Rey Mysterio’s history with Batista remains one of the more memorable examples of a WWE partnership evolving into a deeply personal rivalry. The two stars worked effectively on the same side, but their eventual conflict gave Mysterio an opportunity to wrestle a very different kind of match against one of the company’s most imposing powerhouses.
Speaking with MuscleManMalcolm, Mysterio reflected on both sides of that working relationship. He made clear that his appreciation was not limited to the period when he and Batista were aligned as tag team partners. Mysterio also enjoyed the challenge of standing across the ring from Batista, whose size and durability gave the smaller lucha libre icon an unusual degree of freedom in how he could deliver offense.
“As much as I enjoyed working by his side and I enjoyed working against him as well,” Mysterio said. “These were the type of matches that I can swing, hit, and go as hard as I can without hurting him.”
That remark speaks to the central dynamic of Mysterio and Batista as opponents. Mysterio built his reputation through speed, precision, aerial attacks and an ability to make enormous opponents look vulnerable without sacrificing the credibility of either performer. Batista, meanwhile, carried the physical presence expected of a top-level powerhouse. Their contrast in styles created an immediate visual story before either man threw a punch.
For more background on this topic, read Ricky Saints Pushes Back on WWE Age Debate, Says Experience Matters More Than a Number.
For Mysterio, Batista’s sturdiness was especially valuable. He explained that he felt secure in the knowledge that he could not truly hurt Batista simply by laying in his strikes with added force. That sense of security allowed Mysterio to make the action feel sharper and more forceful while maintaining the trust necessary between two performers. A smaller wrestler working opposite a bigger opponent often needs every strike, kick and burst of movement to register for the audience. In this case, Mysterio felt he could bring that intensity without worrying that the physicality would become unsafe.
Why the Matchup Worked
Wrestling rivalries are often remembered for their emotional angle, but the physical compatibility between the people involved is what gives those stories staying power. Mysterio and Batista brought dramatically different strengths to their encounters. Batista could project overwhelming force with minimal movement, while Mysterio could turn a moment of danger into a sudden opening through timing and speed.
The contrast also made the conflict easy to understand. Mysterio’s quickness and resilience gave fans a reason to believe he could survive against a much larger foe. Batista’s size and power gave every comeback, collision and escape added importance. The audience did not need a complicated explanation for why Mysterio was at risk whenever Batista got hold of him. At the same time, Batista could not simply dismiss Mysterio because Mysterio’s pace made him difficult to contain.
Mysterio’s comments underline the importance of trust in that kind of pairing. Professional wrestling asks its performers to create the appearance of chaos while keeping the action controlled. When the presentation calls for hard strikes or a rougher sequence around ringside, both wrestlers need to understand exactly what their partner is capable of delivering and receiving. Mysterio said he enjoys a “snug style” of wrestling, referring to contact that looks realistic and carries impact without crossing into needless pain.
That preference is significant in the context of Batista. The former WWE champion’s physical build enabled Mysterio to work with a more forceful rhythm. Mysterio could swing hard, make his attacks look meaningful and use his urgency to sell the desperation of the rivalry. Batista, in turn, could remain a believable threat while helping Mysterio produce the kind of explosive action associated with his career.
The Betrayal That Stayed With Mysterio
While Mysterio spoke warmly about the matches themselves, he also revisited the angle that turned their friendship into a feud. Fans still recall the intensity of Batista’s betrayal, particularly the repeated line that Mysterio “was supposed to be my friend.” The attack was effective because it was rooted in the history the two men had built while working together. It was not simply a matchup between two established stars; it was a confrontation between former partners whose connection had broken down.
Mysterio said the moment remains vivid for him, recalling the physicality around the ring apron and barricade. He described telling Batista that he was hurting him during the sequence, only for Batista to stay in character and fire back with the emotional accusation that had defined the turn.
“With him choking me right by the apron, and I’m telling him: ‘You’re hurting me, Dave!’ ‘You were supposed to be my friend!’ and just chucks me against the barricade! Fun, fun moments man, really fun moments,” Mysterio said.
The memory captures the unusual balance wrestlers often describe when discussing their favorite angles. What appears violent and painful on screen can be remembered with genuine fondness afterward because of the work required to make it convincing. Mysterio’s recollection does not minimize the intensity of the attack. Instead, it shows how much he values a scene that successfully connected physical action to a clear emotional motive.
Batista’s repeated accusation supplied the betrayal with a personal edge. Rather than presenting the split as a random change of direction, it framed Batista’s anger around a broken friendship. Mysterio’s smaller stature also made the attack feel especially severe. The visual of Batista overpowering him immediately established the scale of the challenge ahead, while Mysterio’s ability to sell danger and fight from underneath made the rivalry resonate.
A Partnership and Rivalry Built on Respect
Mysterio’s reflections are notable because they emphasize the full range of what he and Batista did together. He enjoyed standing alongside Batista, but he also appreciated the freedom and physical credibility of opposing him. That is often the mark of a productive wrestling relationship: two performers can play allies or enemies, adjust to the demands of either role, and make the audience believe in the shift.
Their work also illustrates why size differences can be so effective in WWE storytelling when the performers understand how to use them. Mysterio did not need to imitate Batista’s power. Batista did not need to match Mysterio’s speed. Each man could lean into what made him distinctive, and the contrast itself became an asset. Mysterio’s offense looked urgent because Batista was so difficult to move. Batista’s control sequences looked dangerous because Mysterio could make every moment of peril matter.
The same principles applied when they were partners. A team involving Mysterio and Batista naturally offered different ways to construct a match, with Batista able to provide force and Mysterio able to create momentum. When that alliance gave way to conflict, the established chemistry did not disappear. It simply took on a more hostile form.
Mysterio’s use of the word “fun” when revisiting the betrayal is revealing. It points to the satisfaction of working with someone who understands how to escalate a story, how to make contact look meaningful and how to commit to an emotional moment without losing the underlying trust required to execute it safely.
Mysterio Praises Batista’s Next Chapter
Batista has since transitioned fully into acting, while also changing his physical presentation and moving away from the heavily muscled look that defined much of his WWE career. Mysterio expressed admiration for that pursuit, saying it has been enjoyable to watch Batista follow his ambitions and continue working until he made them a reality.
That praise adds another dimension to Mysterio’s memories of his former rival and partner. He is not only looking back on a successful WWE pairing and feud; he is also recognizing Batista’s commitment to a new professional path. For Mysterio, the common thread appears to be dedication. The same performer who could make a rivalry feel physically overwhelming in the ring has continued pursuing his goals outside it.
Years after their work together, Mysterio’s memories of Batista remain centered on trust, intensity and enjoyment. Their WWE history contained both friendship and betrayal, but Mysterio’s account makes clear that he valued every part of the experience. Whether they were on the same side or trading blows, the two stars found a style of interaction that allowed their differences to become the foundation of compelling professional wrestling.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.