10 Unexpected Names who were almost fired by WWE

#9 Batista

Will Batista ever return from the cushy world of Hollywood?

Dave Batista would have never become Drax had it not been for a timely decision taken back in November 2002. Jim Cornette, who worked with OVW (Ohio Valley Wrestling), oversaw the rise of Batista as one of the most over guys down at WWE's former developmental during the advent of the Ruthless Aggression Era.

Standing at 6'5", Batista was the right hand of the devil himself, squashed multiple opponents single-handedly, and didn't even sell their moves. As revealed by Cornette himself on Chris Jericho's podcast, they had found a future PPV opponent for the Undertaker and began fine-tuning his gimmick for the main roster.

In a move that threatened to end his WWE dream, Batista was handed over to the main roster creative, who put him in a forgettable angle with D-Von Dudley as Deacon Batista -- the evil enforcer of Reverend D-Von. Sigh!

The storyline fared so miserably that WWE almost gave him the boot. Being injury-prone and already 30 years old by then didn't help his cause either but saner heads prevailed and WWE clubbed him with Triple H. An animal was unleashed from the brink of failure who went on to win six world titles in a career filled with highlight reel moments.