If you tuned in to Monday Night RAW on April 25th, I'm sure you saw Dave Batista come out and give his little tribute to Jim Ross. However, when a minority of the crowd wasn't chanting his name, you could at times hear a smattering, and sometimes more than a smattering, of boos... directed towards Batista. Furthermore, when Triple H came out, it was very noticeable that more people were cheering for him than booing him.

See, this is where things get a little different than normal. Batista is currently the main babyface on RAW, while Triple H is, and has been for years, the top heel on the franchise. After Triple H lost his World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 21, it seems that the crowd has been rallying behind him. If you look in the audience, amidst the signs that say 'ECW' and 'Edge Speared Lita,' you can often see signs supporting Triple H. I, myself, have seen ones that say things like 'Triple H is still the man,' 'I want to be Triple H,' and 'The Game is far from Over.' Are the fans starting to slowly but surely get behind Triple H again"

Let's rewind the clock a few years, when the WWE was called the WWF and Jim Ross actually gave play-by-play commentary. Triple H was in a little faction called D-Generation X, along with Chyna and, one of the ultimate fairies and one of the greatest performers the sport has ever had: Shawn Michaels. They were mainly a face faction who loved to spit in the face of authority and infuriate Vince McMahon and the censors. Triple H was loved back then. It may have partly been because he was with Shawn Michaels, but nonetheless, the fans got behind him and loved him to death.

Fast forward a few years... let's say, the early 00's. Triple H turns heel, starts getting World Title reigns like crazy, and the crowd starts to boo him. The man the fans once loved became the 'Cerebral Assassin,' 'The Game,' 'Captain Sledgehammer,' whatever you like to call him. The point is, he was the epitome of heel. And he was great at it. He really knew how to make you love to hate him, and as much as he tries, the fans might be getting behind him once again.

Now, let's compare Batista and Triple H. When it comes to in-ring skill, it's obvious that Triple H is a much more skilled performer than Batista, who's wrestling skills, although improving over time, are mediocre at best. And mic skills" There's no contest. Triple H is a terrific actor, probably one of the best the business has ever had. He can make you hate him, love him, and just feel for him, while Batista has about as much emotion as an ad for car insurance. Then there is, of course, the amount of time they've been in the business. Triple H has been in the business for years, paying his dues to get to the main event status he's at today. However, Batista has been around for only a couple years, and never really had to pay any dues considering the fact that he was in Evolution almost right away.

The point is, Triple H currently is a much better performer than Batista, and that probably won't change for a good long while. While there is still room for Batista to improve, it seems that the fans are once again supporting Triple H, and as much as he tries, I don't think all of the fans are going to hate him as much as he's supposed to. He's worked hard to get where he is, and that's why he's also one of my all-time favorite sports entertainers of all time.

Note: If any new-age fans comment saying crap like 'HE'S ONLY WHERE
HE'S AT BECAUSE HE'S MARRIED TO THE BOSS'S DAUGHTER' or 'YEAH BUT
BATISTA IS BUFF,' please know that I most likely won't respond or care to anything you have to say. I'm willing to hear what you people think, but not if it turns into a flame war. Also, sorry if this column wasn't too great. This is my first of hopefully many columns here at OWW.

by Wes 'The Demon' Martinez ..