Punk comin back would certainly confirm for all of us, who wrestled back and forth on if it was staged or legit. That it was staged for reaction just like when everyone walked out on HHH when Raw went into chaos after Vince was fired.
It's something to think about, but just about every feud, every stunt, every title reign we're getting today has been teased in the last 18-36 months. It's almost been a hallmark of things since HHH became more of an on-screen authority figure that they do things on a small scale, then it becomes a major deal. Some of this can be chalked up to the old "there are only seven plots in fiction" chestnut (or however many...I always say seven....but I just like that number), but some of it is also....let's call it "research", research into what the fans will support.
So, the idea that the mass walk-out (which featured HHH, Cena, Sheamus, and Punk being the only guys who hung around, if you'll recall) could have been a "practice run" for a big star "walking out" as a plot point. Seen from that perspective, Batista "going home" last Monday just to show up later in the show could be seen as foreshadowing a Punk return.
Or we could just be grasping at straws...which is far more realistic, but not as much fun to talk about.
wk