John Cena and Dave Batista both broke onto the WWE scene at about the same time, and although they have taken different routes to get there, both men have clawed their way to the top of the company and will meet in a blockbuster match for only the second time at WrestleMania XXVI.
John Cena’s Early Days in the WWE
After making his debut in an open challenge match against Kurt Angle, Cena went on to assume a heel rapper gimmick and the popularity of his 'freestyle rap' promos shot him almost instantly to the top of the card, where he feuded with the then Champion Brock Lesnar.
Although he failed to win the gold, the strength of his performances soon led to a face turn and a lengthy gold run in the US Championship division.
Batista’s Early Days in the WWE
The Animal’s rise through the WWE may have paralleled Cena's in terms of time-frame, but their methods couldn’t have been more different.
Batista made his debut as Reverend D’Von’s bullying donation collector and enforcer ‘Deacon Bautista’ before jumping to Raw where 16 time World Champion Ric Flair took him under his wing and began shaping him into the Animal the WWE Universe is more familiar with today.
In early 2003 he and Flair joined forces with Triple H and Randy Orton to form the super-stable Evolution.
However, less than a month later Batista was sidelined for almost a whole year with a serious tricep tear.
Towards the end of October Batista made his return and the Evolution storyline continued and alongside Ric Flair he claimed the Tag Team Championships in the last Pay Per View of the year.
For the next year Batista continued to grow in popularity both in the eyes of the fans and the WWE Creative team, who pencilled him in for a feud with his mentor and current Evolution leader; Triple H.
Batista and Cena claim Heavyweight Gold
In the run up to WrestleMania XXI Batista and Cena’s paths crossed properly for the first time, as they battled against each other as the ‘final two’ to win the Royal Rumble.
After a double elimination and a re-start Batista came out on top and thanks to the underhanded dealings of his Evolution stable-mates, chose to face Triple H for his World Heavyweight Championship.
Despite failing to win the Royal Rumble Cena also secured himself a place in a World Championship match at WrestleMania, earning a shot at JBL’s WWE Championship.
At WrestleMania their simultaneous rise to the top finally reached its peak as both men were able to topple the gold-holders and leave the event as Champions.
A Rivalry Develops between John Cena and Batista
Following WrestleMania XXVI Batista held the World Heavyweight Championship for a record-breaking 282 days (the longest run since the belt was re-introduced) narrowly pipping Cena who held the WWE Championship for 280 days.
Despite being arguably more popular with the crowds (as many fans had begun to turn on Cena during his title reign) a selection of injuries and poor booking meant that Cena became the WWE’s ‘Golden Boy’ over the next few years rather than Batista.
In 2008, in an attempt to make Raw GM Mike Adamle more likable to the fans, he booked Cena and Batista against each other in a blockbuster match at Summerslam.
In the build up to this bout, which Batista narrowly won, the pair briefly held the World Tag Team Championships, but otherwise any sign of a rivalry was non-existent, something that even Batista has alluded to in interviews since.
It wasn’t until recently that Cena and Batista’s paths finally crossed once again, as The Animal carried out Mr. McMahon’s dirty work in return for a shot at the WWE Championship, which just so happened to take place moments after Cena won it in a gruelling Elimination Chamber match.
Batista scored an easy win, then rather sadistically handed Cena a re-match at WrestleMania, setting up one of the most anticipated matches on the card.
Who will win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXVI?
There are a lot of factors to consider in this match when trying to determine a winner, but there are two huge ones swinging in Cena’s favour that really should outweigh all the others; Batista won the first time they met, and John Cena is still the WWE’s highest rated Superstar.
Prediction: Cena looks like a shoe in to pick up the victory as he’s had the rough end of the deal in this feud so far. Regardless of winner it’s sure to be a better bout than the first time they met.
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Jay Davies - Jay Davies is a 25 year old graduate of the University of Lincoln's School of Journalism, currently residing in South Yorkshire, ...
