Many of the biggest WWE stars have had humble beginnings and have come from nothing to make it big in the pro wrestling industry. Dwayne Johnson and John Cena are two such examples. Another name that is on that list is former 6-time WWE World Champion Dave Bautista.

Bautista was part of the famed OVW Four and became a huge star for WWE in the Ruthless Aggression Era. But his journey to WWE wasn’t a straightforward one. In fact, it was far from it.

In an interview with GQ, the Hollywood star revealed interesting details about what led to him pursuing a pro wrestling career and how, despite initial setbacks, he made it into the business. He also mentioned an incident that left him feeling “ashamed.”

Dave Bautista couldn’t afford Christmas gifts for his daughters

In a detailed interview with GQ, Bautista shed light on his past before coming to WWE. He said he was a bouncer at clubs in D. C, a gig he interestingly shares with his former in-ring rival John Cena. This job came with its risks, but he kept at it. It would be his lifestyle for over 10 years.

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But after he couldn’t afford to buy gifts for his daughters on Christmas one day, Bautista wanted to pull things together. The Animal said, “I had to go to a guy I worked for at a club and ask him if I could borrow money. I was so ashamed of myself that I said, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I gotta find something.’ Bautista further said that he was desperate.

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He continued, “I didn’t know what the f*ck to do. I had no education. I had nothing to fall back on. And I was f*cking desperate.” This led to Bautista trying out his luck in pro wrestling, where at first he was rejected, but he was not deterred.

Eventually, Big Dave made it into WWE and within years became one of its top stars. He headlined WrestleMania and won six world titles, among other accolades, during his tenure with WWE.

He didn’t stop here and bet on himself to make it in Hollywood. Today, one of the most respected actors in the industry. His filmography and acting skills have seen him lauded by fans and critics.

Moreover, Rian Johnson, the director of Batista’s latest movie Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery praised him as the best wrestler-turned-actor surpassing Dwayne Johnson.

From not being able to afford Christmas Presents to being one of the most successful Hollywood stars, Bautista certainly turned his life around after his painful realization all those years ago. It spurred him to get his life on track and he has only gotten better ever since.

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