It's about time for the Royal Rumble and the Road to Wrestlemania, and WWE's latest episode of Raw kicked things off with the return of the six-time world champion Batista, making his comeback after a nearly four-year-long absence.

The show kicks off Triple H & Stephanie McMahon introducing Batista to the crowd only to be interrupted by WWE Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton complaining about the lack of support from The Authority, telling Stephanie McMahon they would have no new WWE Network if it was not for him. Triple H told the champion to quit whining and step up to the challenges of having Brock Lesnar, John Cena, and Batista chase him for his title. Batista came out to the ring and told Orton he does not care who holds the championship, but that he intends to headline Wrestlemania XXX and win the WWE Heavyweight Champion.

Six-man Tag Team Match: Intercontinental Champion Big E Langston & WWE Tag Team Champions Goldust & Cody Rhodes vs The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, & Roman Reigns)
Langston had control late in the match for his team, taking care of Ambrose before The Shield interfered and turned the tide for their stable. Ambrose caught Langston with a knee to the gut, which allowed him to tag out to Rollins who put a boot to the back of Langston's head for the pin and earned the victory.
Winner: The Shield

Daniel Bryan came out to address the WWE Universe about his time with the Wyatts, telling his fans that he bid his time for the right time to strike at Bray Wyatt, and inside the cage, last week, was the best time. Bryan said he was ready for his match against Wyatt at the Royal Rumble, before he was interrupted by Wyatt, speaking via the TitanTron, saying that everything that happens from here on out is Bryan's fault.

Xavier Wood vs Fandango (w/ Summer Rae)
With R-Truth doing commentary during the match, Woods seemed in control throughout the match after hitting Fandango with a Missile Dropkick. But Fandango came back after Woods missed a body-splash, hitting the ropes hard before eating a Top-Rope Leg Drop to lose the match.
Winner: Fandango

Backstage, Stephanie McMahon reprimanded WWE Director of Operations Kane for choke-slamming CM Punk on Friday Night Smackdown and demanded he apologize to Punk himself. Kane went out to the ring, asking Punk to come down the ring so that he can apologize. After making Kane repeat himself to the WWE Universe, Punk attacked Kane, forcing Raw General Manager Brad Maddox to schedule a match between Punk and one of the New Age Outlaws.

CM Punk vs Billy Gunn of the New Age Outlaws
After playing Rocks, Papers, Scissors to see who would face Punk, Billy Gunn stepped into the ring while Road Dogg did commentary. Gunn's showboating got the best of him, getting kicked in the head by the former champion after attempting a Famouser, allowing for Punk to not only get the upper-hand, but to attack Road Dogg at ringside. Punk returned to the ring and nailed the GTS on Gunn for the victory. After the match, Kane announced that Punk would be competing in the Royal Rumble, but that he was going into the Over-the-Top-Rope battle royal first as the number one entry.
Winner: CM Punk

Alberto Del Rio vs Rey Mysterio
Facing each other for the third time in two weeks, and with a victory a piece, the two Mexican superstars faced off in a rubber match on Monday Night Raw. Mysterio fought hard against Del Rio, but Del Rio had worked over Mysterio's arm, including slamming him into the steel steps, and cinched the Cross Armbreaker for the submission victory. Batista, who Del Rio had been bad-mouthing during in previous weeks, attacked Del Rio after the match, nailing the Batista Bomb on Del Rio to send a message that he is back in the WWE.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio

The Big Show came out to the ring and called out his Royal Rumble opponent, Brock Lesnar, who had attacked Mark Henry in previous weeks with Big Show making the save. Lesnar came out and confronted the Big Show, attempting two double-leg takedowns only to get tossed out of the ring. Lesnar wisely strolled back to the locker room, opting to bid his time until the pay-per-view to get at the Big Show.

Tag Team Match: WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee & Tamina vs The Funkadactyls
In rematch from last week's Monday Night Raw, Lee had control of the match after Tamina did much of the heavy-lifting early in the bout. Naomi, who beat the champion in singles competition on the last Friday Night Smackdown, managed to roll AJ up for the pin and earn another victory over the champion, earning a measure of revenge for last week's defeat.
Winner: The Funkadactyls

Tag Team Match: The Usos vs The Wyatts (Erick Rowan & Luke Harper)
The Wyatts used their size to bully The Usos around throughout the match, battering the siblings as Bray Wyatt sermonized as to what he was going to do to Daniel Bryan at the Royal Rumble. Bryan came out to the ring and ambushed Bray Wyatt, distracting Rowan and Harper long enough for allowing Jimmy Uso to get the roll-up and the win.
Winner: The Usos

WWE Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton vs Kofi Kingston (non-title match)
Orton got a rematch with Kingston after Kingston defeated the champion in a non-title match last week on Monday Night Raw, with "the Apex Predator" starting the match off by taking out his anger at John Cena and The Authority on the former Intercontinental champ. After Orton took control of the match, before Cena made his way to the ring, while Kingston held on to the champion's leg to make sure he went nowhere. Cena battered "The Viper" around the entire arena, taking out a piece of Orton's hide for attacking his father after last week's loss to Kingston, beating him down until Orton made his escape in a running vehicle, managing to get away from Cena's grasp, driving off to get away from the former champion to end the show.