2-time WWE Champion will never wrestle again, Dutch Mantell predicts

Dutch Mantell is best known to WWE fans for his work as Zeb Colter between 2013 and 2016. In a recent podcast episode, the legendary wrestling booker and manager gave his thoughts on Batista's comments about retirement.

Batista, real name Dave Bautista, retired from in-ring competition in 2019 after losing to Triple H at WrestleMania 35. The two-time WWE Champion recently told Chris Van Vliet that he does not want to tarnish his career's storybook ending by returning to the ring.

Many legends reverse retirement decisions several years after competing in what was supposed to be their final match. However, on Story Time with Dutch Mantell, Mantell said he expects Batista to stick to his word:

"I think he has a little bit of credibility with the fans and if he says he's not gonna have another one I don't think he's gonna have another one. So if he's happy with that, I'm happy with him, and people can look back on his career and that's his last match and be pleased with it and happy with it." [1:43 – 2:01]

Batista became a successful actor after initially leaving the wrestling business in 2010. He has starred in several high-profile movies, including Guardians of the Galaxy and Spectre.

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Dutch Mantell on his interactions with Batista

After an absence of almost four years, Batista returned to WWE in 2014 for another short run with the company. During that time, he won the Royal Rumble match and main-evented WrestleMania 30 alongside Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton.

Dutch Mantell, a WWE on-screen personality at the time, only had positive experiences with The Animal when they interacted backstage:

"I never sat down with him. I said hello to him, maybe a hundred words, 'How you doing?' and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, and Dave Bautista lives in Tampa, he doesn't live that far from me, but I've never run across him, but from what I hear he's a pretty good guy, pretty decent guy, and I'm glad for him." [2:44 – 3:02]

In his interview with Chris Van Vliet, Batista also addressed when he could receive a WWE Hall of Fame induction.

Do you think Batista will ever wrestle again? Hit the discuss button and let us know.

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Please credit Story Time with Dutch Mantell and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.