Show
Raw
Results
Date and Location
Monday, Dec 30 | 8/7 PMC
Where to watch
Raw, Dec. 30, 2013
Raw Results : Quick Hits
New Year's Raw results: Lesnar rings in a painful New Year, Bryan follows the buzzards The rise of The Animal: Batista's 10 biggest momentsRaw Results : Full Details
The Shield confronted CM Punk
RICHMOND, Va. – There’s something to be said for finishing a year off as strong as you started it. And for CM Punk, who began 2013 as WWE Champion with The Brahma Bull himself in his sights, nothing would do for a curtain call than calling out the biggest, baddest dogs in the yard: The Shield. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns – light years beyond the wild newcomers they were 12 months ago – were, of course, all too eager to take out the proverbial thorn in their collective paws. So much so, in fact, that the three Hounds of Justice nearly got into it with each other over who was the unit's strongest link and therefore worthiest to face Punk. Thanks to a timely appearance by Raw GM Brad Maddox, though, The Shield’s tumult was quelled and Seth Rollins was selected as the lucky Superstar who would battle The Best in the World.
CM Punk def. Seth Rollins
The heightened expectation of being CM Punk’s handpicked opponent certainly didn’t slow Seth Rollins down in the former Tag Team Champion’s first one-on-one tilt against The Straight Edge Superstar. If anything, getting a crack at The Shield’s personal Kryptonite energized the wild man into one of his strongest efforts yet. And yet, even with bragging rights on the line, it wasn’t enough to stop the surging Punk from handing The Shield another humiliation.
Watch: Rollins & Punk collide | Photos of the wild contest
Punk played fast and loose with Rollins while Ambrose and Reigns prowled the outside, improvising submission holds with the ropes as leverage and attempting a Go to Sleep only seconds into the contest. Rollins took control by throwing Punk into the turnbuckle, but his arms – to borrow a phrase – proved too short to box with God. Capitalizing on Ambrose’s distraction of the referee, Punk kicked out of Rollins’ strongest moves, sent the strategist flying into his fellow Shield-mates and finally reversed a springboard strike into a match-ending Go to Sleep.
Dolph Ziggler def. Curtis Axel
What a difference a year makes: Dolph Ziggler ended 2012 covered in suspect brown muck, and after a wild, up-and-down 2013 campaign, the former World Heavyweight Champion closed the calendar fresh as a daisy, which is more than can be said for Curtis Axel. “Better Than Perfect” is a solid way to describe Axel’s rise up the ranks in 2013, but the former Intercontinental Champion just wasn’t ready to hang with Ziggler, who seemed spurred into action by his roller-coaster year to finish on a high note.
Photos: Showoff axes Axel on New Year's Raw
Hungry for a win of his own, Axel was determined to rain on The Showoff’s parade and used Dolph’s momentum to send him tumbling over the ropes. The former Intercontinental Champion chipped away the stupefied Ziggler until Dolph struck back by bouncing Axel’s head off the turnbuckle. Clawing his way back into the advantage, The Showoff kicked into high gear and dropped his foe like the New Year’s ball, leaping into action with an out-of-nowhere Zig Zag. And there wasn’t a bit of slop in sight.
Intercontinental Champion Big E Langston def. Fandango
Looks like Big E Langston’s famous singlet straps will be tinted gold just a little while longer: Despite the bravado and brawn of a hungry Fandango, the powerlifting champion retained his Intercontinental Title in the final Raw of 2013, ensuring his hot streak will continue across the pages of the calendar. Fandango – who earned the match by winning a Christmas-Present-on-a-Pole tilt – brought his A-game to the bout, no surprise since an untimely concussion took him out of a previous opportunity at the prize earlier in the year.
Langston outlasts Fandango in wild bout
Between the beloved big man and the dancing sensation who swept the nation, it wasn’t clear who would come away with the prestigious title in a cerebral, back-to-basics match that wouldn't be out of place on next week's Old School Raw. Fandango used his agility to counter Langston’s might as long as he could, eventually hobbling the powerhouse by targeting his knees with an Indian Deathlock. Sadly for the dancer, he couldn’t keep it up long enough. Slowly building momentum, Langston huffed, puffed, and toppled Fandango with a Big Ending to cap off one of the grittiest challenges yet to his title.
Damien Sandow def. The Great Khali
An addendum to The Sandow Equation, at least for New Year’s Raw: Damien Sandow > Whoever the WWE Universe picks as his opponent.
