What happened to Dave Bautista? This is the former pro wrestler’s dramatic physical transformation

Dave Bautista, the actor and former WWE wrestler, who turns 57 this Sunday, has long been recognized for his imposing presence – first through his extended career in the ring and, more recently, for his move into film, largely in action roles. In both arenas, his physique played a defining role, but he is now determined to leave that behind.

In early September 2024, Bautista surprised fans and social media users alike with a striking physical transformation, revealed as he walked the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival. The noticeably slimmer figure marked a clear break from the image that had defined much of his public life.

From WWE stardom to retirement from the ring

Bautista began his wrestling career in 1999 and signed with the WWE, then known as WWF, in 2000. Over several years, he rose to prominence under the ring name Batista, winning multiple championships. He also claimed victory in the Royal Rumble in 2005 and 2014 and headlined the flagship WrestleMania event on several occasions.

After nearly two decades with WWE, he retired from professional wrestling following WrestleMania 35 in 2019, a few years after gaining wider recognition through his growing film career. By then, Hollywood had already opened a new chapter that would redefine his public image.

From the ring to the big screen

As an actor, Bautista first drew attention with roles in The Man with the Iron Fists (2012) and Riddick (2013). He went on to achieve global fame as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

That role propelled him to worldwide recognition. He has since appeared in major productions including Blade Runner 2049, My Spy, Army of the Dead, Dune and its 2024 sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Knock at the Cabin. His résumé increasingly reflected range rather than sheer physical dominance.

Why Dave Bautista decided to slim down

After Knock at the Cabin, Bautista chose to lose weight, a change that has been especially noticeable. In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, he explained that the decision was driven by his acting career, particularly his desire not to appear overly “distracting” on screen alongside his co-stars.

“I started losing weight because I got really big for a role – uncomfortably big,” Bautista said. “For Knock at the Cabin, I got huge. I weighed around 315 pounds (about 143 kilograms)… I put the weight on very fast, an uncomfortable amount, and it took forever to lose it.”

“The more weight I lost, the better I looked on camera and the better I looked next to other actors. I’m still a big human being. At 6ft 4in and about 240 pounds, next to a typical actor I look like a gorilla, and it’s distracting. I’ll probably lose a few more pounds. I’m killing myself to be this lean. I’m training hard,” he added. For Bautista, the transformation is about presence, not power.

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