Batista Reportedly Returning On WWE Raw

The Animal is said to be backstage

Justin Henry smiling while wearing a black hat

Feb 26, 2019

batista
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting

that former six-time World Champion Batista is backstage at Monday Night Raw in Atlanta.

The expectation is that Batista is going to appear on camera, perhaps in order to begin an angle with Triple H that leads to a long-rumored match at WrestleMania 35 in East Rutherford.

Batista's presence on Monday's show could also be due to Ric Flair's 70th birthday party taking place on the broadcast.

Batista's name had come up in recent weeks and months, due to rumors that All Elite Wrestling was interested in signing him. The rumors of the Batista/Triple H match for WrestleMania 35 had been making the rounds at least since last fall, prior to Triple H tearing his pectoral at Crown Jewel.

Triple H has since gained medical clearance to begin training once more, leading one to assume that the apparent match plans are back on.

Batista has not wrestled for WWE since June 2014, when he, Triple H, and Randy Orton lost at that year's Payback pay-per-view to The Shield in a six-man elimination match.