Batista Recalls Channeling Hulk Hogan On Promos, Hogan Thinking He Was Being Made Fun Of
Batista had the look and presence of a WWE superstar, but by his own admission, wasn’t always comfortable with the mic in his hands.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Batista recalled his fears of being on the microphone and how he would revert to what he grew up watching when the red light was on.
“Since the beginning of my wrestling career, I was so terrified to be on the microphone, so I’d subconsciously channel a bit of Hulk Hogan and the Macho Man,” said Batista. “Even when filming Room 104, and it isn’t intentional, that’s who I channel. That is my first childhood connection to professional wrestling. I remember I did this interview years ago where it came across like I was doing this impersonation of Hulk Hogan. It wasn’t my intent but that’s the way it came off, and I remember saying, ‘This just isn’t me. I’m just not that guy.’ I later saw Hogan at a show and he asked if I was making fun of him. I said no, I didn’t mean that at all. That’s just my first connection to professional wrestling. They did promos a certain way, and it still impacts my work.”
Batista is set to become a wrestler once again in the series Room 104. While Batista initially didn’t want the role, feeling he had left his wrestling life behind and not wanting to be a stereotype, the role spoke to him and was exactly what he was looking for.
“I read the script and I was blown away. It wasn’t what I thought it was. It was deep and rich and emotional,” he said. “I don’t want to be labeled, I don’t want to be predictable. I remember going into a very early audition with Guardians, and Sarah Finn, the casting director, said that [actor] Lee Pace could do anything. I remember being so blown away by that. It’s a hell of a statement, he can do anything. I knew right then that I wanted her to one day be able to say, ‘Dave Bautista, he can do anything.’ I want to be that actor, with a range that’s endless.”
Season four of Room 104 is premeired on July 24 on HBO.
