Coasting along on the record-breaking, zeitgeist-influencing success of Guardians of the Galaxy, Dave Bautista was a surprise call-in guest to Chad Dukes vs. The World, a radio show emanating from his hometown Washington, D.C.'s 106.7 The Fan.

In addition to chatting about his role as Drax in the #1 movie in the world, the subject of pro wrestling and Dave's other job as WWE's Batista was discussed. The always opinionated Animal didn't disappoint.

He admitted that he hasn't kept a close eye on the product while on tour promoting Guardians, but what he's seen has him a little concerned about how WWE is handling their "next big thing", Roman Reigns:

The guy's obviously, he's a huge star, he's gonna be a huge star. I feel like if they push him out there before he's ready, it's gonna put a fizzle on everything, man, I'd just hate to see that. I think they should have kept [the Shield] together a little bit longer. Let ‘em have that babyface run just a little bit longer.

Because he plays a hero in a movie that emphasizes good guy characteristics like friendship, a lot of folks have speculated that his WWE return will have to be as a babyface. That's not what Bautista hopes for:

I'll be honest with you, I just don't want it. I love being a heel, man. I think I'm the guy that people love to boo and I'm okay with that and I love being heel. I'm the worst babyface in the history of wrestling. [Laughs] I'm just not good at it. When you do promos sometimes you gotta say things that people wanna hear instead of telling them things they should hear. You know it's hard for me to be that guy always saying the politically correct thing. I just don't like it I'm not comfortable with it.

With WWE's expectation and efforts to cast him as a fan favorite in January, it would be something if he returned as a bad guy this time and was roundedly cheered regardless. We'll find out how they play it and how the WWE Universe responds, hopefully some time next month.

What do you think, Cagesiders? Is he right about Reigns? And should Batista return as the villain he left, or embrace the fan love that lead to $94 million dollars in the United States last weekend?