Former WWE Superstar turned Hollywood phenomenon Dave Bautista, formerly known as Batista, has openly discussed his mental health difficulties during his time as a WWE Superstar.
The revelation occurred during an interview with Arizona's Family, in which the actor also explained his unusual approach of conquering fear before entering the wrestling arena.
Batista, who hasn't competed in the WWE ring since his loss to Triple H at WrestleMania 35, confesses to having significant anxiety before each match. However, the Guardians of the Galaxy star revealed an unusual strategy he used to deal with his pre-match anxiety.
"When I started wrestling, I was literally physically sick before I walked out from the curtain," he said.
"I used to walk out and scream." And my anxiety was gone. And that's what it is. I get worried, self-conscious, and apprehensive, but as soon as I leave [screams], it goes away. It's simple for me to do, and I can rest from there. "As soon as I finish that, I'll be able to relax," he explained.
Batista, a six-time World Champion during his full-time WWE career from 2002 to 2010, disclosed a unique coping strategy that allows him to find peace before confronting the fans and opponents within the squared circle.
Batista has effectively transferred to Hollywood and is currently featured in Dune: Part Two, which opens in theatres on March 1, demonstrating his adaptability and continuous success outside of the wrestling industry. In 2014, the actor briefly returned to WWE, co-headlining WrestleMania with Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan (AEW's Bryan Danielson).
