Batista trivia: After being accused of anabolic steroid use in 2007, Batista released a statement denying ESPN's allegations and stated that he has been "tested regularly by the WWE, and I am in full compliance with the WWE Wellness Program."
WWE 2003-2004 |
WWE 2003-2004
In January 2003, Batista joined with Triple H, Ric Flair, and Randy Orton to form the stable Evolution. However, Batista was sidelined for much of 2003 after he tore his right triceps at a house show in a tag team match against the Dudley Boyz. Batista re-tore his triceps while training. He faced another setback when after his second surgery to reattach his triceps he suffered an infection that required a third surgery to clean out the infection. He made his return on the October 20, 2003 episode of RAW, interfering in a match between Goldberg and Shawn Michaels and "shattering" Goldberg's ankle with a chair. After the interference, Evolution came out and Triple H rewarded Batista with $100,000. On the November 10, 2003 episode of RAW, Goldberg defeated Batista by disqualification when Triple H interfered.
At Armageddon 2003, Batista took part in two matches, losing to Shawn Michaels in a singles match but winning a tag team turmoil match along with Ric Flair, eliminating the Dudley Boyz to become one-half of the World Tag Team Champions. By the end of the PPV, all four members of Evolution held every male championship on RAW, with Triple H winning the World Heavyweight Championship and Randy Orton winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
They held the titles until the February 16, 2004, episode of RAW, when they were defeated by Booker T and Rob Van Dam. They later regained the titles for a short period. After SummerSlam 2004, Batista began a losing streak which lasted most of the year and saw Batista get pinned by mid-card wrestler Maven on one occasion.
In late 2004, after Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship, Triple H evicted him from the group, claiming that the title which Orton held was rightfully his. It was Batista who delivered an electric chair to Orton after Triple H gave Orton a "thumbs up" before turning it into a "thumbs down."
At the 2004 Survivor Series, Triple H, Batista, Gene Snitsky, and Edge were to face-off against Maven, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and Randy Orton in an 8-Man Elimination Tag Match for control of RAW over the following month (the members of the winning team would each be the RAW general manager for a week). They ended up losing, causing much unrest within Evolution. In the first week following Survivor Series, Triple H offered Maven a spot in Evolution (rather than have Maven challenge him for the World Title) which was turned down.
Throughout the next two months, the relationship between Batista and Triple H began to deteriorate. After a loss to Chris Jericho by disqualification, Triple H verbally insulted Batista. Batista teased leaving Evolution that night, but declared that he was still part of Evolution and that they tricked everyone. Still, Dave began behaving more like a face in the next few weeks, despite Evolution's heelish tactics. One particular moment saw Batista express disgust as Triple H and Ric Flair boasted about how they had intimidated and/or beat up Jim Ross, Danny Hodge, and Stacy Keibler. He continued to show his loyalty to Triple H and Evolution by running down to the ring and assisting him in matches.
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