Would you have had a problem with Batista returning if he WASN'T going to win the Rumble?

[Everlong]

Thought this would be an interesting question.

Personally I don't see the problem with him being around, especially considering he's apparently back on a full-time contract. However, there's no way in hell he should be anywhere near the main event of Mania.

[ShaneOfan]

He works great as a heel so him being back would not be a problem. But yeah he should not be headlining Wrestlemania.

[Locke]

Shoulda been Batista v Brock at WM so the main event floor was clear for stars who deserved it.

[prophet]

Not at all. I don't blame Batista for the Royal Rumble shambles and it's not like he's going to turn down the chance to win the Rumble at headline Wrestlemania. I just think it's a disgrace for any part-timer to simply waltz on back into the main event of the biggest show of the year after years away from the company - it's a complete slap in the face to the talent who have been on the road, away from home all year working hard. I didn't like The Rock coming back to headline Wrestlemania twice but I can sort of see why they wanted The Rock to main-event (especially the first time in Miami). Batista isn't even 4 levels underneath The Rock in my opinion.

I don't think it helps that the man Batista is going on to face is Randy Orton, a man who nobody ever wanted to be champion in the first place and one of the dullest men on the roster. Fact of the matter is the people want Daniel Bryan in that main event and they want him as Champion and the longer he isn't where people want him to be they'll always be an air of hostility plaguing the show. I don't mind that Batista came back and like many others I actually really enjoy him when he's playing the heel but the way they handled his return wasn't great.

Batista, Orton and Cena will face the wrath of the audience because they're the only ones who people can voice their frustration at but I'm more annoyed at the higher-ups and creative staff for consistently ruining anything good that inadvertently emerges in the WWE.

[Hanley!]

I don't particularly mind the idea of him coming back. It always annoys me that a bunch of old timers just move back into the limelight before Wrestlemania. So on that level, I guess it'd bother me a little even if he didn't win the Rumble. Just as a single part of that infuriating larger trend.

And also he's not any good. So if I was watching regularly, I'd be bored by his presence on television. But on a bloated 3 hour Raw, I'm sure they could find a place for him that worked, and I wouldn't have any huge problem with that. That place just isn't at the top.

[Settee]

I was looking forward to him being back, until he won the rumble.

[iMike]

I agree with Hanley in I'd still be annoyed that he came back just for Mania because he's still taking a spot from someone who deserves to be at Mania. I'm more mad that he won the Rumble and will compete for the title in the main event.

[AkydefGoldberg]

I wouldn't have been fussed had he stayed away as he seems to have done OK with limited MMA and acting success so it's not as if he was struggling massively.

Batista as a face just isn't appealing. What made him likeable as when he'd tease someone whilst playing a straight face and burst out laughing later, around in 2005 when he teased HHH at various times.

Only as a heel can he come off good but meh, not fussed he's back or not. Just infuriating he won the Rumble and in a main event spot as unlike The Rock, he's hardly a great draw is he?

I can't imagine fans are going to rush to order WM because Batista is back.

[Georgerv]

No I wouldn't have had a problem at all, I was rather hoping he'd come back as a heel though and be some real muscle for the authority now that the Shield are almost broken up.

It looks like that may be the path they're going down now, with Lesnar possibly becoming a badass face challenging the authority, but the rumble victory was totally unnecessary.

[Westcoastvibes]

I wish they would have done his return different.

I understand that they advertised his return for ratings and general hype about the product. I understand that he is "Batista" and with that name he is entitled to perks or extras above the lower lesser known guys and I am play with that. I would even be okay with the rumble win on different circumstances.

My ideal scenario would have involved Bryan. After months of abuse from the authority, the shield and the Wyatt's Bryan is offered a spot in the rumble if he can win a match against HHH. Of coarse Bryan does not win but as a consultation prize the authority offers Bryan the ability to pick anyone he wants to replace him. Bryan cuts a promo about it leading to he will reveal his replacement at the rumble and it is a man who has the same if not more hate for hhh as Bryan does and this man is an animal who will not stop until the authority is no more.

Batista comes out to a huge pop, wins and sets up the orton/Batista match at wm with the back story of Orton is part of the problem that is the authority.

[Buck]

I answered no, because I don't really watch WWE anyway.


Good for him for getting a paycheck.