At WWE Bragging Rights, new World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker will defend his title in a Fatal-4-Way Match against three former Word Champions: CM Punk, Rey Mysterio and Batista.

The Deadman defeated CM Punk inside The Devil’s Playground at Hell in a Cell to win his seventh World Title. (PHOTOS) Five days later, The Straightedge Superstar stormed his way into Friday night, demanding that SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long give him his mandatory rematch on his terms. But before the issue could be resolved, Mr. McMahon emerged to “help” Long make “his” monumental announcement – the former Straightedge Champion’s rematch would be a Fatal-4-Way at WWE Bragging Rights, and it would also include The Master of the 619 and The Animal.

With his most recent acquisition of the gold, The Phenom has arguably transcended other SmackDown Superstars to reach a level of competition all his own. The Undertaker’s reputation has become as intimidating as his deadly arsenal of weapons. And now that he holds the World Title as his “holy grail,” is it conceivable that any Superstar will ever overcome his wrath?

However, in a Fatal-4-Way the odds are against The Undertaker. And because he does not have to be pinned to lose his championship, the fate of the World Title could ultimately end up out of his control.

The Undertaker’s history of battle with Batista has been nothing short of epic, and SmackDown’s “blue chip acquisition” has shown no sign that WWE Bragging Rights will be any different. Since moving from Monday Night Raw, The Animal has been more ferocious than ever, scoring victories over the likes of United Tag Team Champions Chris Jericho & Big Show, respectively. With his outrageous momentum driving this fierce competitor like never before, Batista is capable of knocking anyone off the mountain so that he can have it all to himself.

Despite losing the title to The Demon from Death Valley, Punk’s aggressive performance at Hell in a Cell will stay etched in the minds of the WWE Universe forever. He has continued to show his ability to emerge as a strong competitor for any type of match thrown at him, no matter the odds. His A-list skills, fused with an anything-to-win attitude, make the three-time World Champion a very dangerous threat to the gold.

And if the match wasn’t explosive enough already, enter the TNT-like assault of the ultra-athletic Rey Mysterio. The Master of the 619 has refused to be denied as one of the top Superstars in WWE, as his high octane-offense has continued to propel him to new heights. Second only to his heart is his barrage of dangerous maneuvers that may allow him to walk out of WWE Bragging Rights with the gold around his waist.

The fast-paced fury and unpredictable mayhem of a championship Fatal-4-Way will test four of the most dominant Superstars on SmackDown. Who will emerge with the World Heavyweight Championship? Find out live at WWE Bragging Rights, Oct. 25 at 8/7 CT, only on pay-per-view.

Since returning, Batista had been on a tear up until this week with The Animal losing twice — once in the Unified Tag Team Championship Match at Hell in a Cell, and the other to CM Punk on SmackDown.

With a golden opportunity set in front of him, The Animal has never looked more determined and with a big win over Kane, things are looking on the up for the team of Batista & Rey Mysterio.

Preview: Unified Tag Team Champions Chris Jericho & Big Show vs. Batista & Rey Mysterio – Unified Tag Team Championship Match

Just weeks after making a heroic return to SmackDown, Batista has set his sights on Unified Tag Team Champions Chris Jericho & Big Show at Hell in a Cell. To achieve this monumental task, the former World Champion has called on his favorite comrade-in-arms, Rey Mysterio, to be his partner. But, will the combined skill of these tremendous Superstars be enough to topple one of the most dominant Tag Team Champions in recent memory?

After choosing to make his move to SmackDown following the expiration of his Raw contract, The Animal quickly kickstarted his exciting reemergence on Friday nights with back-to-back singles victories over Jericho and Big Show. Sidelined with an injury until recently, Batista has quickly roared back into WWE with unbridled fury, proving that his impressive in-ring arsenal has been untarnished by time. And with these two high profile triumphs under his belt, the reinvigorated Superstar seems more than ready to go after the dominant duo’s coveted gold.

At Hell in a Cell, Batista has called on his friend, The Master of the 619, to help him make history. Few Superstars in the squared circle possess the athletic ability and high-flying prowess that the masked Superstar utilizes time and time again. And after recently losing the Intercontinental Championship to John Morrison, Mysterio is no doubt hungry to get his hands back on the gold.

When Chris Jericho used a special contract stipulation to replace his injured Unified Tag Team Champion partner, Edge, with Big Show, he instantly created a tag team tour de force. Together, the two highly-decorated Superstars have fortified their championship union in impressive fashion, showcasing exceptional chemistry to overcome the likes of The Legacy at Night of Champions, Cryme Time at SummerSlam and again on SmackDown, and the exceptional duo of Mark Henry & MVP at WWE Breaking Point. With every formidable challenge they overcome, the first-ever Undisputed WWE Champion & The World’s Largest Athlete have continued to cement their place in the annals of tag team greatness.

The current Unified Tag Team Champions have been running rampant throughout WWE, emerging from every battle they have engaged in with the gold securely around their waists. But at Hell in a Cell, they will face a greater combination of talent, strength and experience than ever before.

Who will emerge with the titles? Find out at Hell in a Cell, live Sunday, Oct. 4, only on pay-per-view.

Related Gallery:
WWE Related > WWE Digitals > Superstar of the Day

At just 24 years of age, The Legend Killer became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history.  He’s held the coveted WWE Championship a total of three times. And, most notably, he has single-handedly brought the McMahon family to their knees – a conquest culminated by a kick to the skull of Triple H at Backlash.

