Dave Bautista reveals challenges faced during early wrestling career in Ohio Valley Wrestling

Dave Bautista began his professional wrestling journey later than most, starting his training in his late 20s. Despite being rejected by WCW, his talent and charisma quickly earned him a contract with WWE. Like many young wrestlers of the early 2000s, Bautista was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) for development.

During his time in OVW, Bautista faced challenges with his character, Leviathan. He revealed in a recent interview that this monster persona limited his growth as a wrestler, as he was primarily involved in short, one-sided matches. Bautista felt he wasn’t progressing at the same rate as his peers due to the nature of these “squash matches” that only required him to perform a few moves before ending.

Despite these obstacles, Bautista was surrounded by exceptional talent in OVW. The 2002 class included future stars such as John Cena, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar, and Shelton Benjamin. Bautista credited these wrestlers, along with a senior WWE star, for helping him improve his skills in the ring and eventually advance his career.

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