You know what time of year it is, don't you? WrestleMania season is about to begin!

With the Royal Rumble taking place in late January, the WWE are starting to firm plans up for the Granddaddy of Them All.

Down the years, plenty of former WWE superstars have made a dramatic return to the company and they have taken big, headline spots.

The Rock returned in 2011 to set-up a feud with John Cena, Batista made a stunning comeback in 2013 to win the Royal Rumble and headline WrestleMania while Goldberg made returned after 12 years away last year to win the Universal title and face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.

Plenty of fans have criticised the WWE for relying on part-timers and returning stars too much for the company's biggest show of the year, but there can be little doubt that they attract a bigger audience.

Back in the early 2000s, the WWE had an influx of talent the likes of which is likely to never be replicated again.

Lesnar, Batista, John Cena, Shelton Benjamin and Randy Orton went on to win 40 world titles between them - with Lesnar winning the least! - and they all came through OVW at the same time.

Now, it seems like another run for the Animal Batista could be on the cards.

The former Evolution member recently told legendary announcer Jim Ross on the Ross Report podcast that he was looking for a full-time return to the company and he has reiterated those thoughts to The Sun newspaper.

"I would love to go back, but the reason I have not gone back is because I don't want to do a one-off," Batista said. "I want to go and I want to wrestle. I want to do some house shows (untelevised live events), I want to be a part of the program and I love it. The one-off thing, the cheap pop thing, it doesn't do anything for me."

Batista turns 49-years-old in January, but if used correctly, his return could be big business for the company.

Although the former six-time world champion has stated he would like to work a retirement angle with Triple H, how good does a feud with Braun Strowman sound?!