Did Batista's Injury Help Wrestlemania 25?

WWE Universe members usually love or hate certain superstars including the currently injured Batista from the Raw side of things. Some fans want to see him in the title picture, while others simply can't stand him being a contender or title holder. Website ifight365.com has a roundtable discussion about WWE Superstar Dave Batista and how him being MIA right now has helped the Wrestlemania 25 card. The main argument is that with Batista out due to injury, it opens up the WM25 card more and won't have a major superstar disgruntled. It also allows Randy Orton the spotlight against Cena, because as one analyst argues, we probably would have seen Cena vs. Batista II at Wrestlemania 25, but now instead it will be HHH vs. Orton.

From ifight365.com:

Back to the subject of Batista, I think it’s pretty clear that were it not for his injury, the main event of WrestleMania this year would’ve been Cena-Batista II (or possibly Cena-Batista III depending on if they had a second match at the Royal Rumble), and it probably would’ve been with Batista as a heel. His injury has allowed Randy Orton to get a tremendous heel main event push that he’s responding to by growing into a tremendous all-around performer. In that sense, I don’t believe a heel Batista could’ve given the performances on the mic or in the ring at the level Orton is capable of, so that’s a benefit to WWE.

The other fairly obvious route for Batista to get onto the WrestleMania card would be in the Chris Jericho/Mickey Rourke/Ric Flair angle. If Rourke isn’t doing a match, and Jericho is insulting Flair but knowing Flair is retired and won’t wrestle him, who better to come to Flair and Rourke’s rescue and beat up Jericho than Flair’s former Evolution stablemate and friend Batista? The fact that Batista and Jericho also have history together, trading the World Title back and forth would’ve only added to the drama. And in this case, I don’t know that Jericho v. Rourke would be better. It may get more publicity, but just by having Rourke involved, especially if he follows up the SAG awards and the BAFTAS by winning the Oscar, you are guaranteed huge publicity anyway, and the match would be better with Batista involved.

A Batista versus Cena rematch would have been ideal for ticket and PPV sales but unfortunately it's not the way the chips fall this year. It's unclear how close Batista even is to returning, if he'll play some part in Wrestlemania 25 or if he'll simply be watching from home. Batista stated he'd be coming after Orton when he eventually returns, but would Batista interfere in the Triple H versus Orton match at Mania? Most likely not, because that match will put one or the other over, and Batista's interference would only cloud the matter.

Read the full ifight365.com discussion of Batista & Wrestlemania 25 here.