Batista Presents WWE World Heavyweight Title as a Special Gift to ‘The Killer’s Game’ Director
In a heartfelt gesture blending his past wrestling triumphs together with his flourishing Hollywood career, former WWE celebrity Batista has gifted a WWE World Heavyweight Title belt to the director of his contemporary movie, “The Killer’s Game.” Since transitioning from the wrestling ring to the silver screen in 2010, Batista has finished vast achievement, with standout roles in blockbuster movies such as “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Blade Runner 2049,” and “Dune.” His new action thriller, directed by way of JJ Perry, is slated for launch this September.
The statement came via a video posted on social media, where Batista, also referred to as “The Animal” for the duration of his wrestling days, shared the importance of this gesture. The belt he proficient isn’t just any duplicate; it’s miles a customized World Heavyweight Championship belt, same to the one he received four instances all through his illustrious WWE career.
A Tradition of Respect and Appreciation
Batista began the video by expressing his excitement about presenting the belt to JJ Perry, a respected figure in the film industry. “So tonight I’m going to give this [World Heavyweight Championship] to J.J. Perry. It’s become kind of a tradition of mine to give these out as wrap gifts on films. Some people might look at this as a fun gift, a silly gift maybe coming from anybody else [laughs]. But coming from a guy who held this title for a very long time, numerous times, I always thought it would be kind of a special, personal gift,” he explained.
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Symbolizing Deep Respect
The gesture is far from being a mere memento; it carries profound meaning for Batista. He emphasized that the gift is a token of deep respect and admiration. “If you get one of these, it means I really respect you a lot. This is something that is very personal and near and dear to my heart. The first time I won this title, it was like a dream come true. I earned something that I never in a million years thought that I would be holding,” Batista shared.
More Than Just a Gift
Batista went on to highlight that this gesture is not just a tradition but a sincere expression of gratitude. “When I give this, it’s not a silly gift, it’s not a toy; this is a token of my respect, and I give these to people I love and respect. If I don’t give them out, it doesn’t mean I don’t love and respect them, it’s just that some people have really gone out of their way to make me feel special, and it just means a lot to me,” he said.
He continued, “So as a personal token of my love and appreciation, I give him one of these to a guy I love and respect very much, J.J. Perry.”
WWE Hall of Fame Induction Delays
This touching gesture comes on the heels of Batista’s recent revelations about his delayed induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Initially set to be inducted in 2020, his induction changed into postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It become rescheduled for 2023, but filming commitments for every other film led to another put off. Batista remains hopeful about his future induction, expressing his eagerness to be commemorated for his contributions to professional wrestling.
H/T to Inside The Ropes for the above transcription.