The History of Batista and The Air Jordan XX8

Since his return to the WWE, Dave ‘Batista’ Bautista has made the Air Jordan XX8 his go-to model for footwear in-ring.

words // Steve Jaconetta

Since his return to the WWE, Dave ‘Batista’ Bautista has made the Air Jordan XX8 his go-to model for footwear in-ring.

On January 26th, 2014 Batista made his in-ring return at the WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view in the 30-man over the top rope match and would go on to win, granting him a championship match at Wrestlemania 30. But what most of us in the sneaker world noticed was his footwear. Ditching the traditional wrestling boots, ‘The Animal’ chose to wear sneakers instead more specifically, the Air Jordan XX8. In what would be a trend, Batista laced up eight different colorways during his most recent run before 'quitting' (taking time off to promote his upcoming movie, Guardians of the Galaxy) this past Monday on Raw.

While Batista’s next return is unknown, his latest comeback will likely be talked about for years to come. So as ‘Big Dave’ leaves professional wrestling once more, let’s take  a look back at his latest run as well as the Air Jordan XX8s he wore spanning just about four months.   

  

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Oak Hill’

WWE Royal Rumble : 30-man Royal Rumble match

Result : Win

01/26/2014

  

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Suns’

WWE Elimination Chamber : Singles Match vs. Alberto Del Rio

Result : Win

02/23/2014

  

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Suns’

WWE Monday Night Raw : Singles Match vs. Alberto Del Rio

Result : Loss

02/24/2014

  

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Suns’

WWE Smackdown : Singles Match vs. Dolph Ziggler

Result : Win

02/28/2014

    

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Suns’

WWE Monday Night Raw : Singles Match vs. Daniel Bryan

Result : Loss

03/03/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Suns’

WWE Smackdown : Tag Team Match with Kane vs. Daniel Bryan & The Big Show

Result : Win

03/07/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Suns’

WWE Monday Night Raw : Tag Team Match with Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan & The Big Show

Result : Win

03/10/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Suns’

WWE Smackdown : Singles Match vs. Sheamus

Result : Loss

03/28/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Suns’

WWE Monday Night Raw : Singles Match vs. Randy Orton

Result : Draw

03/31/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Night Vision’

WWE Wrestlemania 30 : Triple-threat Match vs. Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton

Result : Loss

04/06/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Suns’

WWE Monday Night Raw : Tag Team Match with Randy Orton vs. The Uso’s

Result : Draw

04/07/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Suns’

WWE Smackdown : 6-man Tag Team Match with Randy Orton and Kane vs. Daniel Bryan & The Uso’s

Result : Draw

04/11/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Carbon Fiber’

WWE Monday Night Raw : Tag Team Match with Randy Orton vs. The Uso’s

Result : Draw

04/14/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Carbon Fiber’

WWE Smackdown : Singles Match vs. Sheamus

Result : Win

04/18/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Red Camo’

WWE Extreme Rules : 6-man Tag Team Match as Evolution vs. The Shield

Result : Loss

05/04/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Red Camo’

WWE Smackdown : Singles Match vs. Seth Rollins

Result : Win

05/09/2014

Air Jordan XX8 Black/White-Electric Green

WWE Monday Night Raw : Singles Match vs. Roman Reigns

Result : Draw

05/12/2014

=Air Jordan XX8 ‘Red Elephant’

WWE Smackdown : Singles Match vs. Dolph Ziggler

Result : Loss

05/16/2014

Air Jordan XX8 Black/White-Electric Green

WWE Monday Night Raw : Singles Match vs. Seth Rollins

Result : Loss

05/19/2014

Air Jordan XX8 Black/White-Electric Green

WWE Smackdown : Singles Match vs. Dolph Ziggler

Result : Win

05/23/2014

Air Jordan XX8 Black/White-Electric Green

WWE Monday Night Raw : Tag Team Match as Evolution vs. Cody Rhodes & Goldust

Result : Win

05/26/2014

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Blue Camo’

WWE Payback : 6-man Tag Team Match as Evolution vs. The Shield

Result : Loss

06/01/2014

images via WWE