Batista Opens Up About John Cena Replacing Him As Peacemaker

Speaking with ComicBook, Batista elaborated on the comments made by Gunn about missing out on landing the Peacemaker role. "I really wanted to do that part. He [Gunn] wrote that part for me, and it was meant for me, and it just became a scheduling thing where I just couldn’t do it, because I was doing Army of the Dead," Batista explained.

You're probably struggling to remember Army of the Dead right about now and concluding that Batista sticking with that rather than pivoting to Peacemaker was a mistake, considering the DC show's huge success. Batista doesn't see it that way, though. The former WWE Champion not only admits that Cena is a fantastic Peacemaker, but that his fellow WWE Superstar has done more justice to the role than he ever could have done.

Batista Admits Cena Was The Right Man For The Peacemaker Role

"It was a blessing in disguise that I didn’t do that, because I have to say, I have to be honest, there’s no way that I would have been able to do that role like John. He’s just perfect for it, you know, and I wouldn’t have done it justice, and it wouldn’t have been as successful." To say it wouldn't have been successful might be a stretch, but it is hard to imagine anyone other than Cena playing Peacemaker after seeing him play the role so well.

That said, Batista's prior work with Gunn demonstrates the wrestler-turned-actor is more than capable of playing a superhero who is equal parts funny and threatening. Batista and Gunn's relationship is built on the director casting the former WWE Superstar as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. Not only the role Batista will likely be most synonymous with throughout his entire acting career, but the one that wound up being the launching pad for everything else he has done since retiring from in-ring competition.

Even though The Rock was the one who really opened the door for retiring WWE Superstars to become actors who are actually taken seriously, there's an argument to be made that Cena and Batista's work has arguably surpassed what The Rock has achieved so far. Public opinion might shift when The Smashing Machine hits theaters next month, a movie for which The Rock is being tipped for an Oscar for his work in its lead role.