WWE wrestler talks to students about public relations

WWE wrestler talks to students about public relations

Credit: Greg Grieco WWE wrestler Dave Batista does a lot of public relations work for his employer. For more photos, click on the image above.

Professional wrestling is pure entertainment with a business bottom line, wrestler Dave Batista told a public relations class at University Park Feb. 17.

Batista will appear as part of WWE Raw presentation at 7:45 p.m. Feb. 21 at The Bryce Jordan Center. But his classroom appearance in Carnegie Theatre for Steve Manuel, senior lecturer in communications, was all about giving students in the Public Relations Media Methods class a peek behind the curtain. "PR is all about staged events and in this case it gives Penn State students an opportunity to see real-life staged events in action," Manuel said. "It brings realism to the classroom."

Manuel's students had an assignment to analyze Batista's presentation to identify public-relations principles and methods that the wrestler touched upon.

Batista, who stood at the podium sipping Red Bull and chatting with the students, outlined his last two weeks on the road, emphasizing that his work isn't all performance; it's traveling and media appearances for WWE, a company that is involved in video games, books and magazines as well as television. "It's hard work, but it pays well," he said.

Batista talked about professional wrestling as a business and as a performance. "I don't want to give away too much of the magic, but you people are not stupid. Our matches are not scripted. It's entertainment. The outcome is predetermined."

The wrestler said the WWE helped shape and continues to mold his image. Holding up his left hand, he said, "The company asked me to remove my wedding ring. They want me to have a certain image. I don't mind it."

He also said he was surprised how much of his time was spent talking with the media and doing public relations work for the WWE. Batista observed that he's had few problems working with the media. "I answer honestly," he said. "I'm fair game. I don't have anything to hide. Usually the media picks up on this and they don't needle you."

In reference to his relationship with WWE impresario Vince McMahon, the wrestler characterized McMahon as being totally in control of the operation. "I'm only intimidated by two people -- my mother and Vince McMahon," he said. "The bottom line is Vince is a businessman and will always do what's best for the company."

The students who queried Batista had done their homework on professional wrestling. They questioned him about the success of WWE's Raw and Smackdown programming, its various performers, storylines and how the television shows were doing in terms of ratings and what the fans wanted. Batista characterized WWE as having a talent shortage. "There's not too many people that can do this," he said.

He commented on his own progress through the company and where his story lines were taking him. "I'm making a move to being a good guy," he said.

The presentation was briefly interrupted by two scrawny young men dressed in masks and wrestling shorts who entered the auditorium, made a few exaggerated wrestling gestures and left. The auditorium burst into laughter and cheers as Batista, unfazed, asked, "Who were those guys?" and then went on to answer the next student's question.

For more pictures from the class, go to http://live.psu.edu/still_life/2005_02_17_batista/index.html or click on the photo at right.