Smackdown is approaching a landmark 1,000th episode in October, and the company is expected to make it an occasion to remember.
While the WWE page promoting the event has confirmed The Undertaker is slated to be in attendance, other big names will almost certainly follow suit in the coming weeks. One WWE legend who apparently won’t be in attendance is former World Heavyweight Champion Batista. In a tweet, Batista said that WWE didn’t extend him an invite to make an appearance, even though the show will take place in his hometown of Washington, D.C.
Surprise surprise!! I wasn’t invited! And it’s in my hometown.! 😳.. guess by now I shouldn’t be shocked anymore. https://t.co/r1NwUNlRnf
— Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) September 13, 2018
Batista has seemed to be in constant talks on a return, but he hasn’t wrestled in a WWE ring since 2014. He opened up about WWE being interested in a role in 2017, laying out apparent plans to partner with Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 34 before getting hit with radio silence. He even mentioned having discussions on a return as recently as September, but there hasn’t been an update on that front since.
If Batista is being forthright here, it’s an incredibly strange move by WWE. After taking the title from Triple H at WrestleMania 21, Batista took over the main event scene when he switched over to Smackdown. There was a good two or three years in the mid-2000’s where he was the face of the blue brand, alongside ‘Taker and the likes of Rey Mysterio.
If guys like The Rock, Big Show and others are welcomed back, here’s to hoping WWE finds a way to get Batista on the monumental show.
