Batista's WWE career concluded at WrestleMania 35 earlier this year, where he lost to former Evolution leader Triple H. It's only a matter of time until the wrestler-turned-actor is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. We're talking about a two-time Royal Rumble winner who headlined a pair of WrestleMania events.
The four-time World Heavyweight Champion and two-time WWE Champion enjoyed an illustrious career in the squared circle. In looking at Batista's career, there were five feuds that shaped up his Hall of Fame-calbier career. But like all wrestlers, The Animal also endured some feuds that weren't exactly the most thrilling.
10 Best: Rey Mysterio
Batista and Rey Mysterio held the WWE Tag Team Championships on one occasion, and these two perennial babyfaces often worked together during their respective tenures on SmackDown.
However, Batista pulled off an unexpected heel turn at the 2009 Bragging Rights pay-per-view - when Mysterio prevented The Animal from winning the World Heavyweight Championship in their fatal four-way match.
Batista accused Rey of stabbing him in the back and berated the latter for not being a good enough friend. This led to perhaps the best heel run of Batista's career, and it put him on the path for a feud with The Undertaker (more on that later).
9 Worst: The Shield
Batista returned to the WWE in 2014 as a babyface, but the fans booed him heavily when The Animal won the Royal Rumble event. They had no choice but to turn him heel, and that meant reforming Evolution with Triple H and Randy Orton.
Even though Evolution deserves credit for putting The Shield over, the whole thing just didn't work with Batista. It was somewhat forced, since the fans made WWE turn him into a heel again. The matches between Evolution and The Shield were lackluster, too, and he left the company just a few months after returning.
8 Best: Daniel Bryan
One reason the WWE Universe turned on Batista when he won the 2014 Royal Rumble was because fans were simply hoping that Daniel Bryan would win. So even though Batista can't be blamed for the booking, the fans still took their frustrations out on him.
With Batista turning heel, it set up a triple threat match between he, Randy Orton and Bryan for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXX. The latter won the match by getting Batista to submit to the Yes Lock.
That marked the most historic and illustrious moment of Bryan's career, and Batista deserves credit for willingly putting him over. This was short but extremely sweet feud between the two.
7 Worst: Randy Orton
Batista and Orton spent two years together in Evolution (2003 to 'o4), before Triple H and his stablemates betrayed the Viper after he won the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam 2004.
In 2008, the two superstars rekindled their rivalry at the 2008 Survivor Series pay-per-view, but it was short-lived after Batista suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to miss several months.
The rivalry was renewed when The Animal returned in April 2009, but this didn't feel like a true one-on-one feud. Triple H and John Cena were also involved in a program with Orton, so it was hard to get fully behind Batista's feud with the Viper. After suffering a torn bicep injury, Batista missed several more months of action, which eventually ended their feud.
6 Best: Booker T
You've probably heard the story of Batista and Booker T engaging in a legitimate fight backstage in 2006. Booker T suggested that he fought the Animal because it was "for all of the rest of the boys in the locker room."
Well, the two superstars did a magnificent job in bringing their real-life tension to WWE programming. Several months after Batista returned from a torn triceps injury, he feuded with King Booker in hopes of getting back the World Heavyweight Championship.
They squared off at SummerSlam 2006 and Survivor Series 2006 - where Batista eventually won the title back. The two superstars displayed phenomenal in-ring chemistry together, and this was perhaps the finest heel run of Booker T's career. This was an excellent feud in every aspect, plain and simple.
5 Worst: John Cena
Batista took down John Cena at the 2010 Elimination Chamber pay-per-view to become the new WWE Champion, and it set up a showdown between the two superstars at WrestleMania XXVI. But you just knew the whole time how this would end.
As expected, Cena regained the title after winning via submission in what was a lackluster match. The Animal lost subsequent rematches at Extreme Rules and Over the Limit, before parting ways with WWE in 2014. The feud was short-lived, and the overall in-ring chemistry just wasn't there. This just wasn't the best of rivalries for either superstar.
4 Best: The Undertaker
Batista and The Undertaker actually engaged in three separate feuds throughout their WWE careers, and they succeeded every single time. It featured the battle of two merciless, fearless and physically dominant superstars. That alone made this whole rivalry so intriguing, but they also displayed excellent chemistry throughout their matches.
Batista nearly ended Undertaker's streak at WrestleMania 23, but The Deadman ultimately conquered him. They clashed in numerous World Heavyweight Championship matches at pay-per-view events as well, and for good reason. It was always an excellent show when The Animal met The Phenom.
3 Worst: The Great Khali
At first glance, this rivalry could have been something special, given that both superstars were dominant intimidating giants. But |The Great Khali didn't offer a whole lot as a technical wrestler, and the matches with Batista lacked pace. There just weren't enough "wow" moments whenever they clashed in the ring.
Their feud began at The Great American Bash (2007), and it concluded when Batista retained his World Heavyweight Championship at the No Mercy pay-per-view.
2 Best: Triple H
There could very well be no such thing as the legendary status of Batista if it weren't for Triple H, who helped him grow into a major superstar during their time together in Evolution.
Batista's career reached a turning point when he won the 2005 Royal Rumble, which led to him betraying Triple H and Evolution. The Animal headlined WrestleMania 21, where he defeated The Game to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
This marked the start of Batista's run as a main event talent. He wouldn't stop from there, and it was only fitting that Batista's WWE career ending at WrestleMania 35, where he lost to long-time friend and storyline rival Triple H.
1 Worst: John Bradshaw Layfield
After his program with Triple H ended, Batista was drafted to SmackDown in 2005 - and he engaged in a feud with John Bradshaw Layfield. The two superstars clashed for Batista's World Heavyweight Championship at The Great American Bash and SummerSlam pay-per-views in 2005. The rivalry didn't last long, however.
Other than an epic segment where Batista destroyed JBL's limo, the two didn't offer much against one another in the ring. Maybe if this feud had more time, it could have developed into something special.