Batista's 5 most memorable WWE moments

#1 Thumbs down, Hunter

As crazy as that Royal Rumble match was, it was only the beginning for The Animal.

So, by winning the Rumble, Batista was guaranteed a World title match at WrestleMania 21 - he just had to decide which title. He could choose to compete for the WWE Championship - which, at that time, was on SmackDown - and turn the John Cena vs JBL bout into a Triple Threat match. Or, he could go after the World Heavyweight Championship - Raw's title that was held by his mentor, Triple H.

It's also worth noting that Hunter had been talking smack about Batista behind his back, thinking he was getting one over on his fellow Evolution faction member.

Batista took the SmackDown contract and gave Hunter a big smile and the ole thumbs up signal - until the smile turned into a scowl and his thumb turned downwards. Before you knew it, Triple H laid in the middle of a broken table - the victim of a vicious Batista Bomb - and Batista had a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania.

Batista would go on to win that very championship at that very show, and that was a major milestone in what has, obviously, turned into a Hall of Fame career. As great a moment as that - and every World Championship victory Batista would enjoy throughout his career - was, the image of The Animal turning the tables on the man who he considered a mentor and who ended up underestimating him, well... this was his defining moment.

What are your favorite Batista moments in WWE?