WWE It Begins 2012: 10 Possible Storylines to Explain WWE's Cryptic Promos

"It Begins" is about to actually begin.

After sitting through six of these cryptic promos and damn near killing ourselves debating who they're meant for, we are now just four days away from finding out which WWE star is behind them.

The list of potential "It Begins" candidates seems to be relatively short, but given the "never-say-never" nature of pro wrestling, we may be in for a surprise next Monday.

Who will it be? Who will emerge on Jan. 2 and cause the end of the world as we know it?

As much as we think we know who it is, we really don't. So, let's play a little guessing game.

Here are 10 possible storylines to explain WWE's cryptic "It Begins" promos.

10. Batista Comes Back in an Attempt to End the PG Era

Batista is definitely a long shot to return on Monday, but if he's working the Internet with his recent comments about the WWE, then he's done a masterful job of it:

Check out what Batista had to say in a recent interview with The Daily Star, courtesy of LordsofPain.net:

(On) The current WWE product:

"

It’s brutal. I can’t watch it. I can’t connect with it. I no longer know this business. I don’t do PG wrestling.

"

(On) The Miz and today's Superstars:

"

Love me or hate me, when I was there everyone took one look at me and knew I could beat someone up. I don’t think they look at Miz that way.

It’s sad. It’s not their fault. These days the guys have their hands tied, they are so limited in what they can do. The difference is that guys like Rock, Austin, Triple H, excuse me, but they had to have the living sh*t beat out of them to get where they are. They went through war and the audience knows it and the audience appreciates it. The guys today will never get to that level. It’s sad, but that’s the reason for it.

"

Obviously, this could just be Batista speaking his mind, but if not, it's a great setup for him to return to the WWE in an attempt to rid the company of anything that might be considered PG—for example, John Cena, The Miz and all the corny humor.

Maybe it's just me, but I think it would be awesome to see Batista come back as a heel (like when he left the company in 2010) to "take over" the WWE.

9. The End of an Era?

To kind of piggyback off the Batista storyline, the "It Begins" promos could signal the end of an era (possibly the PG era) in the WWE.

The videos have stated that "it will be the end of the world as we know it," which might very well indicate the end of the WWE as it is now.

That could mean any different number of things, but it seems like these cryptic YouTube videos are hinting that major change will come to the entire WWE.

Obviously, this could be the WWE's way of embellishing what type of an impact a returning superstar may have. But for someone or something to change the WWE as a whole, it's gotta be more than just one man (or woman) coming back.

It has to be a monumental change that will rock the WWE from top to bottom. It has to be "the end of the world."

8. The End of John Cena's Current Character

The return of masked Kane has led to an interesting storyline in which The Big Red Monster is essentially trying to convince John Cena to turn on the fans and thus, turn heel.

I really love the concept of this angle and think it could work brilliantly if executed right.

The recent developments in Cena's character—the fact he's been looking a little more human, the way he's finally acknowledged the boos, etc.—seem to be leading toward a substantial change in Cena's gimmick, if not a full-fledged heel turn.

That could be great for the WWE, and obviously, it would be a monumental shift in the way the WWE works.

No more campy comedy. No more bright purple shirts. No more "Hustle, Loyalty, Respect."

Cena would finally be the heel we wanted him to be, and if his turn happens on next week's Raw, it could play into the "It Begins" videos.

A incredible long shot, sure. But a very slight possibility, yes.

7. A Superstar Returns and Forms a Heel Stable

Most fans seem to think that the videos are meant for the return of one, possibly two, WWE performers.

But I wouldn't totally count out the possibility of one superstar coming back to form a heel stable that would take control of the WWE. 

The "It Begins" videos note that "a force shall arrive," not clearly defining whether that force is a single person or a group of persons. Thus, there is a chance that the force is more than just one superstar.

I guess, in essence, this would be similar to what the WWE did with the Nexus: a group, or "force," comes to Monday Night Raw to take over the WWE.

I'm not sure about any of the specifics here, but if the WWE decides to go this route and bring back a stable, it could be huge if booked properly.

6. The Undertaker Emerges to Reignite His Feud with Triple H

I'm feeling a bit of deja vu here.

In early 2011, we witnessed a series of "2 21 11" videos, which eventually led to the return of The Undertaker on Feb. 21. Of course, just minutes after Undertaker came back, Triple H returned as well.

Now, here we are almost one year later, and both men are sitting on the sidelines once again, leading me to believe that we could see these two come back on the same night for a second time.

