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Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SXSW

Dave Bautista: ‘Retired’ Has No Credibility, Wrestling Needs A New Word For Guys That Mean It (Like Him)

Dave Bautista is done with his in-ring wrestling career—that used to mean he was retired, but he says they need another word to use for the guys that actually mean it.

Last night, Paul Wight made his official AEW on-air debut, promoting a “Hall of Fame worthy” signing that would debut at Revolution on Sunday. Wight accidentally called it “Evolution” instead of “Revolution”, and one fan caught the slip and asked Bautista where he would be this Sunday. Bautista certainly is a Hall-worthy name, but the wrestler-turned-actor said they need to come up with something to call pro wrestlers that actually mean it when they retire:

They’re going to have to come up with another word thats used specifically for professional wrestlers who actually mean it when they say they’re retired. Currently the word “retired” has zero credibility by professional wrestling standards.

Bautista’s last match was at WrestleMania 35, a No Holds Barred contest against Triple H. While he might be finished wrestling, Bautista is working on building a solid film resume. He can next be seen in Zack Snyder’s “Army Of The Dead” on Netflix in May 21. “Army” is the start of a franchise for Netflix; an anime series and live-action prequel series set in the same world are also planned.

Read More: Official Teaser Trailer For ‘Army Of The Dead’ Featuring Dave Bautista


AEW Dynamite saw NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal get splashed through ringside tables by Cody Rhodes. This week’s TNT broadcast also saw Darby Allin, Sting, Chris Jericho, MJF, the Young Bucks, and more put in their ‘go-home’ hype for Sunday’s Revolution pay-per-view. Former WWE superstar Paul Wight debuted on ‘Dynamite’ and teased a “Hall of Fame worthy” name that would make his presence known at Sunday’s Face of the Revolution Ladder Match.

On USA Network this week, NXT Champion Finn Balor jumped the gun on a title match with his foe Adam Cole and demanded the match take place next week on the weekly WWE TV series. Balor headlined this week’s NXT against the now-former Undisputed Era member Roderick Strong in a thrilling fight that pushed the show into an overrun segment. WWE official Adam Pearce used ‘screwjob’ shenanigans to rob NXT’s Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez of a possible WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship win over Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.

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