WWE WrestleMania 35: All the respect to Batista for his performance

If Triple H loses at WWE WrestleMania 35 in a No Holds Barred match, he retires. That’s the lengths he’s willing to go to prove that he can beat Batista.

The WWE Universe has waited for Batista to return for so long, and they haven’t been disappointed by “The Animal’s” work over the past couple of months in the build to this renewed rivalry with Triple H at WWE WrestleMania 35.

After playing his cards perfectly, which included taking shots at Triple H at the 1000th episode of SmackDown Live in his hometown of Washington D.C. for Evolution’s reunion, Batista has his WrestleMania match against Triple H. Not only that, but he got the Cerebral Assassin to agree to a retirement match, because Triple H is, quietly, so desperate to prove that he can actually defeat the “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Bond” star.

Triple H and Batista began their No Holds Barred match with vicious power, as Batista tossed Triple H over the announce table. However, Triple H was even MORE vicious. He ripped a nose ring out of Batista, he used pliers to rip up his fingers, he brought out a steel chair, he stomped on Batista hand on the steel steps, and he even hit him in the face with a toolbox.

Absolute insanity.

But Batista FINALLY turned things around after all of the WWE COO’s savagery, dropping him back-first on the announce table. He’s absorbed massive punishment tonight, but perhaps this could be a turning point for him. Once again, Batista used his raw power to manhandle Triple H on the announce table, and Batista finally found his element after potentially shaking off some rust.

Batista was on the prowl, dominating Triple H after completely turning the tables on “The Game”. He went for a cover, but it was far too early for a cheap win in a No Holds Barred match, if such an easy win were ever possible with this stipulation and these stakes.

The Animal brought out the steel steps for some more fun, and he sent them ricocheting off of The Game’s face. He tried to use them again, but he couldn’t quite get the right grip after what Triple H did to his fingers earlier in the match. Thinking up a new plan, he cleared the announce table and positioned Triple H, with the steel steps on top, sending The Game over them.

But Triple H turned the tables, slamming Batista through the announce table. When the fight went into the ring, Batista speared Triple H for a close call, and the two began fighting with the Sledgehammer. Unfortunately for Triple H, he was unable to get the decisive blow with his trusted weapon, and Batista countered him into a Spinebuster before stomping to tease the Batitsa Bomb.

And he hit it! Batista hit the Batista Bomb…but only for a last-gasp, career-saving kick-out!

Batista had to survive a last-gasp kick-out, too. He was hit by an insane powerbomb from height onto the steel steps and then by a pedigree before kicking out at two! The resolve Batista has shown in his first match back from hiatus has been incredible.

Triple H tried to close in for a sledgehammer hit to final put Batista away, but his frustration costed him; Batista slammed him with a ridiculous DDT that planted Triple H on the very top of his head onto the steel steps!

All of a sudden, a wild Ric Flair appeared at ringside to hand another Sledgehammer to Triple H before talking some trash to Batista, baiting him in so that The King of Kings could use the sledgehammer. Triple H pedigreed him, and that’s all she wrote!

That was an awesome match and an absolute spectacle. Batista looked great for a guy who has been out of wrestling, and Triple H was at his usual standard. It says a lot how all-out Batista is willing to go for the sole, stated purpose of entertaining the WWE Universe, and he got his perfect comeuppance in a finish that involved Ric Flair, the man he beat up on his birthday.

All the respect to Batista for this.