"Put him in a tag match with Cena on the farewell tour" — Internet reacts to Batista saying he misses wrestling but wants his “storybook ending”

During his recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, uploaded on YT on August 28, 2024, actor and former wrestling champion Batista got candid about why he didn’t let the world know before his last match that he was retiring. Sofia Boutella, the co-star of his upcoming movie The Killer's Game asked him during their appearance whether he knew his final match was the final one.

In response, Batista said that he did but didn’t tell anybody else because he wanted to retire on his own “terms.”

“I didn't want it to be a big deal, you know, go out, do the tour, and give the speech. I wanted to have my match, and I wanted to call it a career. I wanted to go out on my terms,” the 55-year-old mentioned.

Batista further added how he misses professional wrestling but doesn’t want to return to the ring as he feels that would ruin his “storybook ending.”

In the wake of this interview, the internet is having diverse reactions. For instance, X user @SimbaUnderrated commented on fellow user @Vick_8122’s post sharing the interview clip and expressed his wish to include Batista in John Cena’s farewell tour scheduled for December 2025.

“Put him in a tag match with Cena on the farewell tour, work it around a storyline of Cena starting on smackdown and some of the great people he fought and tagged with Rey, Taker, Eddie, and find a way to fit Batista in there and we off,” the person wrote.

Several others joined the conversation and shared similar sentiments.

“John Cena Farewell Tour hasn’t started... you need to be a part!” a fan wrote.

“Batista vs Cena one last time,” another fan wrote.

Others pointed out that Batista must be a good person and actor to have his co-star interested in wrestling during a movie promotional.

“You can tell he’s a great dude because his cast member is so interested as well. They must’ve had a nice relationship on set. Can’t wait to watch the entire thing,” a person wrote.

“Now I kinda feel bad for him, but then again he is a multimillionaire that did some awesome things in his life and probably is the one pro wrestler that really has become an actor. And he’s a good, very based, dude,” another person wrote.

Continuing in the same line of thought, some lauded the former WWE champion for a “successful” acting career.

“It’s still impressive how smooth his transition was from wrestling to the big screen. No drop-off,” a netizen wrote.

“I'm glad he's enjoying success outside wrestling,” another netizen wrote.

Few wanted to see him back in the ring and shared their nostalgia over his iconic entrance music.

“He did have one of the best entrances and music in wrestling. You can tell the interviewer was a huge fan,” an individual wrote.

“I wouldn’t mind him returning for a segment or two just to hear his theme song again,” wrote another.

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Exploring Batista’s latest interview surrounding his wrestling days

Batista, who retired from professional wrestling in 2019 after his WWE match against Triple H at WrestleMania 35, recently appeared in a YouTube interview with Chris Van Vliet to promote his new action-comedy The Killer’s Game alongside co-star Sofia Boutella. He shared that he didn't announce his retirement before his final match because he wanted to avoid farewell tours and speeches.

"Wrestlers don't get to choose the way they go out. I did. I went out on my own terms, the way I wanted, with the guy I wanted. I wanted to go out,” the Washington D.C. native said.

Batista further continued:

"It's not that I don't miss it. I miss the crowd and the energy. I dream about walking out & hearing my entrance music, but I know if I do that, I'll just tarnish my storybook ending & I'm just not willing to do it."

He even mentioned that his “loss” in the last match was meant to be, yet it was like a “dream,” and was a “perfect, romantic run.”

Subsequently, he also talked about his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame saying that it has been in the planning phase for a while, but didn’t happen, saying it will “eventually.” The former MMA fighter explained that he had been in talks with WrestleMania, but couldn’t land in Los Angeles long enough to be a part of it, due to his shooting commitments overseas. He wrapped up by saying how he was “still open to it” and would very much like for it to happen one day.

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The Killer's Game is slated to release on September 13. It is directed by J.J. Perry and is an adaptation of the 1997 novel of the same name by Jay Bonansinga. Batista plays the lead role of Joe Flood, a veteran assassin who puts a hit on himself but later tries to escape it.