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Batista returns to WWE Raw: What is in store for The Animal?

Chris Graham

Batista’s long-awaited return to WWE begins tonight on Monday Night Raw. What will WWE to do capitalize on one of the more anticipated comebacks to WWE in recent years?

A quick look at his Facebook and Twitter pages gives us the indication that he will at least debut as a face, which makes sense. Fans would be cheering his return even if he were for some reason to be brought back as a heel, so you might as well go with the anticipated crowd reaction.

Expect the honeymoon to linger on perhaps through WrestleMania 30. There is a lot of speculation right now about a Batista-Brock Lesnar match at ‘Mania, which could set the stage in terms of storyline for a possible Lesnar departure to head back to UFC.

It’s plausible to think that after WM30 Batista could insert himself into the WWE Title picture. Imagine a summer-long program building up a Batista-John Cena match to main-event SummerSlam, for example. Batista as the monster heel who sent Lesnar packing, Cena as the, well, Cena.

Batista makes you money both ways – as a face and as a heel. It all begins tonight on Raw.

Column by Chris Graham

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

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