Batista - The Animal Unleashed DVD (Disc 3) Review

Match 1: Raw 2008 - Chris Jericho & JBL vs. Batista & Shawn Michaels
JBL ambushes Shawn Michaels backstage before the match as Chris Jericho grins on his way to the ring. It is now a handicap match. Batista manages to fight the two off until Michaels makes a comeback. Batista hits a Batista Bomb on JBL to secure the win. Basic Raw main event here and credit to Batista who did a great job in the match without a tag partner. Was able to get in a good amount of offense before being overpowered against his opponents. Made Michaels returning to the ring that much sweeter. How I miss these days of Raw.
Winners: Batista & Shawn Michaels
Rating: *3/4

Match 2: SmackDown 2009 - Batista & Shane McMahon vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase
Another strange addition to the DVD. Nonetheless, it's another television match as Batista teams with Shane McMahon to take on Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase before their bout at Backlash. Despite being an odd pick for the DVD, it was a fine match that displayed Batista nearing the end of his run in the WWE while also showing a skinnier Shane McMahon. Felt like a prolonged squash match with Batista hitting a sweet Spinebuster on Rhodes for the finish. Another basic television main event on the DVD for whatever reason. Better than the first match but nothing notable to really note other than the cool finish.
Winners: Batista & Shane McMahon
Rating: **

Match 3: Extreme Rules 2009 - WWE Championship - Steel Cage - Randy Orton (c) vs. Batista
I remember this match like it was yesterday, news broke out all over the internet that Batista had suffered another injury and would be taking more time off. No way Randy Orton retains! Right? Wrong! They had a pretty quick and pretty good match here. It felt like they were fast forwarding the match but it still had substance to it. Batista was able to hit a Batista Bomb and win the belt. Love his reaction afterwards. He looked legitimately amped to rub it in everyone's face. Also love how the win was done in the cage. The escaping the cage finish gets done too often. I also liked the curveball, but I don't like the constant title changes. I'm a firm believe that it diminishes the importance of the title. Good match for what it was worth. Should note that Batista did look a little bit extra motivated here. Can only imagine how he felt suffering another injury after just returning from one. Not sure what the specifics were but he definitely still looked good. Never understood the hate for Batista, the passion is in his work.
Winner: Batista
Rating: ***
Original Rating: **3/4

Match 4: SmackDown 2009 - Batista vs. CM Punk
Another television match here as the newest addition to SmackDown in Batista takes on a wounded CM Punk. Punk was white hot in 2009, pouring out great match after great match. He really knew how to adjust to his opponents and this match here against Batista is a great example. Jim Ross was also great in noting how Punk was able to adapt to Batista's strength and put it out of the equation by taking the match to the ground. Good stuff here that saw Punk escape from a Batista Bomb attempt on the outside. He jumped into the ring and scored the victory as the referee counted out Batista. Batista then came inside to finish the job after the match. Ever wonder why it's okay for a babyface to do this? Anyway, a good television match here but nothing too exciting. Another odd choice of a match to put on here but I guess the choices get much slimmer down the years.
Winner: CM Punk
Rating: *3/4

Match 5: Survivor Series 2009 - Rey Mysterio vs. Batista
Batista's awesome heel turn at Bragging Rights has led to him facing his former best friend in Rey Mysterio in Batista's hometown of Washington D.C. This was basically a glorified squash match that saw Mysterio do his best to ground Batista before Batista overpowered Mysterio fairly quickly. Batista hit a couple Batista Bombs before the referee made the decision to call the match. Batista then hit a Spinebuster to Mysterio onto a steel chair. Good first match between the two. It's obvious there would be more matches between the two but the main fact that Mysterio is way out of his league has been established.
Winner: Batista
Rating: *3/4

Match 6: SmackDown 2009 - Street Fight - Rey Mysterio vs. Batista
We finally get the rematch from the former best friends on an edition of Friday Night SmackDown. A little different than their last match but also a little bit of the same. The only difference being that this match is held under no disqualification rules. However, the only changing factor that came into play was the steel chair. It made sense considering Batista would be facing The Undertaker in a Chairs match of all things at the TLC PPV. Mysterio got more offense in here but was overpowered by Batista again. After a Spinebuster, Batista nailed Mysterio with a single chair shot to the head for the finish. Afterwards, Batista looks to beat down Mysterio one more time before The Undertaker comes out to make the save. Really wish the WWE would have made a bigger deal with this feud. The end to what was a very underwhelming feud between two former friends. So unfortunate we never got to see a longer match between them. Would personally have loved to have seen a culmination at WrestleMania or another big stage rather than SmackDown considering their history. Also dislike the fact that Mysterio was used as Batista's television feud and a way to put Batista even more over for his match against The Undertaker.
Winner: Batista
Rating: **1/4

Match 7: Raw 2010 - Batista vs. Sheamus vs. Randy Orton
Batista works so great as a heel, both on the mic and in the ring. A triple threat match here from Monday Night Raw in 2010 with the winner being the #1 contender for the WWE Championship at Over the Limit. John Cena make the match official as the three men argue who should deserve the title shot. Decent main event match that showcased Batista as a premier heel and Randy Orton as a premier babyface with Sheamus on the come up. Good distribution of offense from the three that finally saw Orton hit an RKO on Sheamus before Edge came out to Spear Orton for his troubles. Batista made the cover on Orton and scores another chance for the gold. This match just screamed 2010, veterans cluttering the main event scene with Sheamus being in the backdrop. Still, a nice way to set up the main event for Over the Limit. By the way, nobody is more annoying than Matt Striker on commentary.
Winner: Batista
Rating: **3/4

