Dave Bautista reacts to an old WWE video, which showcases his breakdancing skills. Since landing the role of Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Bautista has become a familiar face to moviegoers. He’s appeared in other big blockbusters, such as Spectre and Blade Runner 2049, and he’ll next appear in Dune as Glossu Rabban.
Prior to breaking out in the MCU, Bautista was primarily known to audiences for being one of WWE’s main stars. Often depicted as a man of few words, preferring to do his talking in the squared circle, Bautista boasted memorable feuds with the likes of Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, and Shawn Michaels. But an old video of Bautista, relatively early in his wrestling run, sheds light on a different side of the intimidating grappler.
To promote their upcoming SummerSlam event, WWE has been posting old promos and sketches which were used to advertise past SummerSlam pay-per-views over the decades. In one video, used in 2004, Bautista’s unexpectedly impressive dancing skills are the main focus. Bautista reacted to the video, which you can see below, and admitted that he didn’t think it was serious at first. He wrote:
"Ha!! My mom told Vince I could break dance and this idea was born. She didn’t tell him I did it when I was 20 years younger and 100 pounds lighter! 😖 I actually thought this was all a rib until I showed up and it was actually happening 😂 Dammit mom! 🤦🏻"
Click here to see the original video.
Bautista has spoken about his breakdancing past in the years since. In an interview on Live! with Ryan and Kelly, the actor spoke about how he would breakdance when he was growing up. While he noted that he did this with friends as a hobby, and as a way to stay out of trouble, Bautista also touched on his trajectory from the wrestling ring to the big screen. In particular, the decorated WWE champion confessed that he tended to obsess over a particular area until he felt comfortable that he perfected it. That sort of drive would help to explain why he’s risen to the top as both an actor and a professional wrestler. But it also serves as an indication for why Bautista spent much of his WWE career as a serious and fairly straightforward heroic figure, helped by his intensity and his commanding presence.
In his more recent wrestling appearances, Bautista has displayed the sort of varied performance that has earned him praise in movies like Guardians of the Galaxy and Army of the Dead. Still a force to be reckoned with, Bautista’s feuds and rivalries are more likely to be injected with a bit of humor. And, as a villain, he certainly hasn’t minded being the butt of the joke. For those who know the actor primarily as Drax, in a portrayal that James Gunn has praised for its uniqueness, that sort of versatility isn’t surprising. But the breakdancing video serves as a reminder that Bautista was always capable of more than his WWE beginnings allowed him to show.
Source: WWE