Fil-Greek wrestler coming to town

Pro wrestling’s hottest star Batista will headline two "SmackDown" shows at the Araneta Coliseum on Oct. 21 and 22 and from early indications, the live events will smash all-time local box office records in sports promotions.

Tickets for the Oct. 21 show went on sale two weeks ago and are now almost sold out.

"SmackDown" is one of two major World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) brands. The other is "Raw" whose wrestlers performed in two Big Dome shows that grossed over P50 million in ticket sales last February.

Because of Batista’s popularity, "SmackDown" is expected to even outsell "Raw" which drew more than 32,000 fans for two shows here. Batista won the world heavyweight championship last year but after several defenses, relinquished the crown because of an injury. He is now on the comeback trail.

What makes the 6-5, 317-pound Batista a local fan favorite is his heritage. He is of Filipino and Greek descent. Batista recently added a colored tattoo on his left triceps of the Filipino and Greek flags merged into one.

Tickets for both "SmackDown" shows are priced at P400, P900, P2,000, P3,300, P3,500, P5,000 and P10,000.

Solar Entertainment general manager Luke Pasiliao yesterday confirmed Batista will banner the visiting "SmackDown" group which is likely to include The Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, Mark Henry and King Booker.

Keeping the wrestling fever alive, Solar held a premier screening of the "SmackDown" pay-per-view blockbuster "Great American Bash" at SM cinemas in Cebu, Fairview, Mall of Asia, Megamall, North EDSA, Southmall and Sta. Mesa last night. Tickets were sold out at P300 each.

There will be no TV showing of "Great American Bash" which featured Batista against Mr. Kennedy, The Undertaker against the Great Khali in a first-ever Punjabi Prison duel, a four-way bra and panties match pitting Ashley Massaro and Kristal Marshall against Jillian Hall and Michelle McCool and a WWE tag team title bout between the Pitbulls and Paul London and Brian Kendrick, among others.

The same "Great American Bash" will be shown on a regular run at the SM cinemas with four screenings at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on July 29 and 30. Tickets will be sold at P150 each.

Batista, 37, made his pro debut in 1997. His real name is David Michael Bautista and his Filipino father was reportedly a hairdresser in Washington, D. C. Batista’s parents split up when he was a kid.

Since becoming a pro wrestler, Batista has torn his right triceps thrice and undergone four surgeries. He has held three WWE tag team titles, twice with Ric Flair and once with Mysterio. Last year, Batista was the winner of the WWE’s "Royal Rumble."

Aside from the tattoo of the Filipino and Greek flags, Batista has others on his body, including a large Chinese dragon on his back, red Kanji lettering of "Angel" (his wife, a survivor of ovarian cancer) on his left biceps, a signature design on his upper right biceps and a small sun on his stomach.

Batista’s finishing moves include the powerbomb, spinebuster, clothesline, powerslam, sidewalk slam and the spear. A popular nickname is "The Animal." He used to be known as the Leviathan, Khan, Deacon Bautista, the Demon of the Deep and the Guardian of the Gates of Hell.