World Heavyweight Champion Batista is the first to admit he wasn't so sure about writing an autobiography.

"When they first came to me, I kind of thought it was a bad idea. I kind of thought, ‘Who the hell would want to read about me?' " Batista told WWE.com.

But when The Animal realized his inspirational and positive story was one our fans should read, Batista Unleashed (WWE/Pocket Books; $26) was born. The autobiography, co-written by Jeremy Roberts, hits store shelves today.

"It's not really that I have something to say. It's really more of along the lines of I was a troubled kid and I made something out of myself," he said.

"It's about what I do with my life. I had a rough childhood. We were very poor. I grew up kind of on the wrong side of town. I went a different route than most people. I made something very positive out of my life. That's really what the story is."

Batista said his tale is not a typical rags-to-riches type of story, but one about a kid who knew what he loved and strived for the best.

"I was a pretty bad kid. I was a thug. I was in a lot of trouble. I didn't do well in school -- not because I was stupid, but just because I wanted to do other stuff," he said. "That's what it's really about -- a kid with disadvantages and making the best like I did."

Batista's long journey from a poor neighborhood in Washington, D.C., to the WWE ring is covered in Batista Unleashed.

"I had a passion for bodybuilding. It's really something I fell in love with. Lifting weights is very positive, and it made me feel better about myself," he explained. "That led to one thing, which led to another, which eventually led to wrestling, which is a very positive thing. And that's really what this is all about."

Read an excerpt from Batista Unleashed now.

Get Batista Unleashed at WWE Shop now.