Dave Bautista recently shared his concerns about potentially being fired after the 2005 WWE Royal Rumble. Reflecting on that pivotal night, Bautista recalled how the event took an unexpected turn when both he and John Cena were accidentally eliminated at the same time. The mishap led to a chaotic finish that required the match to be restarted.
Speaking about the incident, Bautista admitted that he feared he might lose his job due to the botched ending, believing it was his fault. He felt immense pressure as the company had been building him up as a major star, and the mistake weighed heavily on him in the end.
Vince McMahon’s reaction to the incident was a memorable one, as he stormed down to the ring in frustration and famously tore both of his quads in the process. Bautista explained how surreal the situation became with McMahon sitting in the ring, unable to stand, all while trying to resolve the match’s ending.
Despite the chaotic sequence of events, the company eventually pushed forward with its plan for Bautista to win the Rumble, solidifying his path to WrestleMania.
In the end, Bautista expressed gratitude for how things turned out, but the incident remains etched in his memory as a nerve-wracking moment in his career. He acknowledged that while the finish wasn’t ideal, it became an unforgettable chapter in WWE history.