52 MUSCLE & FITNESS JUNE 2017
My feeling is, never
be comfortable.
Never get too
comfortable.
he was the right man after all.
He’ll also have a bigger part in the
second installment ofGuardians.
“It’s a straight comedy role for
me,” says Bautista, adding that
audiences shouldn’t expect a repeat
of the first movie. “There’s really
a different vibe to this film. People
will get to know the characters a
little more. I hope people love it.
I’m sure they will. It’s testing off
the charts.”
But he’s not done with Drax, who
will be a large part of the superhero
battle royal that is 2018’sAvengers:
Infinity War(and who knows how
many more sequels by the time the
MCU’s Phase 4 films debut
in 2020). And, to his delight,
Bautista will be sneaking in the
occasional independent film,
like the upcomingHotel Artemis
opposite Jodie Foster.
“I’m really fortunate now because
I have big franchise stuff I can fall
back on,” Bautista says. “But at the
same time, I’m still after the juicy
acting roles.”
All in all, things do not suck
for Dave Bautista these days. In
addition to the acting work, he has
an endorsement deal with Muscle
Monster energy drinks. Most of
Muscle Monster’s athletes are
MMA stars like Conor McGregor,
Ronda Rousey, Rampage Jackson
and Tyron Woodley, but the
company made a special place for
Bautista in its line-up just because
it likes him so much. “He’s a pivotal
piece of the Muscle Monster
program,” says Hans Molenkamp,an athlete rep at Monster. “He’s
a big part of the Monster family.”
He’s doing well in love, too. In
2015 Bautista married Sarah Jade
(pictured below), who was Miss Pole
Dance America in 2016. Yes, that’s
right, his wife is the best pole dancer
in the country. Jade recently retired
from competition and is putting the
finishing touches on her own pole
dancing studio in Florida.
And speaking of construction,
Bautista thinks it’s time he breaks
down and builds his own home gym.
As much as he likes the energy of
the big public gym – his sanctuary
for some 30 years now – it’s getting
harder for him to get in his workouts.
“It’s not like fans are asking me
for pictures and autographs,” he
says. “It’s just because I’m gone for
months, so when people see me, they
want to catch up. And when I’m at
the gym, I want to work out.
I’m on a mission.”CUTE COUPLE
In 2015, Bautista
married Sarah Jade
(right), a world-
renowned pole
dancer.DAVE BAUTISTA