Full Predictions for Batista's Return to WWE Monday Night Raw

Batista's return to WWE is nearly upon us.  The Animal is scheduled to come back on the January 20 edition of Monday Night Raw, and it's a moment that many fans have been anxiously awaiting.  While the company is very similar to the one that he left behind in 2010, it's also very different at the same time.

The fact is that John Cena is still the top dog, the man that WWE revolves around.  It rises and falls based upon his main event spotlight.  Even though he is not currently the top titleholder, that does not change his position in the company.  At the end of the day, John Cena is still the man at the center of it all.

However, Batista's former ally in Evolution is now the man holding all the gold.  Randy Orton is of course the WWE world champion and has been heavily featured in the top storyline since last year's SummerSlam pay-per-view.  Orton has done an admirable job of portraying the primary villain in WWE's biggest angle of the summer against Daniel Bryan.

And the fact is that Bryan is currently the hottest star in WWE.  From his first real spotlight as a heel world champion to one half of Team Hell No to the company's No. 1 underdog, Bryan's career has evolved to that of a real main event Superstar.  His rise is thanks in large part to the work previously done by CM Punk, who helped pave the way for independent stars to come in and have an opportunity to succeed.

Again, it's very similar but it's very different.  But the question is how will the changes as well as the familiarity of what he left behind affect Batista when he returns to Raw?  What are we in for on January 20?

The Timing

Timing is everything in WWE.  And this is especially true when a big-time Superstar returns to the fold. At this point, many fans are likely expecting Batista to show up at the very end of Raw.  In terms of hype, it would likely not surprise us at all.

Basically, WWE makes an announcement, hypes it, advertises it and then hypes it some more.  The best example of this is of course the WWE app, which has been shoved down our throats for several months now and continues to be hyped every time WWE is on the air.

The same is true of a returning Superstar, as vignettes have been run on WWE programming since Batista's comeback was announced.  And since Raw is three hours long, it makes sense that the hype would continue for the first 2:55 of the program.

Let's face it: Batista's face would likely be shown every other time they went to or came back from commercial, and he would surely be talked about throughout the entire program.

But I for one believe that he will return at the beginning of Raw.  I think that the January 20 program will kick off with The Animal's music as Batista hits the Raw stage for the first time in four years.

The Reaction

WWE fans are suckers for a good comeback.  We can be a very nostalgic bunch, and even though he's only been gone for four years, Batista definitely fits into that category.

I believe that the crowd reaction for Batista will be huge.  I think that the ovation will continue long after the music has ended, and I think that as he's standing in the ring, it will become very evident that Batista is enjoying every minute of it.

The truth is that despite what medium any Superstar chooses to pursue when he or she leaves Vince McMahon's company, nothing compares to the experience of being in front of a raucous WWE crowd.  The energy that fans give is something very palpable, and the talent feeds off it in every aspect of his or her performance.

This will surely be the case when Batista stands in the ring and delivers his first promo since 2010.

Alberto Del Rio's Interruption

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For reasons that are perhaps not quite clear right now, WWE has decided to create heat between The Animal and the Mexican Aristocrat.  Alberto Del Rio has had a problem with Batista from the very moment that his return to WWE was announced, and it has increased since then.

From his initial verbal attack on Twitter to his constant mentioning of him on the air, Alberto Del Rio has done nothing but poke and prod The Animal.  He will likely get a response on January 20, when Batista addresses Del Rio during his promo.

This will inevitably lead to Alberto's appearance and subsequent entrance into the ring.  The two men will likely exchange words for a few moments until Del Rio decides to attempt a cheap shot, and then we will see The Animal unleashed once again.

Much of this is being done in preparation of the Royal Rumble that will take place on January 26, in which Batista and Del Rio will almost certainly cross paths.  And when they do, their war of words will once again become physical.

What happens with their potential rivalry, however, remains to be seen.

Triple H's Welcome

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Triple H is of course the No. 1 authority figure on WWE programming, and he will surely make his presence felt in regard to Batista.  Hunter's character likely takes full credit for Batista's success in WWE, and the opportunity to flex his corporate muscles in front of his former student will undoubtedly be too tempting to pass up.

The timing of this spot is somewhat in question, as it could happen in conjunction with Raw's opening segment that I feel will take place.  

But it could actually happen backstage later in the program, as perhaps Batista is shown talking to another Superstar when The Game enters the picture.  The two men will likely exchange pleasantries, and all will seem fine until Hunter perhaps says something that will cause the moment to become somewhat uncomfortable.

After all, Batista is almost certainly coming back as a babyface, and this will not exactly be what Triple H's character wanted.  Hunter will probably welcome The Animal back with open arms and possibly even suggest a spot with The Authority, if Batista is willing.

It's at that time that I would expect Batista to voice his opinion on The Authority's stranglehold of WWE to that point.  While I think that he will be respectful with his words, I do not think that he will sugarcoat it for Triple H.

Batista's character always spoke his mind, and I think that his first night back will be no different.

Batista Makes the Save

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To emphasize just which side he will fall on, I believe that Batista will be present one more time on Raw, this time at the end of the program.

I think that the night could end with an altercation between John Cena and Randy Orton.  I also believe that altercation could result in The Shield being sent to the ring by Triple H to beat down Cena, which will of course be an open invitation for CM Punk to interfere.

But just as Punk and Cena are being triple-teamed, Batista's music will hit, and he will slide in to make the save.

Imagine Roman Reigns, WWE's current Superstar on the rise, standing eye to eye with Batista.  The pop from that moment alone would be huge, and the ensuing melee as all six men brawl could ultimately lead to The Shield being thrown out of the ring.

This would continue the heat between Cena and Orton and serve as a reminder that Batista, Punk and The Shield will all be included in the Royal Rumble match.  It cold also set up the main event of January 27's Monday Night Raw featuring The Shield and Randy Orton versus John Cena, CM Punk and Batista.

Of course, no one knows exactly how Raw will go down on January 20 when Batista makes his return. But like many other WWE fans out there, I cannot wait to find out.