The time to celebrate his latest unsavory success, however, may have already passed. Now, it appears, another seemingly insurmountable challenge presents itself: Retain the WWE Championship at Judgment Day against a fuming Batista bent on revenge.

It’s not an easy proposition. After all, The Animal has been starved for competition for months while rehabbing from a blow to the head, an injury caused by a kick from Orton. There’s little doubt that Batista would love nothing more than to punish the man who put him on the shelf. And if his performance of late is any indication, The Animal appears more than ready to administer retribution.

If any opponent can slither out of the ring with a victory, though, it’s most definitely the current incarnation of Orton. The past seven years have wizened the once self-destructive rebel. While he remains as unpredictable as he was while in Evolution with Batista, his attacks appear more calculated, more focused – there now appears to be a method to his madness. His cultivation of his Legacy cohorts Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase only serves to bolster the argument that Orton is willing to wait for just the right moment to strike, and he isn’t afraid to enlist help to further his cause.

The WWE Champion has been relishing his recent conquests in the lead up to Judgment Day, and would likely savor the opportunity to add Batista to his list of already impressive accomplishments. For his part, the challenger – a multiple-time former World Heavyweight Champion – would like nothing more than a chance to end Orton’s tyrannical reign and, in the process, lay claim to a title he’s never held.

Already know your favorite? Then cast your VOTE now!

BATISTA: It should come as no surprise that a Superstar known as The Animal has some feral tendencies. Since his debut in 2002, Batista has torn through the WWE roster with an abandon that would be considered reckless if not for his considerable skills. With his imposing physique, shocking speed and quickly escalating intensity, The Animal is one of the fiercest Superstars to ever compete in WWE.

Today’s Superstar of the Day over WWE.com is none other than “The Animal” Dave Batista. Be sure to check out the photo by clicking below.

Related Gallery:
Superstar of the Day: April 20, 2009

Sounds as easy as a leisurely Sunday drive, right? Only if you had to wrestle a bear for the keys.

In a Stretcher Match, there are no pinfalls, no submissions, no count-outs and no disqualifications. Plainly stated, Superstars must pummel an opponent so severely – while maintaining enough strength and coherence – that they’re able to heave their adversary onto a gurney, then roll it across the victory line. This is a match requiring not only stamina and determination but also an utter disregard for your rival’s well-being.

In 2008, a pair of legendary Superstars more than exceeded those requirements. At One Night Stand, Batista took issue with Shawn Michaels for sending their longtime friend and mentor Ric Flair into retirement at WrestleMania XXIV. Toward the end of their classic Stretcher Match, after trading perilous rides on the gurney, The Animal finally wore down HBK, incapacitating him with a back-wrenching Batista Bomb before  hoisting Michael’s limp body aboard the gurney and racing across the yellow line.

In similar, brutal fashion, just five days after the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania, the Brothers Hardy resorted to a Stretcher Match in hopes of settling their vicious sibling rivalry. After Matt had prevailed in an Extreme Rules Match at WrestleMania, Jeff felt confident his time had arrived. He zeroed in on his brother with a Swanton Bomb outside the ring, but the elder Hardy evaded the maneuver, causing Jeff to crash land onto the empty, unforgiving gurney. A chair to the skull deblitated Jeff further before Matt rushed the gurney and his unconscious brother over the line.

While the possible injuries in a Stretcher Match are seemingly endless, the stipulations do not necessarily require a Superstar to test their fear of heights or confined spaces. What is unquestionably required, however, is a test of both determination and resolve – a resolve to inflict enough damage on an opponent as to render them incapacitated. As a result, there are few better yardsticks to measure a Superstar’s will – and contempt for an opponent – than the Stretcher Match.

Related Gallery:
WWE Related > WWE Digitals > Other Digitals > # 9: List This! Most Extreme Matches

The night after the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania saw a bitter Orton take to the ring, incensed over his loss to Triple H. As he railed against the manner in which The Game obtained victory, the venomous Superstar was interrupted by the man he had incapacitated with a brutal punt, Mr. McMahon himself. The WWE Chairman denied Orton’s request for a rematch and instead placed him in another contest at Backlash, where The Legend Killer & The Legacy would go up against McMahon, his son Shane & his son-in-law, WWE Champion Triple H. Orton continued to hurl invective at his employer, prompting the WWE Chairman to place himself in a match against Orton later in the night.

Later in the evening, Vickie Guerrero announced that during the Six-Man Tag Team Match, the WWE Title would be on the line. Raw’s new GM clarified that if anyone from Triple H’s team won the match, he would retain the title, but if Orton or his cohorts tasted victory, then The Legend Killer would become the new WWE Champion. Whether because Orton was right about his employer, or the viper-like Superstar’s underhanded tactics were just too devious, things didn’t go well for Mr. McMahon.

As The Legacy joined their leader in the ring, The Legend Killer prepared to deliver another sadistic punt to the WWE Chairman’s head. Though both Shane McMahon and Triple H attempted to stop the cruel act, it was the returning Batista who was able to defend his employer, chasing the multi-generational Superstars from the ring. After The Animal’s shocking appearance, McMahon revised the match once again, replacing himself with Batista.

Though Randy Orton might not be taking place in the match he wanted, he will have another opportunity to obtain the WWE Title at Backlash, as he and The Legacy take part in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. But with Shane O’Mac and the returning Batista at WWE Champion Triple H’s side, will even Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase be enough to turn the odds in Orton’s favor?

To find out of Orton can continue his Legacy, make sure to watch Backlash, live on pay-per-view.