WWE legend Batista looks unrecognisable with beard as he shows off new look

18 June 2023 , 22:02

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Batista looks unrecognisable (Image: WireImage for BWR Public Relations)

Renowned for his iconic skin head look throughout his legendary wrestling career, WWE icon Batista - better known as Dave Bautista - is now almost unrecognisable to his fans.

Bautista is one of the all-time greats to take to the ring, having been a popular WWE feature during his 17-year career, which finally came to an end in 2019. During his time with the franchise the 54-year-old became a six-time champion, winning the heavyweight championship, WWE championship and tag team championship.

Like fellow wrestler Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Bautista then ventured into the world of film and has since enjoyed success in Hollywood on the back of his time with WWE.

The 54-year-old has featured in a whole host of big films since breaking through in 2010's, including recent hits The Suicide Squad, and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. His biggest role on the big screen has come when featuring in the Guardian of The Galaxy films, playing Drax the Destroyer.

On social media Bautista has developed quite the following, amassing over 4.5 million followers on Instagram. Of course many of those will be fans from his famed wrestling days, and many were quick to comment on his recent transformation.

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Batista shocked his fans

The Washington DC-born star now dons a full head of hair along with a beard, a look that has taken many of his followers by surprise. His tough-guy look made him the ideal candidate to move in into the world of action movies, but it seems the former wrestler does have a softer side.

Appearing on the Late Late Show earlier this year, he expressed his interest to one day feature in a romantic comedy or two. "I'm not stepping away from [action movies]," Bautista told James Corden. "I'm trying to fill in pieces of the puzzle.

"I really want to be an actor with a full range, and I want to have a full résumé. So there are little pieces of the puzzle here and there... The one genre that's really escaping me, that's eluding me, is the rom-com space.

"I haven't been able to get into the rom-com space. I'm a little discouraged at this point, but I've been trying to get in one for years and I always ask myself, 'What is it about me that no one can see me in this space?'"

Joshua Lees