Report: Batista returning to WWE in 2014, possibly at the Royal Rumble

According to a report from PWInsider.com, former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion Batista, an old running buddy of Triple H and one-time member of Evolution, will be making his return to the promotion early next year, possibly as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble.

Not much of a surprise now.

That's because an advertisement started circulating for an event in February in Las Vegas, Nevada, that spoiled it. This was apparently a mistake but the cat is now out of the bag.

Either way, Batista has been very open about wanting to come back to WWE at some point to put a bow tie around his career, though he wanted to wait out the so-called "PG Era". As Triple H has come into significant power, however, the two have had talks at various points and while Batista's career in Hollywood has prevented a proper return, one that would allow him to work the WWE schedule, he's free and clear in the early months of 2014.

So we could be getting a six-month run or so, similar to what Chris Jericho has done in recent years. Something like Royal Rumble to SummerSlam, which means WWE will have brought back at least one big former star for WrestleMania 30 in New Orleans.

Your thoughts on all this, Cagesiders?