CM Punk, Adam 'Edge' Copeland, Sheamus, Natalya and others like WWE legend Batista's heartbreaking Instagram post

Former WWE Champion Batista recently took to social media to share an unfortunate update. He penned an extremely emotional note after his beloved dog, Ollie, passed away. Many prominent pro wrestling names interacted with The Animal's post.

During the Ruthless Aggression Era, Batista was among the company's top talents. The Animal won the 2005 Men's Royal Rumble match and headlined WrestleMania against Triple H. He shockingly quit the company in 2010 to pursue a career in MMA and acting.

The Hollywood star returned to the global juggernaut for a short stint in 2014, winning the Royal Rumble match for the second time and competing in the main event of WrestleMania 30. He battled Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan at The Show of Shows. The Animal ended his in-ring career with a hard-hitting bout against Triple H at WrestleMania 35.

This is a difficult time for Batista and his family, as they have lost their dog. While the veteran disabled the comments section of his Instagram post about Ollie, many current and former WWE Superstars offered their condolences by liking the update. Natalya, Rey Mysterio, Sheamus, Matt Cardona (fka Zack Ryder), Carlito, Edge, CM Punk, and many more paid tribute to The Animal's late dog.

Image source: Batista's Instagram handle

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Why WWE legend Batista wants to stay retired from in-ring competition

In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Batista was asked why he wasn't open to an in-ring return like The Rock and John Cena. The Animal replied that he had etched an ideal conclusion to his pro wrestling career and did not want to tarnish his legacy as a performer. He called his match against Triple H at WrestleMania 35 the "storybook ending" to his WWE run.

"It's the way I wanted to go out. It's like a dream for me. It's so perfect. It's such a romantic way, and wrestlers don't get to choose the way they go out. I did. I went out on my own terms the way I wanted and with the guy [Triple H] I wanted to go out with. I will never tarnish that; it's not because I don't miss it. I miss the crowd; I miss the energy of the crowd. I dream about walking out and hearing my entrance music, but I know if I do that I will tarnish my storybook ending, and I'm not just willing to do it." (From 03:07 to 03:38)

The Animal has been rumored to receive a Hall of Fame induction for years. Fans must stay tuned to find out whether the Triple H-led management finally gives him the prestigious honor in 2025.