The former WWE superstar is working with bodybuilding coach Joe Bennett to rebuild his massive physique for the role of Kratos.
Dave Bautista is getting back to his muscle-building roots. The former WWE superstar has packed on 20 pounds as he prepares to play Kratos in Amazon’s upcoming God of War series. At 57 years old, Bautista is turning to a bodybuilding-style workout to regain the size that once made him one of professional wrestling’s most imposing figures.
Bautista recently shared an update on Instagram, revealing that his weight has climbed to 250 pounds. The actor has been training with bodybuilding coach Joe Bennett, placing a renewed emphasis on hypertrophy and muscle growth.
The transformation marks a significant change for Bautista. In recent years, he deliberately slimmed down to pursue different acting opportunities. Now, one of his biggest roles is calling for him to build muscle once again.
Dave Bautista’s Muscle-Building Workout for God of War
According to Men’s Health, Bautista has shifted his focus toward traditional hypertrophy training.
His work with Bennett emphasizes developing individual muscle groups rather than relying exclusively on heavy compound movements. The approach is designed to increase muscle size while maintaining the definition Bautista has developed over the years.
One exercise highlighted in his training is a strict biceps curl variation. The movement emphasizes controlled repetitions and direct tension on the biceps.
This type of isolation training can be especially useful for building specific muscle groups. It allows lifters to target individual muscles without requiring the same overall loading as heavy compound exercises.
Bautista’s current training priorities include:
- Hypertrophy training: Resistance exercises focused on increasing muscle size.
- Isolation movements: Targeted exercises, including strict biceps curls.
- Controlled repetitions: Emphasizing muscle tension rather than simply moving heavier weights.
- Muscle development: Building additional size while preserving his lean appearance.
Bennett, widely known as the Hypertrophy Coach, specializes in exercise mechanics and muscle-building techniques.
From 315 Pounds to 250: Bautista’s Dramatic Physique Changes
Bautista’s latest transformation is particularly interesting because he spent years trying to get smaller.
As Generation Iron previously reported, the former WWE champion once weighed approximately 315 pounds. He reached that size while preparing for the 2023 film Knock at the Cabin.
However, Bautista eventually decided that carrying so much weight was uncomfortable. He began prioritizing his overall fitness rather than maintaining a massive physique.
He reduced his weight by approximately 75 pounds. His training also changed dramatically.
Instead of spending most of his time lifting weights, Bautista focused on cardiovascular exercise and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He also adjusted his diet.
The changes helped him feel better physically. They also allowed him to pursue acting roles that did not require the enormous muscular frame associated with his WWE career.
Now, Bautista is reversing course.
In September, he revealed that he had returned to weight training. At the time, he had been lifting for approximately three weeks and expected to spend another two months building his physique.
His latest update suggests that the effort is paying off.
“Gained 20lbs for GOW,” Bautista wrote on Instagram, revealing his new weight of 250 pounds.
Can Muscle Memory Help Bautista Regain His WWE Physique?
Bautista’s bodybuilding background could give him an advantage during this transformation.
The former professional wrestler spent decades building an impressive amount of muscle. Although he intentionally lost size, his body has extensive experience with resistance training.
Muscle memory may help previously trained individuals regain lost muscle more quickly than someone building it for the first time.
That could be particularly valuable for Bautista, who has limited time to prepare for the physically demanding role.
However, his reported 20-pound weight gain does not necessarily mean he added 20 pounds of pure muscle. Changes in glycogen, water and body fat can also contribute to increases in bodyweight.
Still, his latest physique update shows a noticeable return to the muscular appearance that made him famous.
Bautista Prepares to Become Kratos
Bautista was cast as Kratos after Ryan Hurst suffered a torn biceps during production. The injury forced the studio to replace Hurst, who had already undergone his own physical transformation for the role.
Kratos is known for his enormous muscular build in the popular God of War video game franchise. Bringing the character to life requires an imposing physical presence.
For Bautista, that means returning to a style of training he had largely moved away from.
The actor has previously acknowledged that maintaining excessive muscle mass was no longer a priority. However, his latest role has given him a new reason to pursue size.
At 57, Bautista may not be interested in returning to his 300-pound WWE days. But with 20 pounds already added and a renewed commitment to bodybuilding, fans are getting another glimpse of the physique that once earned him the nickname “The Animal.”
Image embed via Instagram @davebautista
