A Wholesome WWE Partnership That Went Horribly Wrong
David Mccullough Quick Links
Batista and Rey Mysterio are both legends in the business, with both men being prominent superstars on the Smackdown brand from the later years of the Ruthless Aggression Era. Not long after Batista arrived at the Smackdown brand in 2005, he and Rey Mysterio found instant chemistry as they became close friends for many years, which stems from a real-life friendship that has lasted for many years. However, their on-screen relationship came to a screeching halt as Batista took his frustrations out on Rey Mysterio, kickstarting one of the most personal rivalries in the late 2000s and early 2010s WWE.
RELATED: Why Batista Left WWE In 2010, Explained
Origins Of Batista And Rey Mysterio's Friendship
In 2005, Batista rose to prominence after defeating Triple H at Wrestlemania 21 for the World Heavyweight Championship, establishing himself as the main babyface of the company alongside John Cena. As he became the number one babyface on the Smackdown brand after getting drafted, he and Eddie Guerrero were in a short feud that eventually led them to become close allies on the show. Much like Batista's relationship with Rey Mysterio, as they were both on-screen and real-life friends, he and Eddie Guerrero developed a real-life friendship that translated into their on-screen chemistry.
After Eddie Guerrero passed away in November 2005, Eddie Guerrero's close friends Batista and Rey Mysterio began teaming together towards the end of 2005 as they immediately established chemistry with one another. As a tag team unit, Batista and Rey Mysterio were credible in the ring as they dethroned MNM of their Tag Team Championship on a December 2005 episode of Smackdown.
Although their Tag Team Championship reign lasted only a few weeks, Batista and Rey Mysterio teamed together on occasion over the next few years, including teaming up at PPV events such as Armageddon 2005 and Hell in a Cell 2009. Batista and Rey Mysterio may be visually different but had a natural connection, considering it was always special when both men teamed together in the ring.
RELATED: Breaking Up Rey & Dominik Mysterio Would Be A Huge Mistake Right Now
"You Were Supposed To Be My Friend"
In 2009, Batista had been one of the most featured main-event veterans on the roster, much like Rey Mysterio. When Batista went to Smackdown in 2009, he and Rey Mysterio resumed their tag team alliance as they even faced Jeri-show at Hell in a Cell 2009 for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
As they were still friends, Batista and Rey Mysterio got set to challenge The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship, alongside CM Punk, in a Fatal-Four-Way at Bragging Rights 2009. During the match, it looked like Batista was getting the pinfall victory over The Undertaker and winning the World Heavyweight Championship. However, Rey Mysterio broke up the potential pinfall victory, angering Batista. After the match with The Undertaker being victorious and holding on to the World Heavyweight Championship, Batista launched an aggressive assault on Rey Mysterio in an emotional beatdown, turning heel for the first time since 2005.
Is Rey Mysterio No Match For Batista?
Because both men were once close friends, Rey Mysterio made the initiative to reconcile his relationship with Batista on the next episode of Smackdown. However, Batista made no effort to reconcile with Rey Mysterio and even made an offensive remark about Eddie Guerrero's passing, thus launching their feud into full gear as both men were announced in a match at Survivor Series 2009.
At Survivor Series 2009, Batista defeated Rey Mysterio via technical knockout, sending him to the hospital. Batista even beat Rey Mysterio in a Street Fight rematch on a December 2009 episode of Smackdown. With Batista dominating Rey Mysterio in the first two matches of their rivalry, it seemed that Rey Mysterio was no match for a powerhouse like Batista.
Rey Mysterio Gets The Better Of Batista
Rey Mysterio got a chance to not only face The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship but also potentially avenge Batista in a rematch against him on another December 2009 episode of Smackdown. In a singles rematch for a match against The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship, Rey Mysterio scored a victory over Batista, proving he has what it takes to take down the powerhouse animal.
Batista and Rey Mysterio's feud later evolved to whichever man is best to face The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship. As Rey Mysterio failed to capture the World Heavyweight Championship from The Undertaker on the Christmas 2009 episode of Smackdown, thanks to Batista interfering, they got a Steel Cage match as the final blow-off bout of their feud. Whoever wins this match will earn another opportunity to face The Undertaker at the Royal Rumble 2010.
On a January 2010 episode of Smackdown, Rey Mysterio defeated Batista in a Steel Cage match, once again getting the best of him. Although this was the final match of their feud, Batista continued launching attacks on Rey Mysterio out of frustration. It only lasted a few more weeks, as he set his sights on other plans considering he would win Raw's WWE Championship later that year from John Cena.
A Historic Rivalry Between Two Former Friends
The feud between Batista and Rey Mysterio is remembered fondly as one of their rival matches is featured on the Showcase Mode in WWE 2K22. Also, as this feud kickstarted Batista's newly formed heel persona towards the end of his career, his portrayal received universal acclaim. Considering Batista's embracing of a smug and more aggressive persona after turning heel, Batista's heel run in 2009 was arguably some of his best work. Wrestling fans, to this day, still cherish Batista's heel run this time, as it was a glimpse of how far Batista's charisma has taken.
And because Batista was a credible heel, the fact that he put over Rey Mysterio in their final matches made their rivalry more beneficial. The two split up on-screen may have been emotional for viewers, but their legendary rivalry made for good television.
