Batista Makes WWE Return, Assaults Ric Flair At Raw's Conclusion

As had been reported

prior to Raw going on the air, Batista was backstage at WWE Raw in Atlanta, and was expected to appear on the show, most likely to kick off his long-rumored feud with Triple H that would lead into WrestleMania 35.

That is exactly how the theory played out, as Batista re-emerged at the end of the night, marring Ric Flair's 70th birthday celebration by attacking "The Nature Boy" backstage.

With the Raw roster on the stage, the ring contained Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Ricky Steamboat, and Sting, as well as a birthday cake and a commemorative title belt as a gift.

To kick off the angle, Flair did not enter when his music was played. Instead, cameras found Batista barging into his dressing room, where a beating then ensued.

Batista then dragged out a battered Flair, looked into the camera, and said, “Hey Hunter, do I have your attention now?” Triple H then raced backstage, where he, Finlay, Jamie Noble and other officials attended to the injured Flair as Raw went off the air.