WWE News: Reviews, Analysis and Rumors for Week of Dec. 26

As is always the case, the week following Christmas was full of major developments in the WWE. Not only was there news regarding several possible high-profile returns, but there were also two huge injuries, as well as some important storyline development.

Perhaps the hottest topic in the WWE currently is who is behind the "It Begins" promos, which are advertising the return of somebody on the Jan. 2 edition of RAW. There have been many theories, including Chris Jericho, The Undertaker and multiple members of the McMahon family, but it's all speculation to this point.

Also, both Randy Orton and Alberto Del Rio will be out for at least several weeks with injuries, and Orton could be out even longer than that. While this could be viewed as something that will hurt the product, it will certainly give some younger superstars a chance to shine.

With the Royal Rumble a month away, things are only going to get crazier as the weeks continue to pass. Here are the biggest WWE rumors and news items over the past week.

Bobby Lashley Wants to Return to WWE

Former WWE star Bobby Lashley is in the news, as he recently told Slam! Wrestling in an interview that he would like to return to WWE down the road, according to SEScoops.com. Lashley competed in the WWE from 2005 to 2008, receiving a nice push that landed him the ECW Championship and the United States Championship.

Lashley never captured one of the main titles, however, which may be what prompted him to suggest that he had some "unfinished business" to attend to in the WWE. While the MMA fighter maintains that he is happy with what he is currently doing, he seems to still have a soft spot for the WWE.

"

I’m completely open to going back, I would love to come back and do something big if there was an opportunity presented, I would definitely consider it, he said.

"

My Take

While Lashley is a fine physical specimen and likely has plenty left in the tank at the age of 35, I don't see any reason for the WWE to reach out to him. I get the impression that Lashley is growing frustrated in MMA, as he hasn't been able to reach his goal of making it to UFC.

Bringing back Lashley wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but I doubt he would get much of a reaction, as he isn't well-known enough for casual or newer fans to care about him. Also, his mic skills always left much to be desired, so it will be difficult to get people behind him.

Lashley seemed dangerously close to getting a world title push during his last tenure with the company, and I think that would have been a major mistake. It's best that Lashley is left to compete in MMA so that Vince McMahon doesn't make the same mistake this time.

Read More:

Bobby Lashley Should Leave MMA and Come Back to WWE Right Now via Bleacher Report

Bobby Lashley Says He'd Like To Return To WWE via Wrestling Inc

Alberto Del Rio Injured

According to WrestleZone.com, two-time WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio has suffered a torn groin that will require minimally invasive surgery to be repaired. The surgery will cause him to miss four to six weeks of in-ring action and could keep him out of the Royal Rumble.

Del Rio was very much in the title picture prior to the injury, as both he and The Miz challenged CM Punk at TLC. It appears as though Del Rio's spot has been given to Dolph Ziggler for the time being, however, as Ziggler beat Punk in a gauntlet match on RAW due to outside interference and will receive a title shot this week.

My Take

Despite the fact that many consider Del Rio to be boring or unremarkable, I think he has done an excellent job over the past year and has many title reigns in his future. With that said, I don't believe that his absence will be a big deal, especially since it is only expected to last four to six weeks.

I think it's fair to say that the biggest loss will be his in-ring skills, as Del Rio routinely put on solid matches with pretty much anyone. Ziggler is a great choice to fill the void, though, since he may very well be the best worker in the company currently.

If Del Rio can't make it back for the Rumble, it will certainly be a bit of a disappointment since he won't be able to defend his crown. Even so, the injury could ultimately work out well for Del Rio, as he was in need of a change of direction from a storyline sense anyway.

Read More:

WWE News: Update on Alberto Del Rio's Injury, Will Require Surgery via Bleacher Report

WWE News: Alberto Del Rio's Untimely Injury Is Blessing in Disguise via Bleacher Report

Is Former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson Dating A-Rod?

