Batista predicts CM Punk WWE return: 'He belongs here'

When CM Punk walked out on WWE all the way back in January -- yes, it's been that long -- following the Royal Rumble, everyone was in a rush to tell us when he would come back. First, we had Stone Cold Steve Austin predicting the "Straight Edge Superstar" would return at WrestleMania 30 (which, of course, didn't happen). Later, Alberto Del Rio chimed in with his thoughts, claiming Punk would return "soon".

Now, count Batista among the group who believe we'll see him back some day, as told to Digital Spy in a recent interview promoting the upcoming Aug. 1, 2014, release of Guardians of the Galaxy:

"I think eventually he'll come back. I think he belongs there. I think the fans really love him and miss him. I think he loves it and misses it just as much. I'm really not sure why he left. He'll be back, I would think that he would be back. I think it would be kind of crazy if he didn't go back."

I guess he didn't get the memo that CM Punk is "never ever ever" coming back to professional wrestling. Perhaps someone should play him this video to really drive it home.

Really, this has traditionally been an industry that, as Chris Jericho has stated in the past, is something like the mob. Even when you're out, you're never really out and you always come back.

For now, Punk seems happy living a life without pro wrestling.

For now.