Match 8: Over the Limit 2010 - WWE Championship - I Quit - John Cena (c) vs. Batista
This would later go on to be Batista's final match in the WWE before returning to the company four years later. Love how Batista starts the match on the mic as he gives John Cena a chance at quitting before the match even begins. Of course, Cena politely declines by slamming the mic to Batista's skull. Like Last Man Standing matches, I Quit matches can tend to drag with the referee constantly becoming a factor in stopping the pace of the match. That wasn't much of a problem here as the action flowed nicely and the two got a pretty equal amount of offense in with the high spots in Batista slamming Cena through the announce table and Cena tossing Batista off a ledge as he landed onto security. Ending saw Batista try to ram the car on the set into Cena who got out of the way and hit an Attitude Adjustment onto Batista atop the hood of the car. Batista then quit as Cena looked to give him another AA off the top of the car. However, Cena went ahead and gave him the AA as he drove Batista through the stage. Fun match and a decisive way for Cena to cap off his feud against The Animal. Interesting fact in Batista noting in interviews four years later that the finish ended up breaking his back. Fortunately for him, Batista would go on to take a long break from the company soon after.
Winner: John Cena
Rating: ****1/4

Match 9: Royal Rumble 2014 - 2014 Royal Rumble (Taken from WWE Royal Rumble 2014 Review)
I want to mention that this crowd is super hot. But constantly chanting for Daniel Bryan has got to be the most annoying thing ever. Enjoy who is wrestling in the ring because the show isn't just about one person. With that being said, CM Punk and Seth Rollins open up the 2014 edition of the Royal Rumble. Great call, you want two guys who can go the distance to start the match and these two are perfect. For me, a great Rumble match will have surprises, ups, downs, and star-making performances. This one had it and as a result, was one of my favorite Rumbles in recent memory. Pacing is key for this match and never once did I felt like it dragged, there was enough star power scattered throughout with guys like The Shield coming in and looking like animals. Also, Kofi did another memorable Rumble moment as he jumped back into the ring from the barricade. Crowd ate it up. I enjoy when the Rumble tosses in a couple comedy moments. I think people take things way too seriously and forget to enjoy wrestling. El Torito coming in and eliminating Fandango was hilarious. As was JBL, who was an entrant and the crowd went nuts! He got in the ring and Roman Reigns quickly made work of him. It was still really cool to see him act like a douche and enter the Rumble casually, though. Speaking of Reigns, he was the man in this Rumble. But first, I want to talk more of the match itself. Sheamus coming back from his injury was another bright spot, crowd popped big and he looked like he hadn't lost a step. Let's not forget about a missed opportunity in Dolph Ziggler, they had Jim Duggan put him over earlier before the match and Ziggler received an enormous ovation. However, he was disposed pretty quickly and didn't get a chance to leave an imprint. The Wyatt Family should have done more and should have been more dominant, especially considering they were part of the previous match helping Orton beat Cena. They got a few eliminations but they never sank their teeth into the match. The final four consisted of CM Punk, Roman Reigns, Sheamus, and Batista. Punk was eliminated when Corporate Kane arrived out of nowhere and tossed Punk out of the ring and through the announcers table. We're down to three. Crowd still chanting for Bryan. Sheamus and Batista go at it as Batista flings Sheamus over the top rope where a running Roman Reigns rams into Sheamus for Reigns' 12th elimination, beating Kane's record of 11. It's now between Reigns and Batista. Crowd is crapping all over Batista as Reigns looks to hit Batista with a Superman Punch! Batista counters and hits a Spear! Crowd hates it, I love it! Then Reigns turns the tables and hits a Spear of his own! But out of nowhere, Batista tosses Reigns outside and wins! Batista has won the rumble twice and is going to WrestleMania XXX! What a Rumble and what a performance for Reigns. I've been reading so many bad reviews of the match but I loved it. I enjoyed it from top to bottom and while in the minority, I enjoyed the ending.
Winner: Batista
Rating: ****1/2

Match 10: Elimination Chamber 2014 - Batista vs. Alberto Del Rio (Taken from WWE Elimination Chamber 2014 Review)
Crowd is so rapidly against Batista, it's pretty crazy and in my opinion, unfortunate. But they want what they want and they sure as hell want their Daniel Bryan. Del Rio comes out in a track outfit along with a cast around his neck and a crutch. He then attacks Batista from behind with the crutch and reveals that he was faking the injury. They go back and fourth a little bit before Batista hits his Batista Bomb for the win. Crowd crapped all over it and the announcers weren't helping the cause. Little feeding match for Batista as we head into New Orleans.
Winner: Batista
Rating: *1/4

Overall Thoughts and Rating:
An extremely odd array of matches for disc 3. It's nice to have television matches on a DVD but the choices were more than questionable. While the match quality wasn't the absolute best, it was still a nice way to display Batista's 2009-2010 years along with his return in 2014. When taking that fact into account, it's kind of cool to see the evolution of Batista's character (no pun intended). Still, it doesn't discount the fact that the match choices were poor and lazily put together.
Rating: 5/10