Batista as a member of Evolution with Triple H and Ric Flair.At Armageddon 2003, Batista took part in two matches, losing to Shawn Michaels in a singles match but winning a tag team turmoil match along with Ric Flair, eliminating the Dudley Boyz to become one-half of the World Tag Team Champions. By the end of the PPV, all four members of Evolution held every male championship on RAW, with Triple H winning the World Heavyweight Championship and Randy Orton winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
They held the titles until the February 16, 2004, episode of RAW, when they were defeated by Booker T and Rob Van Dam. They later regained the titles for a short period. After SummerSlam 2004, Batista would enter into a losing streak which would last most of the year and would see Batista get pinned by mid-card wrestler Maven on one occasion.
In late 2004, after Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship, Triple H evicted him from the group, claiming that the title which Orton held was rightfully his. It was Batista who delivered an electric chair to Orton after Triple H gave Orton a "thumbs up" before turning it into a "thumbs down."
At the 2004 Survivor Series, Triple H, Batista, Gene Snitsky, and Edge were to face-off against Maven, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and Randy Orton in an 8-Man Elimination Tag Match for control of RAW over the following month (the members of the winning team would each be the RAW general manager for a week). Prior to the pay-per-view, Edge, Snitsky, and Triple H all had an argument in the locker room regarding Triple H's championship, with each wrestler claiming that they should hold the title. Batista, who was present at that time, did not say a word but rather took a brief look at the belt as everybody was leaving the locker room, adding into the growing fan speculation and interest in his character. They ended up losing, causing much unrest within Evolution. In the first week following Survivor Series, Triple H had offered Maven a spot in Evolution (rather than have Maven challenge him for the World Title) which was turned down.
Throughout the next two months, the relationship between Batista and Triple H began to deteriorate. After a loss to Chris Jericho by disqualification, Batista was verbally insulted by Triple H. Batista teased leaving Evolution that night, but he declared that he was still part of Evolution and that they tricked everyone. Still, Dave began behaving more like a face in the next few weeks, despite Evolution's heelish tactics. One particular moment showed a disgusted Batista as Triple H and Ric Flair boasted about how they had intimidated and/or beat up Jim Ross, Danny Hodge, and Stacy Keibler. He continued to show his loyalty to Triple H and Evolution by running down to the ring and assisting him in matches. However, despite this, fans started cheering for Batista.
As 2005 began, Batista's growing popularity was becoming more and more evident, especially to Triple H. Triple H soon realized the possibility of Batista, much like Randy Orton the year before, becoming a threat to his World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H suggested that Dave not enter the Royal Rumble, claiming that it would be selfish of him to do so, and to simply focus on Triple H retaining the title. After defeating La Resistance in a handicap match, Dave entered anyway and went on to win the Royal Rumble, last eliminating John Cena, earning the right to participate in the main event of WrestleMania 21 against the World Champion of his choice.
They held the titles until the February 16, 2004, episode of RAW, when they were defeated by Booker T and Rob Van Dam. They later regained the titles for a short period. After SummerSlam 2004, Batista would enter into a losing streak which would last most of the year and would see Batista get pinned by mid-card wrestler Maven on one occasion.
In late 2004, after Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship, Triple H evicted him from the group, claiming that the title which Orton held was rightfully his. It was Batista who delivered an electric chair to Orton after Triple H gave Orton a "thumbs up" before turning it into a "thumbs down."
At the 2004 Survivor Series, Triple H, Batista, Gene Snitsky, and Edge were to face-off against Maven, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and Randy Orton in an 8-Man Elimination Tag Match for control of RAW over the following month (the members of the winning team would each be the RAW general manager for a week). Prior to the pay-per-view, Edge, Snitsky, and Triple H all had an argument in the locker room regarding Triple H's championship, with each wrestler claiming that they should hold the title. Batista, who was present at that time, did not say a word but rather took a brief look at the belt as everybody was leaving the locker room, adding into the growing fan speculation and interest in his character. They ended up losing, causing much unrest within Evolution. In the first week following Survivor Series, Triple H had offered Maven a spot in Evolution (rather than have Maven challenge him for the World Title) which was turned down.
Throughout the next two months, the relationship between Batista and Triple H began to deteriorate. After a loss to Chris Jericho by disqualification, Batista was verbally insulted by Triple H. Batista teased leaving Evolution that night, but he declared that he was still part of Evolution and that they tricked everyone. Still, Dave began behaving more like a face in the next few weeks, despite Evolution's heelish tactics. One particular moment showed a disgusted Batista as Triple H and Ric Flair boasted about how they had intimidated and/or beat up Jim Ross, Danny Hodge, and Stacy Keibler. He continued to show his loyalty to Triple H and Evolution by running down to the ring and assisting him in matches. However, despite this, fans started cheering for Batista.
As 2005 began, Batista's growing popularity was becoming more and more evident, especially to Triple H. Triple H soon realized the possibility of Batista, much like Randy Orton the year before, becoming a threat to his World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H suggested that Dave not enter the Royal Rumble, claiming that it would be selfish of him to do so, and to simply focus on Triple H retaining the title. After defeating La Resistance in a handicap match, Dave entered anyway and went on to win the Royal Rumble, last eliminating John Cena, earning the right to participate in the main event of WrestleMania 21 against the World Champion of his choice.
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