10 Best WWE Storylines Of 2019 (So Far)
7. Evolution Isn't A Mystery
Batista's Monday Night Raw return in 2019 was the first thing Bruce Prichard was tasked with producing since making his own jaw-dropping comeback weeks earlier. It was, for both, an outstanding success.
Hijacking Ric Flair's birthday to show the 'The Nature Boy' beaten down at his violent hands, Big Dave's invasion of an otherwise-lovely time was legitimately terrifying. In the era of the over-produced, this took one of Hollywood's finest and sharpened the organisation's typically blunt presentation to bloodthirsty point.
In the weeks that followed, Batista willingly gave his credibility to the role, using guards and satellite link-ups for sparring with Hunter to tacitly imply fear rather than overtly running from his comeuppance. This, much like the segments themselves, serviced the revived chemistry between them wonderfully.
Without too much time to f*ck it up nor think about how overindulgent they might be in the match itself, the pair were mostly kept at arm's length, saving all hostilities for the 'Show Of Shows' showdown itself. The match was an overlong spot-rest-spot brawl, because 'The Game' just can't help himself, but just about everything else before it had all the real-feeling tension the match failed to capture.