Former WWE Diva and Playboy cover girl Torrie Wilson has pretty much laid low since departing the WWE in 2008, but that isn't the case any longer. She has been seen on three separate occasions with New York Yankees star third baseman Alex Rodriguez over the past month, according to Bill Hutchinson of the New York Daily News.

Rodriguez has been in relationships with actresses Kate Hudson and Cameron Diaz, as well as pop icon Madonna, in recent years. With that said, having a high-profile girlfriend is certainly nothing new for the Yankees' slugger.

Hutchinson also reported that Wilson and A-Rod were seen vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico before Christmas with actor George Clooney and his girlfriend Stacy Kiebler, who is also a former WWE Diva in her own right.

My Take

This certainly doesn't have much to do with the current state of the WWE, but it's nice to see Wilson back in the news again. While Wilson was the typical fashion model turned wrestler that so many wrestling fans lament, she did well with what limited skills she had and made a nice career for herself.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this new relationship is that since Wilson and the WWE are still on good terms, she might be able to get A-Rod involved with the company to some degree. WrestleMania XXVIII in Miami would be perfect since that is where he grew up, but baseball season will have already started.

While involvement from Wilson or A-Rod in the WWE probably isn't in the cards at the moment, I'm sure they'll get more attention than they can handle moving forward. It isn't often that Wilson is playing second fiddle in a relationship, but that comes with the territory with A-Rod.

Read More:

Alex Rodriguez Hits a Home Run in Landing Former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson via Bleacher Report

A-Rod and Torrie Wilson: Everything You Need to Know About A-Rod's New Lady via Bleacher Report

Is John Cena on the Road to a Heel Turn?

For the past several weeks, the WWE seems to have been hinting toward a John Cena heel turn. That talk intensified on Monday when Kane revealed his reasoning for attacking Cena over the past few weeks. He called Cena's slogan of "Rise Above Hate" a fallacy and said that he wanted to help Cena embrace the hate.

Kane then started a chorus of "Cena sucks" as Cena looked on dejected. Ever since the Piper's Pit promo, subtle hints have been being dropped that the crowd's boos have been getting to Cena. Because of that, it seems as though Cena could turn his back on the fans in the near future.

WrestlingInc.com is reporting that Cena was move to the 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. time slots on RAW this past week, however, because WWE Champion CM Punk's ratings haven't been good. Because of that, the WWE might be reluctant to make such a change.

My Take

Ratings aside, I think that it's about time for the creative team to make a major move and turn Cena heel. While I don't think there is any question that Cena is still the company's biggest draw, a heel turn wouldn't change that. In fact, I have to believe that taking the biggest face in wrestling and turning him would only increase fan interest.

I also believe that Punk's struggles in terms of ratings are overstated. Punk is universally cheered in every arena, so there has to be an explanation for the ratings dive. I think it has more to do with the fact that Punk isn't currently involved in a big angle, while Cena is with Kane.

Cena shouldn't be turned heel immediately, as I think the slow burn they're doing now is working pretty well. The best option would probably be to turn Cena heel after his match with The Rock at WrestleMania XXVIII. The Miami crowd will be pro Rock, so maybe Cena can attack The Rock after the match when The Rock offers a congratulatory handshake.

Read More:

John Cena: WWE's Actions Prove Cena's Heel Turn Is Happening Right Now via Bleacher Report

Why a John Cena Heel Turn Won't Happen, Even Though It Should via Bleacher Report

Chris Jericho Done with Wrestling or Behind 'It Begins' Promos?

Despite no real evidence to back it up, it has long been rumored that Chris Jericho is the superstar who will be returning on Jan. 2 as a result of the "It Begins" promos. Jericho has continually said that he has no plans to return to wrestling for the time being, and he essentially slammed the door shut on his return by saying he was completely done with wrestling, according to SEScoops.com.

Jericho has been asked about his return on a number of occasions, but clearly it has begun to get on his nerves, as evidenced by what he said in a recent tweet.

