Hollywood always has its “types.” There are the scream queens: actors (mostly women, but sometimes men) who are particularly good at shouting insults at murderous monsters. And then there are the chameleons: people who can slip into any role with just a wiggle of their nose. And let’s not forget the superstars: actors who often play versions of themselves, but you don’t mind because they’re so charming! Fitting into one of these categories can be both a blessing and a curse.
Some actors are perfectly content to play (essentially) the same role over and over again. They do a job they love and will do it as often as they are asked. Some who do the same thing over and over again begin to feel stagnant. It’s not enough to just have a job. Each job must be new and exciting and offer them the opportunity to hone their craft (and stay relevant). Dave Bautista is one such actor.
In a short amount of time, Bautista has cobbled together an impressive filmography. He has worked with interesting, exciting directors. With each new role, you can see him getting more and more absorbed in his work. He has spoken (often) about wanting to challenge himself and continue to grow as an actor. He has done that and is arguably the best actor-turned-wrestler in the business. However, he is not without competition!
I probably couldn’t have said this for sure 15 years ago, but I can now: You know John Cena. Coincidentally, you probably know him first as an actor and second as a 13-time former world heavyweight champion. Like Bautista, Cena has become a force to be reckoned with in La-La Land. Still, he hasn’t given up wrestling entirely (yet). John Cena will wrestle on a farewell tour next year and then retire. Dave Bautista never could.
Bautista retired from the ring in 2019 after one final fight at Wrestlemania 35. He didn’t make a big deal out of it, but he doesn’t criticize Cena for it. On the show insightthe actor noted, “I get along with John. I respect John a lot, (and) for some reason a lot more than people think. I think the internet and the fans have created this rivalry between us that doesn’t really exist.” He explained that he “couldn’t do” a farewell tour like Cena did. “That’s the difference between us: I would never do that. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t,” Bautista said. “I think it would feel dishonest to go around, but I understand his point of view that he wants to go around and personally thank all the fans. There’s just something in me that makes me not want to do it. I would feel uncomfortable.”
Bautista, who has always been a modest person, goes on to explain that he does not want his “flowers,” as the children say. “For me, praise is unpleasant,” said Bautista insight“I could never be the babyface type that says good things because I want to get the crowd to cheer me on. I couldn’t be that guy. I love and respect what he does with his whole tour, but we’re just different in that regard.”
Ultimately, Bautista is happy with the way his career ended. “I left the way I wanted to. I retired the way I wanted to. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it,” he explained. “I announced my retirement on Instagram and I knew I was going to do it. I just didn’t want to tell anybody because I didn’t want anyone to say, ‘No, no, you have to come in. You have to give a speech to the fans.’ I don’t know, anything about it would have felt wrong to me. I couldn’t do it.”
Dave Bautista will never return to the ring (at least not as a wrestler) and didn’t have a big send-off. That’s fine with him.
