscious effort after piling on the pounds and being "uncomfortably big" for his role in Knock at the Cabin, M. Night Shyamalan's Knives Out sequel.

Image: Getty

“The heaviest I’ve ever been was 370 pounds," Batista told Chris van Vliet.

"When I started Deacon (his first wrestling character), I was about 325 pounds. Throughout most of my wrestling career, I was about 290 pounds. Now I’m about 240 pounds.

"Just a year and a half ago for Knock At The Cabin, I went up to 315 pounds and that’s when the nightmare started. Getting that weight off has been a real challenge.“

Because of how big fans have been accustomed to him being, recent pictures of Batista have been something of a shock for many.

Some have been even expressed concerns for his health but Batista is feeling better than ever.

Image: Getty

He continued: "Then I noticed the more I trimmed down the better I felt, and I also noticed the more I trimmed down the better I looked on camera, the better I looked next to other actors.

"Because typically, even at this weight it's weird because people think, like, for me people say 'god, you're skinny'.

"I even saw online some people are worried about my health and when I say it out loud to people 'I'm 6'4, 240lbs', it sounds like when you say that out loud I'm a big person.

"But to me because people have seen me so much bigger over the years they think I'm like anorexic, but I'm just a large human being.

"So at 6'4, 240lbs next to your typical actor I look like a gorilla and it's distracting."

Batista has been consuming around 2,500 calories of late but expects to put a little bit of weight on as he admits to "killing myself to be this trim".