RAW begins with an Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Video:
Justin Roberts introduces The Authority, who is standing in the ring.
Stephanie McMahon welcomes us to WWE RAW, while Triple H hypes the Royal Rumble, and the Road The Wrestlemania. Triple H goes over the rules of the Royal Rumble and the stipulations, then gets ready to welcome back one of the participants. Triple H calls this man a foe/friend and says he evolved with this person.
Triple H gets ready to introduce Batista, but Randy Orton comes out instead.
Randy Orton gets in The Authority’s face and asks who do they think they are. Stephanie McMahon flips the question on Orton, asking who the hell he thinks he is.
Stephanie McMahon tells Randy Orton that the eyes of the world were on WWE last week due to the announcement of the WWE Network and reminds Orton that he made a fool of himself.
Stephanie reminds Randy Orton of his vicious attacks on John Cena Sr., then calls Orton’s actions despicable, and unbecoming of a WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Stephanie tells Randy Orton that his actions may have been okay in the old era, but this is a new era and a new Authority, and if Orton doesn’t want to abide by that Authority, then he won’t have to worry about defending his WWE Championship anymore or being a part of the WWE.
Randy Orton claims that the only reason he has so much pent up aggression because of The Authority putting him in an unnecessary rematch against John Cena at the Royal Rumble. Orton calls out Triple H on bringing back Brock Lesnar and Batista, and questions what their ambitions are. Orton says that The Authority has a problem with his actions affecting the WWE Network, but there wouldn’t be a Network without Randy Orton. Orton says if he could go back in time and do it all over again, he wouldn’t change a thing.
Triple H tells Randy Orton that the first thing that’s going to change is that Orton is going to take the bass out of his voice right now.
Triple H tells Randy Orton that the only reason the WWE made him the face of the WWE was because they believed in him, because he can walk through any obstacle in a way becoming of a WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Triple H says that it seems that Randy Orton has lost faith in himself, and this causes Orton to make unreasonable and irrational decisions.
Triple H says that John Cena, Brock Lesnar and Batista are all WWE Championship contenders, but thinks Randy Orton can rise up and walk through it. Triple H tells Orton he needs to fix what is broken tonight and he will give Orton the opportunity to start tonight by facing Kofi Kingston again.
Triple H informs Randy Orton that there will be a camera in the parking lot waiting for John Cena to arrive, and when he does, that camera will appear on the Titantron, so Orton will have the opportunity to step in the ring with John Cena alone and Make It Right.
Batista’s music plays and Batista returns!
Batista does his pyro taunt.
Batista’s clothes are very…let’s say unbecoming of a WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
After a loud Batista chant, Batista gets on his hands and knees and kisses the ring.
Batista hugs Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. Randy Orton tries to shake Batista’s hand, but Batista refuses and just says hello.
https://twitter.com/brokahontas/status/425436845921423361
Batista clears up why he is back in the WWE. Batista tells Randy Orton that he’s back for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, so whether it’s Orton, John Cena or someone else, he’s back to win the Royal Rumble and back to be WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and back to headline Randy Orton. Batista tells Orton to “DEAL WITH IT” then drops the mic.
Batista celebrates with the WWE Universe.
Match 01: The Shield vs. The Brotherood and Big E. Langston
Cody Rhodes goes for the Disaster Kick but get caught with a Superman Punch from Roman Reigns.
Courtesy of WrasslorMonkey
Roman Reigns spears Goldust.
Seth Rollins hits the Blackout on Big E. Langston
Winners: The Shield
Daniel Bryan Breaks His Silence:
After a loud Daniel Bryan and “YES!” chants, Bryan jokes that and people say he shouldn’t be the face of the company. Bryan says a lot of people asked him last week if he had a plan when he jointed The Wyatt Family. The WWE Universe chants “YES!” and Bryan says the WWE Universe figured it out. Bryan says that to take down a guy with a Messiah Complex, you have to take them down them physically and mentally.
Daniel Bryan says in order to take out The Wyatt Family physically and mentally, he had to do some things he wasn’t proud of, like keep his friends in the dark, absorb punishment to be part of the Family and stand side-by-side with 3 men he despised wait for that moment.
Daniel Bryan says that moment came when he got Bray Wyatt inside of a steel cage, one-on-one.
Daniel Bryan says The Wyatt Family is big fans of “Following The Buzzards” but Daniel Bryan doesn’t follow anybody. Bryan says last week, he became the buzzard and he chewed on the carcass of Bray Wyatt. Bryan tells Bray Wyatt that he exposed him as a false prophet, and this Sunday, at the Royal Rumble, he’s going to do it again. Bryan reveals that Luke Harper and Erick Rowan are in the Rumble, which leads Daniel Bryan to face Bray Wyatt by himself.
Daniel Bryan starts chanting “YES” until he’s interrupted by Bray Wyatt. Bray Wyatt calls Daniel Bryan a traitor, who didn’t expose him, but exposed himself as a traitor and coward. Wyatt says that the WWE Universe look up to him because they chose to kneel. Bray wants Daniel Bryan to go home, hug his Mother and tell her he’s sorry, because everything that happens to Daniel Bryan from now on, is his fault.
Match 02: Fandango vs. Xavier Woods
Winner: Fandango
Post-Match, Emma is shown dancing.
Courtesy of WrasslorMonkey
Backstage: Brad Maddox says that he’s glad he thought of bringing Batista back on RAW. Kane gets ready to argue with Brad Maddox, but Stephanie McMahon interrupts and asks Maddox to leave.
Stephanie McMahon scolds Kane for putting his hands on CM Punk on Smackdown, and tells him that he cannot put his hands on a WWE Superstar. Kane tries to defend himself, but Stephanie refuses to back down. Kane tells Stephanie McMahon that he understands and apologizes to Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie wants Kane to do something bigger than that, and apologize to CM Punk. Kane says CM Punk owes him an apology, but Stephanie McMahon glares. Kane walks off to apologize to CM Punk.
Three Man Booth 