That, at least, was the story of the night when The Intellectual Savior of the Masses dropped an old-school beatdown on The Great Khali, who was selected as his foe for the evening through a WWE App vote. Sandow, who promised to quit if he didn’t win the match, seemed headed straight for the unemployment line already after The Punjabi Playboy manhandled him in the opening minutes. Ever the tactical genius, Sandow found his opening by bouncing Khali’s head off the ropes and going straight for the big man’s legs, staggering the former World Champion and leaving him open roll-up after Sandow slammed his head into the turnbuckle. That the win was somewhat ill-gotten ( Khali's shoulder was off the mat, unbeknownst to the ref) didn't matter: Damien Sandow isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. You’re welcome.
R-Truth def. Brodus Clay
The Funkasaurus is extinct, but the reborn Brodus Clay’s march towards his destiny as a “main event playa” got off to a rocky start thanks to R-Truth and a timely assist from his former partners in funkitude. The not-so-jolly-giant got back to his monstrous roots in a big way in his rematch against the former U.S. Champion, mauling a seemingly outmatched Truth from the get-go while a helpless Xavier Woods watched at commentary.
Watch: Truth is on a roll
It took an act from the funk gods to rescue Truth from defeat when Woods and The Funkadactyls took Brodus’ eye off the ball just long enough for Truth to strike with the Lie Detector. Adding insult to injury for the formerly beloved brute, Woods, Truth and The Funkadactyls danced at the expense of his misfortune, boogieing their way into 2014 while Brodus fumed atop the ramp.
Triple H re-introduced Brock Lesnar
If the WWE Universe ever questioned Triple H’s judgment of “best for business,” they were certainly left silent when the COO summoned the man who nearly ended his career (twice), Brock Lesnar, to Raw and allowed The Anomaly to deliver a blockbuster announcement. Flanked, as ever, by the returning Paul Heyman, The Beast Incarnate declared himself the first challenger to whoever wins the John Cena-Randy Orton WWE World Heavyweight Championship rematch at Royal Rumble, and dared any Superstar who didn’t like it to say so to his face. The former Undisputed Champion’s rhetoric didn’t sit too well with Mark Henry, who wasted no time in taking Lesnar up on his offer. The World’s Strongest Man didn’t get a proper chance at Brock, though, as The Anomaly jumped Henry before he could enter the ring and blasted the former World Heavyweight Champion through the barricade when their brawl spilled into the crowd, following up with a giant F-5 onto the ground.
Kaitlyn, Alicia Fox, Summer Rae, Rosa Mendes &Aksana def. The Bella Twins, The Funkadactyls & Eva Marie
The Total Divas have run the roost of the women’s division in 2013, but the reality stars were duly checked by the long-suffering “True Divas,” who got a much-needed leg up on their red-carpet walking foes on the final Raw of 2013. Eva Marie kicked things off with a strong run against Kaitlyn, but dissention among both teams quickly threw the match into disorder. It was Askana who stepped up when all was said and done, pinning Nikki Bella with an assist from Rosa to send her and her teammates right back-back-back on top of the world.
Daniel Bryan def. Luke Harper
Daniel Bryan’s New Year’s resolution was a pretty simple one at the start of Raw: He wanted Bray Wyatt one-on-one. The Authority was all too happy to grant Bryan his request, with the caveat that to get to the Family patriarch, he had to go through Luke Harper and Erick Rowan in succession. With Harper up first, Bryan rose to the challenge and knocked off the depraved hillbilly, though the effort certainly came at a cost to the 2013 Superstar of the Year.
Photos: Bryan conquers Luke Harper
With Bryan firing on all cylinders, Harper merely had to pick his moments and wait for the submission master to tire himself out. With Bray himself barking orders from ringside, Harper did just that, employing his freakish strength at opportune moments and leaving Bryan plastered across the mat. Bryan found daylight with two suicide dives to Harper and things fell into place from there; even though Harper bit Bryan’s wrist to break the “Yes!” Lock, the former WWE Champion smashed his foe’s face in with a running knee to bring Rowan in for match No. 2.
Daniel Bryan def. Erick Rowan
Having taken out one member of The Wyatt Family, a weakened Daniel Bryan needed something of a miracle to repeat the task against Erick Rowan, who seemed hell-bent on avenging his comrade Luke Harper’s defeat at the hands of the former WWE Champion. The sheep-masked giant was anything but gentle with Bryan, whom he tossed like a rag doll into the commentary station just seconds after the bell rang. The punishment continued for what seemed like hours, though Rowan stopped to gloat just long enough for Bryan to bring the sheep to slaughter with a roll-up pin. Next up: Bray Wyatt.
Daniel Bryan def. Bray Wyatt via Disqualification
Of all the ways 2013 could have ended for Daniel Bryan, it’s hard to believe that this was the way the WWE Universe saw it going. Having battled through The Wyatts to earn a match with Bray Wyatt himself, Bryan was so spent that he surrendered to Bray, apparently opting to join The Wyatt Family instead of fight them – and “the machine” that wouldn’t let him win – when the trio ambushed him and ended the match in a DQ.
