The 2014 Royal Rumble changed the scope of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship scene as the Road to Wrestlemania began on Sunday, with Batista stepping into the WWE spotlight in a huge way.

Batista started off his new stint in the WWE with a bang, winning the Royal Rumble by eliminating Roman Reigns of The Shield, setting Batista up with a potential Wrestlemania 30 match against his former Evolution partner-in-crime, WWE World Heavyweight Championship Randy Orton - who successfully defended his title against John Cena. Batista has locked up his trip for New Orleans to headline Wrestlemania, but how will the "Apex Predator" react to his former stablemate gunning for his championship?

Reigns' dominance in the Rumble was hard to miss, having broken Kane's Royal Rumble record by eliminating 12 participants during the main event, with two of those WWE Superstars being his stablemates United States Champion Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. Ambrose tried to sneak up on Reigns and toss him out, only to have Rollins shove Ambrose away, asking him what was up with not working as team. Reigns settled the argument, tossing both of them over the top rope, to make it to the final two in the main event match. Will the rifts that CM Punk set in motion finally split the group up, or will the "Hounds of Hell" settle their differences and continue working as a unit?

Batista was not the only person making his return at the Royal Rumble. Sheamus returned to the WWE lineup, coming back from surgery and making his presence felt at the Rumble, eliminating WWE Intercontinental Champion Big E Langston in the main event. How will the WWE Superstars react to the return of the "Celtic Warrior", a former WWE and World Heavyweight champion who, much like Batista and Brock Lesnar, will also likely seek championship gold upon his return to the roster?

One of the big shockers of the night was the New Age Outlaws defeating the WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust in the Royal Rumble Kick-off show, in an entertaining match that saw Billy Gunn and "Road Dogg" Jesse James holding the titles for the sixth time in their career. Rhodes and Goldust also clashed during the Rumble with Goldust ending up ending up eliminating each his sibling. Is this the end for the brothers as a tag team unit? Will they get the championship back in an eventual rematch against the New Age Outlaws or will the brothers go their separate ways?

Bray Wyatt also had a huge night, not only defeating Daniel Bryan in the opening match but also interfering in John Cena's WWE World Heavyweight Championship rematch against Randy Orton. After defeating Bryan in a brutal and physical match that finally ended his feud with the former champion, Wyatt has found a new target to follow the buzzards, sticking his nose in Cena's business as he was about to win the title from Randy Orton. "The Viper", living up to his nickname, struck quickly when the lights when out and the Wyatt clan distracted the challenger long enough for the champion hit his RKO to retain his title against Cena. How will Cena react to becoming the Wyatts' new obession after disposing of Daniel Bryan?

TV Schedule
WWE Monday Night Raw airs at 8 p.m. EST Monday on the USA Network.