Credit: WWE.com

The company's hopes for Daniel Bryan's return to action and plans for Brock Lesnar's potential opponent post-John Cena headline the latest WWE rumors.

Can the bearded warrior make it back to the ring before the end of the year? WWE reportedly believes that's a real possibility. As for The Beast Incarnate, officials may have already lined up who he takes on after his rematch with Cena.

Other rumors center on the possible identity of The Bunny from Adam Rose's entourage, whether Batista is coming back, and what CM Punk and his legal team reportedly sent to the WWE offices.

The latter story is the strangest one. A year ago, Punk was entrenched in a feud with Paul Heyman. His rivalry is now with WWE itself.

If one can be certain of anything regarding the Punk situation, it's that he won't be named No. 1 contender to Lesnar's title.

Brock Lesnar's Possible Next Challenger

If fans were betting on Cena to regain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on Sept. 21, a recent report will force them to rethink that.

According to F4WOnline (h/t WrestlingInc.com) Big Show is reportedly next in line to challenge Lesnar after Night of Champions. That rumored plan points to Lesnar retaining at the pay-per-view, an outcome many would have predicted.

It's hard to imagine all this buildup, including ending Undertaker's streak and manhandling Cena at SummerSlam, would all be for another Cena redemption story.

Instead, it looks as if WWE is going to hand The Beast a number of opponents he can steamroll until WrestleMania 31.

Big Show is a warm-up foe, a veteran who can sustain a loss. Few would go into that bout believing that The World's Largest Athlete will win. He hasn't held the WWE title since losing it to Kurt Angle in late 2002.

He's more of a launching pad now, as he was at this year's Royal Rumble. WWE used him then as a means to show off Lesnar's destructive power.

Credit: WWE.com

It appears that story will be told once more.

CM Punk Reportedly Pushing Back on Royalties

Punk may be done fighting on Raw and SmackDown, but he's apparently gearing up for another kind of battle.

Per Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestle Zone), Punk's attorneys reportedly sent WWE a lengthy letter regarding royalties, particularly when it comes to the WWE 2K15 video game. Punk is currently one of four Superstars featured in the game's 2K Showcase mode.

Credit: WWE.com

It was surprising for fans to see Punk play such a prominent role in a WWE product months after his animosity-filled departure earlier this year. It seems Punk felt more than surprise upon learning of his inclusion in the game.

The fact that he walked out of his contract and sat at home as it expired makes this an unexpected move.

If anyone in this situation is to be sending anyone any legal letters, one would assume it would be WWE. Since word of this letter came out, the Internet has been awash with rumblings about the game being delayed and Punk suing the company.

On PWInsider, Mike Johnson squashes that latter rumor, writing, "Neither CM Punk nor Alberto Del Rio have filed lawsuits against WWE, much less beaten them in court."

That may not remain the case. Every time this story seems to fade away, some new tension emerges. It looks as if the Punk-versus-WWE drama, much like "CM Punk!" chants at live events, will continue for the foreseeable future.

Backstage Word on Adam Rose's Bunny

Heath Slater and Titus O'Neil have been on the receiving end of a large rabbit's striking power. The Bunny from Adam Rose's Rosebuds most recently superkicked Slater and dove onto O'Neil on Monday's Raw.

Backstage word says The Bunny could eventually be a way to bring back an injured Superstar.

According to PWInsider's subscribers-only section (h/t WrestlingInc.com) there is talk that Darren Young will end up being the man in the costume. Per WWE.com, Young tore his ACL in April.

That injury was to have him out for four to six months. It's been five.

As recently as Sept. 2, Young posted on Instagram that he had yet to be cleared by doctors.

Having Young slip into the bunny outfit when he does heal would be an intriguing way to reintroduce him. Including The Rosebuds more helps make it easier for WWE Creative when booking Rose. The options for him increase when the company can insert a talented athlete such as Young (bunny costume and all) into tag matches with the party-happy Superstar.

Young could eventually turn on Rose as well, setting up one of the oddest matches in recent memory.

Batista Not Coming Back?

WWE fans may have lost Batista to the movie world.

As Guardians of the Galaxy continues to rake in money, Batista's position in Hollywood rises. He's no longer just a movie strongman relegated to the background; he's a big part of a summer hit.

The latest update on whether he will break away from movie roles to do his thing in WWE again will not please his fanbase.

According to PWInsider Elite (h/t WrestlingInc.com) Batista's people reportedly don't want him to return to wrestling. The report notes that they believe Batista didn't get an opportunity to use his own ideas and didn't get what WWE had promised him.

That kind of reported frustration as well as the injury risks of the wrestling ring are making his expected comeback less and less of a sure thing.

Perhaps it will just take some time away, allowing the stench of his last run to wear off, before his desire to entertain the WWE fans is strong again. It would be disappointing for his career to end in such an awkward fashion.

A princess wave can't be his last act in WWE, right?

Daniel Bryan Return Update

There's finally some positive news to share regarding Bryan's health. Per F4WOnline (h/t WrestlingInc.com), Brie Bella reportedly said during a recent media interview for Total Divas that the former champ will not need a second surgery.

That has apparently led to some optimism from WWE as to when he'll be back.

According to PWInsider (h/t PW Mania) WWE officials hope that Bryan can make it back by Survivor Series. The report also notes that the company doesn't want to rush him back and risk further injury.

Survivor Series is only two months away. Seeing Bryan in a ring as early as that would be thrilling. WWE has certainly missed his frenzied energy.

It's also comforting to hear that WWE isn't looking to hurry him along. If he can come back and have a long, fruitful career, fans would be willing to wait for several months.

No one wants to see him have to retire before he's ready, a la Edge. While it won't be an issue drumming up the patience required to wait out his recovery, the company at least believes the wait won't be long.

Suddenly, it's not implausible to think that Bryan could be back by WrestleMania 31 and be the one to dethrone Lesnar rather than Roman Reigns.