Triple H introduced Batista to the ‘Reality Era’

BOSTON – With just nine days remaining before The Show of Shows, The Eater of Worlds continued to pave a path of fear on The Road to WrestleMania with a huge victory, Batista unleashed The Animal and The Shield triumphed over Kane’s latest roadblock.

Triple wants to see Batista unleash "The Animal."

Poised to battle Randy Orton and either Daniel Bryan or Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on The Grandest Stage of Them All, Batista kicked off SmackDown by questioning the WWE Universe’s hostile reaction to his return to WWE.  The Animal characterized these boos from WWE fans as a “personal slap in the face” – not unlike the smack Stephanie McMahon delivered to him on Raw. But, before the 2014 Royal Rumble winner could expand on his feelings, Triple H joined the conversation. 

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Disregarding a personal attack by his one-time Evolution cohort, WWE’s COO turned the tables, claiming the six-time World Heavyweight Champion got soft during his Hollywood hiatus. The Game wondered aloud what happened to the hungry Animal he remembered, before offering Batista a chance to reclaim that hunger and face Sheamus on SmackDown – a Superstar that reminded the COO of the old Batista.

The Shield’s Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins def. 3MB

The Shield's Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins square off with 3MB's Jinder Mahal & Drew McIntyre.

Following a calculated ambush by Kane and numerous tag teams one week ago, Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins continued their road to retribution right through 3MB’s Jinder Mahal & Drew McIntyre. Moments after Rollins disposed of Mahal with a high-flying assault outside the ring, the United States Champion delivered "Dirty Deeds" for the pin fall.

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The Shield’s victory party was cut short, as WWE’s Director of Operations emerged with a well-dressed Road Dogg & Billy Gunn. Kane announced that Ambrose & Rollins would have to endure a second contest against Ryback & Curtis Axel, if they planned on riding The Road to WrestleMania intact. 

The Shield’s Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins def. RybAxel

Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins face the team known as Rybaxel while Kane & The New Age Outlaws watch from the stage.

As Kane and his WrestleMania tag team partners looked on, the battle-tested Hounds of Justice fought off their second opponents of the night.  In a showdown that stretched both inside and outside the ring, the red-hot Rollins finished off their formidable foes by delivering some Peace of Mind to a dazed Curtis Axel.

The Shield power past The Real Americans

Roman Reigns joined the post-match celebration with a Superman Punch on Ryback, before The Shield delivered a commanding Triple Powerbomb to The Human Wrecking Ball to send a resounding message to their WrestleMania 30 adversaries.

Sin Cara def. Damien Sandow

Sin Cara clashes inside the SmackDown ring with Damien Sandow.

As they prepare for their participation in the historic 30-Superstar Andre the Giant Memorial Over-The-Top-Rope Battle Royal on April 6 in New Orleans, Sin Cara once again got the best of the ultra-aggressive Damien Sandow, surprising The Intellectual Savior of the Masses with a quick rollup pinfall.

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Fandango def. Goldust

"The Bizarre One" goes one-on-one with Fandango SmackDown.

Thanks to a well-executed interruption from “Total Divas” star Summer Rae, Fandango pinned Goldust, gaining crucial momentum heading into their involvement in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

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Sheamus def. Batista via Disqualification

"The Celtic Warrior" and "The Animal" collide on SmackDown.

As WWE COO Triple H watched from backstage, Sheamus and Batista engaged in a hard-hitting clash that pushed both competitors to the limit. After the battle spread outside the ring, The Animal unleashed his fury on The Celtic Warrior in the form of two vicious chair blasts – before hurling The Celtic Warrior in to the steel ring post.  Although Sheamus won the match via disqualification, the fiery Irishman was left in shambles after The Animal’s outburst. 

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A still foaming-at-mouth Batista then picked up the mic, asking Triple H and the WWE Universe if they were happy with the destruction that just ensued while predicting a WWE World Heavyweight Title victory at The Show of Shows in New Orleans.

Bella Twins def. AJ Lee & Tamina

Vickie Guerrero helps provide commentary during the match featuring The Bella Twins agains Divas Champion AJ Lee & Tamina Snuka.

AJ Lee finds herself riding a rocky Road to WrestleMania as she prepares to defend her title against 13 Divas in the first-ever Vickie Guerrero Divas Championship Invitational at The Show of Shows. After the Divas Champion admonished Tamina for allowing Brie to lay her hands on her, Tamina literally pushed the frenzied titleholder through the ropes and directly into a face plant from the battling Bella. Has AJ lost her bodyguard heading into the first Divas Title Match at WrestleMania?

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Jack Swagger def. Jimmy Uso

One-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions clashes with one-half of The Real Americans.

With the WWE Tag-Team Championship Fatal 4-Way Match nine days away, Jimmy Uso got a taste of what the Samoan titleholders are in for at WrestleMania 30 when he battled Jack Swagger on SmackDown. While the high-flying Samoan capitalized on a rapid aerial assault early, The Real American roared back, making him tap to the Patriot Lock. 

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Mark Henry def. The Miz

Mark Henry and The Miz face off a little over a week from the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

Looking to make a statement in his match against Mark Henry, The Miz dumped his massive opponent over the top rope, nine days before the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Despite The Awesome One’s show of strength, The World’s Strongest Man mounted an aggressive comeback, finishing off his cocky challenger with a World’s Strongest Slam.

A "Miz TV" melee

Bray Wyatt def. Big Show

Big Show meets Bray Wyatt in the main event of SmackDown.

Even before SmackDown’s massive main-event, it appeared as though The Wyatt Family’s unsettling actions to John Cena on Raw were getting inside the head of Big Show during his interview with Renee Young.

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Even though Big Show dominated the opening of the hard-hitting bout, The Wyatt Family patriarch almost seemed to relish in the ferociousness of the angry giant.

Undeterred by the strength of The World’s Largest Athlete, The Eater of Worlds slowly began dismantling his challenger. Utilizing a distraction from the sheep-masked Erick Rowan, Luke Harper leveled a grounded Big Show with a hard-hitting boot to the face. The well-orchestrated disruption was more than enough for The Wyatt Family leader to finish off the 7-footer with an imposing Sister Abigail, making a big statement at the expense of the immense Superstar.