If you've ever wondered what Batista looked like before WWE, and how he would look with long, flowing black hair, then start scrolling and read on.

Batista returned to WWE last week alongside his former Evolution faction buddies. As for right now, it would appear that the Marvel movie star was only back for one night. However, based on how the segment went, and in particular how it ended, most fans are now very open to the former WWE Champion coming back on a more permanent basis.

Rewinding back to Batista's WWE beginnings, The Animal was famously part of the same OVW class as John Cena, Brock Lesnar, and Randy Orton. What many fans might not know is he was quite a bit older than those other three future World Champions. Batista was already 31 with a wife and two kids by the time he stepped into a wrestling ring for the first time.

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What even fewer fans likely know is that Batista stepped into a WCW ring before he signed with WWE in 2000. The Animal never signed with the now defunct company, or actually wrestled for it, but he did have a tryout at WCW's Power Plant. There, he was told that he would never make it in the wrestling business. No wonder the company went under shortly after that.

Due to the fact that he never actually competed for WCW, aside from those who were close with him at the time no one has really seen what the big man used to look like. Well, wonder no more. You can check out Batista's late '90s look in the photo above courtesy of Reddit. Who knew he had such luscious locks? And also that he bore a remarkable resemblance to Roman Reigns.

Clearly, WCW's loss was WWE's gain. If Batista looked anything like that when Vince McMahon first laid eyes on him then the WWE chairman likely had to contain his excitement. Thankfully, WCW didn't see the promise in him. Who knows what direction the surefire Hall Of Famer's career would have gone had he signed for a company that would be bought out shortly after he would have signed.

NEXT: NEW WWE NETWORK SURVEY SUGGESTS A TIERED PRICING SYSTEM IS COMING