Bautista’s Most Embarrassing Role? You Won’t Believe It!

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There’s often been a complex interplay between professional wrestling and Hollywood films. On one side, you have movies like “The Princess Bride” from 1987, starring Andre the Giant, and “They Live” from 1988, featuring a significant role by Rowdy Roddy Piper. Yet, this blend of worlds also has its fair share of poorly made productions. Many films in the “The Marine” series fall into this category, with stars such as John Cena, The Miz, and Ted DiBiase Jr. taking the lead roles. Similarly, the 1989 film “No Holds Barred” is remembered for all the wrong reasons.

You might recognize Dave Bautista best as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or Glossu Rabban from the recent Dune movies. But what made these big-screen appearances possible for him was a lesser-known action film, Wrong Side of Town, from 2010. It’s likely you haven’t heard of it, and that’s a good thing. This movie, directed by David DeFalco, brought together professional wrestlers and hip-hop artists (Ja Rule and Omarion) in a tale of crime and corruption.

Among Dave Bautista, two other actors in this movie are likely to be recognized by wrestling enthusiasts: Rob Van Dam and Nelson Frazier Jr., more famously known as Viscera. While Frazier Jr.’s role is that of a fearsome henchman for the main villain, Van Dam portrays Bobby Kalinowski, a married man who’s invited to a well-known club by his new neighbors.

Bautista Has Very Humble Beginnings With ‘Wrong Side of Town’

The sequence of events has Bobby on the run across the city, having inadvertently killed Ethan Bordas, the corrupt nightclub owner’s son, while protecting his own wife. In this story, Big Ronnie, a character once an enemy but later an ally from Bobby’s Navy SEAL days, is portrayed by Bautista. Long-time fans of the ex-WWE star may find something intriguing about this role change.

The film “Wrong Side of Town” isn’t one you should anticipate greatness from, given its direct-to-DVD status and lack of depth beyond casting. However, when Bobby initially seeks aid from “Big Ronnie” at his club against Bordas’ men, it becomes evident that Bautista is still a developing actor. A fight scene later in the movie lends him credibility in terms of physicality, and there are even moments of humor in his final lines of dialogue. Nevertheless, during the slower-paced scenes, he struggled with delivery. Unlike many actors in Hollywood, Bautista openly acknowledged this acting flaw ten years later.

In 2020, speaking with Muscle and Fitness magazine about his villainous role in the James Bond film Spectre, the now-famous actor discussed his first role following his departure from WWE. This role was Big Ronnie in Wrong Side of Town. Since Defalco was one of his friends at the time, the director persuaded him that a rugged Navy SEAL makeup would suit him well. However, Bautista’s words painted a different picture: “I realized how terrible an actor I was… I was so ashamed, but it inspired me to try again and do better.

‘Wrong Side of Town’ Changed Bautista’s Career

Despite being relegated at the base of the wrestler-turned-Hollywood performer category, the character of Big Ronnie catapulted Bautista towards something greater. As the film industry attempted to pigeonhole him within the action genre, he swiftly strove to shatter those constraints by enlisting an acting mentor and consistently revisiting scenes from various Shakespearean plays. In the same interview with Muscle and Fitness, he expressed: “If you can handle Shakespeare, you can handle anything,” so we delved into scenes from Measure for Measure and The Taming of the Shrew. Who would have guessed that such a gun-wielding, muscular, and combat-focused figure like Big Ronnie would guide an aspiring actor to such lofty heights?

Despite the fact that “Wrong Side of Town” received a low audience score of 16% on Rotten Tomatoes, it marked a significant milestone for Dwayne Johnson (Bautista) as he embarked on his journey towards stardom in the entertainment world. After recognizing his mistakes, he took numerous strides beyond simply hiring a teacher and polishing his acting skills by performing plays from the 16th century. He also made an effort to slim down and alter his resume, ensuring that his WWE accomplishments were not prominently displayed. “I needed to convince people that I was genuinely committed to acting and not just a wrestler trying to break into films,” Johnson explained.

It’s evident to everyone that he made quite a leap. He transitioned from making low-cost action films found at the back of grocery stores to starring in major blockbusters such as 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” and 2024’s “The Last Showgirl”. That’s quite an impressive career path! If you’re interested in seeing David Bautista’s early days, the movie “Wrong Side of Town” is currently streaming on Starz.

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2025-05-18 17:32