Dave Batista is in negotiations with both WWE and All Elite Wrestling about making a return to wrestling
The WWE wants to line Batista up for WrestleMania 35, but AEW thinks they can snag him away
Dave Batista last wrestled full-time in the WWE back in 2014 and speculation about when he will return has raged on and off ever since.
Of course, The Animal appeared at SmackDown 1000 last October and appeared to be setting up one last dance with former Evolution comrade Triple H. However, Triple H's pectoral injury at Crown Jewel in November put that in doubt.
According to , Batista is locked in talks with the WWE regarding competing at WrestleMania 35.
The report says 'he’s 50/50 on returning at this point based on how talks have gone'.
Furthermore, All Elite Wrestling have reached out to Batista and the former six-time world champion is understood to be receptive to their interest. The 50-year-old is open-minded about AEW.
That gives him tremendous leverage in negotiations with WWE, however, for all the money AEW could potentially offer, Batista has been very vocal about his desire to retire against Triple H at WrestleMania.
He won his very first world title against The Game at WrestleMania 21. To lock horns 14 years later given all their history would be quite special for the fans.
For those unaware, AEW is the new company started by the billionaire Khan family with Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks serving as Executive Vice Presidents.
Chris Jericho and PAC are also signed to the company and it’s rumored a TV deal is set to commence in October. Their next big event is Double or Nothing in Las Vegas on May 25.
Would Batista really turn his back on the WWE or is this report just a negotiation tactic?