Former WWE champ Batista may have jumped the gun when he told us he was joining the Strikeforce MMA league -- TMZ has learned dude hasn't signed a contract ... and the holdup is cold, hard cash.

Batista would probably never dream of entering professional boxing, football or any one of a dozen sports. But MMA is some kind of refuge for amateurs. At least he's being pragmatic about his chances.

Batista may have left the WWE, but his most hated rival is still talking trash -- claiming the former heavyweight wrestling champ is gonna get crushed when Batista starts fighting for real in MMA. TMZ ...

He's the one who did this to us. He's the reason every pro wrestler who ever slapped on a sleeper hold thinks he can flip the switch and become a real fighter now. They see all the money Lesnar's ...

WWE superstar Batista, who is parting ways with the wrestling promotion for the time being, is training for a possible career in Mixed Martial Arts. WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross commented in ...