Watch: Bryan surrenders to The Wyatts
The surrender of Bryan – a culmination of Wyatt’s work the past few months – left The Eater of Worlds as elated as could be. One ceremonial Sister Abigail to his newest son later, Bray’s brood grew by one and Bryan left the arena under his own power in their midst. With a last, apologetic glance at the WWE Universe, Bryan bid a sorrowful farewell to 2013. As for those same fans who voted Bryan Superstar of the Year? Their confidence, it turns out, was not entirely misplaced. After a year of topping himself, Bryan once again showed his faithful something they never could have imagined: An act of submission.
Batista’s build wasn’t a slow one. The moment the 300-plus pounder first emerged from the back like a gladiator entering a Roman coliseum, WWE fans knew he was a guy who would become an important player with immediacy. For Batista — as it has been for every Superstar with his rare combination of size and mobility — the hype came easily, but it’s the task of living up to the hype that has always been the challenge.
Watch Batista's most epic matches | Check out photos from The Animal's career
Big Dave delivered, of course, becoming a WWE Champion, Royal Rumble Match winner and WrestleMania main eventer in less than a decade before suddenly quitting sports-entertainment in 2010. Now, as his Jan. 20 return date looms, WWE.com looks back at the 10 integral moments that allowed Batista to evolve from man to The Animal.
May 9, 2002: Batista debuts
Every Superstar has to start somewhere, right? Before he becomes the unstoppable Animal responsible for more destruction than Michael Bay’s film career, Batista pays his dues as a hired hand to Reverend D-Von. Luckily, this sin is quickly forgiven … and forgotten.
Watch Batista's first WWE match
Nov. 4, 2002: Batista goes solo
Re-debuting simply as Batista, the 6-foot-5, 317-pound monster is hyped with vignettes claiming “The Genetic Revolution Has Begun.” The first victim of Batista's devastation — Justin Credible — marks the emphatic debut of the human juggernaut.
Relive the destruction of Batista's first match
Feb. 3, 2003: Batista joins Evolution
After several weeks of hinting at some sort of allegiance between the four, Batista, Triple H, Randy Orton and Ric Flair make it official by announcing the formation of their super-stable, Evolution, which they claim represents the past, present and future of WWE. They’re right, and no one can stop them.
Jan. 30, 2005: Batista wins the Royal Rumble Match
Entering at No. 28, Batista engages John Cena in a scrap that sends them both over the top rope. When the match is re-started, The Animal tosses John Cena to the floor and stamps his ticket to the main event at WrestleMania 21.
Watch Batista win the 2005 Royal Rumble Match
Feb. 21, 2005: Batista turns on Triple H
Despite weeks of attempted persuasion toward the WWE Championship instead of his own World Heavyweight Championship, Triple H is unable to convince Batista to leave him be. The Animal gives The Game a symbolic thumbs down before signing the title opportunity contract, and Batista Bombing Triple H through the table on which he did it.
April 3, 2005: Batista wins the World Heavyweight Title
After learning from the best, Batista beats the best when he drops Triple H at WrestleMania 21 to win his first World Heavyweight Championship. Batista successfully defends the title throughout the year, even becoming the first Superstar to pin Triple H in a Hell in a Cell Match at Vengeance.
Nov. 18, 2007: Batista conquers The Deadman
With bad blood brewing back to WrestleMania, Batista and The Undertaker wage war in a stomach-churningly brutal Hell in a Cell Match at Survivor Series. This time, The Animal — the defending champion — conquers and avenges his earlier loss to The Deadman.
Aug. 17, 2008: Batista beats John Cena
SummerSlam’s main event pits two icons against each other for the first time ever as Batista faces John Cena in a truly epic clash of Superstars. In the end, Batista hammers Cena with two Batista Bombs — one, a counter to Cena’s top rope legdrop — and notches the first victory in the rivalry.
Watch the first showdown between Batista and Cena
Oct. 25, 2009: Batista attacks Rey Mysterio
Frustrated at his inability to once again regain a major WWE title, Batista attacks best friend Rey Mysterio after a Fatal 4-Way Match at WWE Bragging Rights (also featuring The Undertaker and CM Punk), blaming The Master of the 619 for the loss. WWE fans are shocked, but The Animal doesn’t care as he mauls Mysterio.
See Batista's vicious attack on his friend
May 24, 2010: Batista quits
After losing to John Cena in brutal “I Quit” Match at WWE Over The Limit, an increasingly-frustrated Batista throws a hissy fit, grabs a mic, and quits WWE. He hasn’t been seen in a WWE ring since. That will change on Jan. 20, 2014 on Raw.
