RALEIGH, N.C. – First, there were four. Then, there were three. Now, only two remain. In a matter of six months, Evolution has split in half, and as a result of the implosion, Triple H is faced with perhaps his toughest challenge to date. At WrestleMania 21, he must face “the Animal” Dave Batista.
Two weeks ago, all hell broke loose in the closing moments of RAW. Following nearly a month of deliberation, Batista finally made his choice as to which title he would contend for at WrestleMania 21. With a thumbs-down eerily reminiscent of the night Evolution turned on Orton in August, Batista indicated that he would be facing World Heavyweight Champion Triple H on April 3. But before he could even sign the contract, Evolution attacked. Quickly, Batista tossed Ric Flair out of the ring, then proceeded to powerbomb The Game through a table.
Following the attack, Triple H had just one thing on his mind: revenge. Last week, the Cerebral Assassin said that he wasn’t going to wait until WrestleMania to even the score. To show Batista he meant business, The Game defeated The Hurricane and gave him a Pedigree him onto the RAW entrance ramp, causing the Superhero Superstar to suffer serious injuries.
Then, Triple H claimed he was going to confront the Animal as soon as he arrived. However when Batista did show up at the Dunkin Donuts Center, he walked right out to the ring where his former teammates would have no problem finding him. Triple H showed up first. Seconds later, Flair attacked and received a spinebuster and powerbomb for his trouble. But when it came time for Triple H to get in the ring and face the 6-foot-5, 317-pound monster, The Game headed to the back instead.
Monday night in Raleigh, Triple H sent another message to Batista by nailing Rosey in the ribs with a sledgehammer, forcing him to leave the RBC Center in an ambulance. Hunter (and his sledgehammer) also planned on accompanying “The Nature Boy” to ringside for his match with Batista. But just before going through the curtain, Eric Bischoff and security stopped the Cerebral Assassin, and confiscated the sledgehammer. As it turned out, the cunning World Heavyweight Champion had stashed another hammer under the ring, but when he went to use it, Batista snapped it over his knee, and sent The Game running once again.
Moments after retreating to the confines of the Evolution locker room, Triple H spoke with WWE.com about his continuing troubles with Batista, next week’s “Pick Your Poison” match with Chris Benoit, and his upcoming match with the Animal at WrestleMania 21.
WWE.com: First of all, why did you Pedigree The Hurricane on the stage last week, and why attack his partner Rosey with a sledgehammer this week?
Triple H: I did what I did to those two to send a message. The Hurricane was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Batista needed to be sent a message. And as far as what I did for Rosey, well, he wanted to stick up for his friend. That’s what happens. It sent another message to Batista, because if he thinks he’s going to take the industry to a whole new level at WrestleMania 21, I’m going to show him how I take “The Game” to a whole new level.
WWE.com: Why didn’t you get in the ring with Batista last week like you promised?
Triple H: There’s a time and a place for everything, and the time and the place for Batista to get what he has coming to him is WrestleMania on April 3. I’m going to put an end to “the Animal,” because guys like Batista and Randy Orton won’t forget who made them what they are — and that is “The Game.” So at WrestleMania 21, I’m going show him who the big dog is. I’m going to show him who runs this place.
WWE.com: Are you at all hesitant to face your former ally at WrestleMania 21?
Triple H: Not one bit, because you know what, when your friend turns around and bites the hand that feeds him, you can’t have any remorse, any regrets, or anything. All you can do is go out there, and do what you do. And what I do is take big muscle-headed idiots like Batista, tie them up in knots, and beat them. That’s what I do, and I’ve done it for years. Ask Goldberg, ask Scott Steiner, ask all of those guys. You could make a list 100 guys long of all the stars I’ve beaten through the years. And all of them have said that they were going to be the one to take “The Game” down, but none of them have. Batista is no different. He’s just the next notch on my belt.
WWE.com: How much of a bearing do you think next week’s “Pick Your Poison” Match against Benoit will have on your showdown with Batista on April 3?
Triple H: It’s going to have a huge bearing on my match with Batista, because it’s going to make him realize something. After I do to Benoit what I should have done a year ago — and that’s destroy him — Batista’s going to realize what he’s got coming his way.
WWE.com: Why do you think he chose “The Crippler?” Could it be because he made you tap out at WrestleMania XX?
Triple H: I think he chose Benoit because somewhere in the back of his mind, Batista thinks that Benoit has my number. But I will show him, and I will show the world that the reason they call me “The Game” is because I’m the best in this business, bar none. “The Crippler” will find that out next week. Batista will find it out at WrestleMania.
WWE.com: Any idea whom you may pick for Batista to face in two weeks, when he has to compete in a “Pick Your Poison” Match?
Triple H: Oh, I have a very good idea of who I’m going to pick, but I’m certainly not going to tell you.
WWE.com: Finally, what’s your main goal at WrestleMania? Is it to just to defeat Batista and retain your World Heavyweight Championship, or is it to humiliate him and teach him a lesson?
Triple H: My main goal is putting Batista in his place — and stating emphatically, one more time for the entire world — who the be all, end all in this business is. There is one guy who makes this business go ’round, and there’s one measuring stick. And it’s “The Game,” Triple H, the 10-time World Champion. Nobody else. Not Batista, or anyone else. At WrestleMania, I will make Batista pay. And in doing so, I will prove that I am what I say I am, and that’s the best that there is.