WWE legend Dave Bautista says his wrestling days are done for good.
Despite many wrestlers historically breaking their word and returning for one last big match and payday, the “Guardians of the Galaxy” star insists he will not be one of them.
During an interview with Enosh Fee for director Zack Snyder’s charity convention Justice Con, Bautista, 52, quickly shot down any talk of him returning to wrestling.
“Don’t put that out there, people will jump all over that [laughs],” Bautista said. “‘He’s coming out of retirement!’ No, I’m not.”
Several aging stars have recently returned to the squared circle, and the emergence of All Elite Wrestling has given wrestlers an alternative to resume their career.
Wrestling legends Sting, The Big Show and Christian all recently joined the rival organization after time away from the ring. Additionally, WWE Hall of Famer Adam “Edge” Copeland was in the featured bout at WrestleMania 37 on April 11 after nearly a decade away from the ring.
“It’s so hard to convince people that I’m actually retired,” Bautista added. “You have no idea how tough that discussion is. When a professional wrestler retires, they don’t really retire, they kind of retire. If the paycheck or event is big enough, they’ll come out of retirement. It’s just not that way with me. I exited the business in such a storybook way, I could never go back. I’m just done. I got to finish on my own terms and nothing is going to bring me back and take away from that.”
Actor and former WWE star Dave Bautista Getty Images for IMDbThis is not the first time Bautista has spoken out against the idea of a comeback.
Amid AEW teasing a blockbuster signing in early March, Bautista shot down rumors he was the company’s latest acquisition.
“They’re going to have to come up with another word thats used specifically for professional wrestlers who actually mean it when they say they’re retired,” Bautista tweeted. “Currently the word ‘retired’ has zero credibility by professional wrestling standards.”
Bautista has transitioned to a successful career in Hollywood since he initially left the WWE in 2010. He will star in Snyder’s latest film “Army of the Dead” which is set to hit theaters and Netflix on May 21.
The former six-time WWE champion last wrestled at Wrestlemania 35 in April 2019, losing to longtime mentor Paul “Triple H” Levesque in a “No Holds Barred” match.
WWE announced Bautista as an inductee into the company’s Hall of Fame class in 2020 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plans to honor him have been postponed.






