Where Are They Now?: All Wrestlers Who Competed At WrestleMania 21
Batista
In the main event, ex-Evolution stable member Batista knocked off the rarely-beaten Triple H for Raw’s World Heavyweight championship. This was a sign of a new generation for the company as 2 young studs from OVW rose to the top of the company even if both were still a little rough around the edges. Batista spent most of the match dominant, putting away HHH with a single, decisive Batista Bomb.
Batista officially had his last match, losing at WrestleMania 35 to ‘Mania 21 opponent Triple H. He has spoken out since about how retirements don’t last in wrestling but has said his is permanent. Batista was set to be inducted into the 2020 Hall Of Fame but the Covid pandemic scuppered these plans and he will likely be inducted within the next few years. He is currently a huge Hollywood star with Dave Bautista appearing in the 2022 Thor: Love and Thunder on top of previous roles in everything from Avengers: Infinity War to James Bond film Spectre. Elsewhere, he is a huge collector of vintage lunchboxes, his favorite being a 1967 Green Hornet Bruce Lee edition.
Triple H
After being a controlling, unavoidable figure on the Raw brand for years, ‘The Cerebral Assassin’ had his ‘Reign Of Terror’ officially ended in 2005 when powerhouse Batista dethroned him. Even entering to an infamous performance from Motorhead couldn’t stop him leaving with the belt. Batista turned on HHH and beat him at ‘Mania and then 2 subsequent PPV matches.
Triple H married Stephanie McMahon in 2003 so gained more power within the company. He is now the Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy Development and Chief Operating Officer for the company. He is now the biggest backer of the NXT brand as the founder and producer of arguably the best WWE product. His influence has seen him appear on multiple shows but not in an excessive role. It seems when Vince McMahon should pass on, ‘The Game’ will take the reins of the promotion.
Ric Flair
Finally, managing Triple H in his bout against his once faithful companion was Ric Flair. ‘The Nature Boy’ still got in the ring but would mostly back Evolution and Triple H, aiding them by hook and by crook to keep the belt on Hunter Hearst-Helmsley. Flair, like many on the card featured in a movie parody skit to hype the Hollywood-themed event starring in a faux Braveheart remake.
Flair is seeing a surge in popularity due to his exploits on the rap scene. He was involved in a storyline relationship with Lacey Evans in early 2021 but this had to be cancelled due to Evans’s real-life pregnancy. Ric remains a common face on WWE TV for celebrations or nostalgia shows as well as often in angles around daughter Charlotte Flair.
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