Triple H set up another potential WrestleMania showdown with The Undertaker when he took a shot at the Phenom a few weeks back, and I wouldn't be even remotely surprised to see another bout between these two on the grandest stage of them all.

I think it would be a total buzz kill to essentially see the same storyline again in 2012, but I'm certainly not leaving it out of the realm of possibility

5. The Undertaker Returns to End the "Barrett Barrage"

Who remembers Bragging Rights in 2010?

It was at that pay-per-view that Kane defeated The Undertaker in a Buried Alive Match thanks to some help from Wade Barrett and the Nexus.

The WWE never really followed up on that storyline, however, instead moving Taker into a feud with Triple H when he finally returned to the WWE in February 2011. But this could be the perfect time to pick back up on it.

Randy Orton was injured at last night's Smackdown taping, so Barrett could be looking for a new feud. Plus, it would make sense for Undertaker to target Barrett because Taker just hasn't been the same since Barrett attacked him at Bragging Rights.

Undertaker almost lost to Triple H at WrestleMania, and essentially, that was an indirect result of Barrett's attack on Taker way back in 2010.

It would be a complete shock to see the WWE recognize such distant history, but—you know what?—it works.

4. Vince McMahon Returns to Regain Control of the WWE

It honestly wouldn't make much sense for Vince McMahon to return on Jan. 2.

But he was "fired" as the WWE's boss back in the summer, only to return and fired the man who fired him, Triple H. So, logic has pretty much been thrown out the window here.

It's no secret that Vince loves to put himself in high-profile angles, and he could do just that by being the man behind the "It Begins" promos.

After all, he could certainly set out "to reclaim what is his," witch is clearly referring to the WWE.

Vince was unceremoniously removed from his position as the head of the company that he built up, and he could be returning, with a vengeance, to take it back.

3. Shane McMahon Comes Back for Revenge Against Triple H

A popular theory out there is that Shane McMahon is the one who's coming back.

While some immediately shot this idea down, I could definitely see it.

When Vince McMahon was removed from his position as WWE boss by the board of directors, he could have been replaced by his son, Shane McMahon. Instead, he was replaced by his son-in-law, Triple H.

I smell some jealousy from Shane-O-Mac.

I don't know about you, but I would be absolutely livid if control of my family's company was given to my brother-in-law rather than myself. And I would want to do something about it.

Although Shane doesn't technically work for the WWE anymore and has moved on to other ventures, he is still a part of the McMahon family, and wrestling is in his blood.

He likely hasn't totally separated himself from the business and could be back for one last run to regain control of the company from his brother-in-law.

2. Stephanie and Shane McMahon Want the Company Back

While I could see just Shane McMahon coming back, I think it's much more likely that both he and Stephanie return.

When the storyline involving Triple H, Vince McMahon and the position as the head of the WWE was at its peak over the summer, it looked like Stephanie would be a big part of it.

She randomly appeared on TV a few times, and dropped this cryptic line directed toward CM Punk: "In the end, people always get what they deserve."

Nothing ever really came out of this, but that might change.

The "It Begins" videos consistently refer to the "end of the world," and though it could be just a coincidence that Stephanie referred to the end as well, it would be phenomenal if that wasn't the case.

The WWE rarely uses such long-term booking, so it would be great to see that one random backstage segment by Stephanie come full circle and play into the "It Begins" videos.

Perhaps she (the girl in the video) and Shane (the boy in the video) return together regain control of the WWE. 

1. Chris Jericho Wants to Reclaim His Title of "Best in the World"

As much as some of my other theories did or did not make sense, I think most of us can agree that Chris Jericho returning on Jan. 2 is the most logical scenario.

It's just too perfect.

The "It Begins" videos clearly seem to be playing up the idea of Jericho returning to reclaim his title as "best in the world" from CM Punk, and there are just far too many signs that point to Jericho: The maple leaf, the globe, the "do you understand?" line, etc.

Jericho can deny he's coming back all he wants, but unless the cryptic YouTube videos are full of ridiculous red herrings, it's Jericho who's returning.

And he's coming back to stop Punk from "stealing his gimmick."

I'd bank on Jericho interrupting the WWE Championship between Punk and Dolph Ziggler on Monday's Raw, leading to a rematch between Punk and Ziggler at the Royal Rumble and then an epic WrestleMania showdown between Jericho and Punk to see who truly is the best wrestler in the world. 

It's obvious, but it works.