"

Sick of all the questions so this is it…from now on I’m not answering anymore wrestling related questions. I’m done w WWE. Deal with it

"

It's well known that Jericho likes to mess with the fans, but his emphatic nature may mean that he truly isn't going to be coming back on the upcoming edition of RAW.

My Take

Jericho says a lot of things, and as a wrestling fan, I've learned to take many of those things with a grain of salt. This is one of those instances, as I truly believe that he is the returning superstar. I think his denial on Twitter was little more than an attempt to throw people off his tracks.

It would stupid for Jericho to fuel the speculation when it is clearly meant to be a surprise. Because of that, I can't blame him for denying his involvement outright. It definitely doesn't disqualify him, though, as Jericho has ribbed on the fans many times in the past.

Maybe Jericho returning is just wishful thinking from the fans' standpoint, but there would seem to be very few other candidates. Perhaps it could be The Undertaker, but he just had a promo last year. The McMahons are also in play, but that would ultimately be a disappointment. I think we will finally see Jericho return to WWE programming on Monday.

Read More:

Chris Jericho Says He's Done with WWE as the Final Raw Mystery Promo Awaits via Bleacher Report

WWE News: Very Latest on Chris Jericho and the Cryptic "It Begins" Videos via Bleacher Report

After UFC Retirement, Will Brock Lesnar Return to WWE?

After getting beaten down by Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 on Friday night and losing via first-round TKO, Brock Lesnar announced his retirement from UFC. While this was the right move regardless, it has also fueled speculation that he will soon return to the company that made him a star, that being the WWE.

While Lesnar hasn't exactly praised the wrestling business since leaving in 2004 to pursue careers in the NFL and MMA, he has built a relationship with the WWE recently. In the company's new video game, WWE 12, Lesnar is an unlockable character, so clearly he and the WWE are on speaking terms.

Chris Jericho has begun to fan the flames a bit with regards to Lesnar's return, as he posted a tweet following Lesnar's UFC 141 loss and suggested that he was behind the "It Begins" promos, according to WrestleZone.com. It's certainly an interesting notion from Y2J, and it will only make wrestling fans more excited for Jan. 2.

My Take

While Jericho makes a good point about Lesnar's fight being lame and a bit fishy, I think this is simply his way of deflecting attention from himself. He is doing an excellent job too, as many wrestling fans are beginning to believe that Lesnar is the one behind the "It Begins" promos.

Although I do believe that Lesnar will return eventually for some type of program, he isn't coming back on Jan. 2. For that to have been possible, Lesnar would have had to have been planning to retire after fighting Overeem, win or lose. That seems unlikely to me since a win over Overeem could have really catapulted his UFC career.

I also have a hard time believing that Lesnar took a dive as Jericho is suggesting. Jericho simply saw a good opportunity to put the heat on somebody else, and he took it. It's definitely far from a guarantee that Jericho is going to return, but at this point, he seems like the most likely candidate by a long shot.

Read More:

Brock Lesnar Says Wrestling Is Not Real, Wants to Be Known as a UFC Fighter via Bleacher Report

Brock Lesnar: Why The Next Big Thing Is a Lock to Return to WWE via Bleacher Report

Randy Orton Injured, out of Action Long Term?

Randy Orton was written off television on this past episode of SmackDown as he was thrown down the stairs by Wade Barrett to simulate an injury. The truth is that Orton had been complaining about back soreness for a couple weeks. He apparently suffered a herniated disc and will be out for an undetermined amount of time, according to WrestlingInc.com.

Orton will likely be out for weeks, and while it has been speculated he could be out for up to six months, that is unsubstantiated at the moment. Whatever the case, it seems as though Orton will be out of action for quite some time, and it is unlikely that he will compete in the Royal Rumble in his hometown of St. Louis.

My Take

Whether you love him or hate him, it's tough to deny the quality of Orton's work as of late. From the summer until now, he has had a number of quality programs with Christian, Cody Rhodes and, most recently, Wade Barrett. His character tends to get boring at times, but he has worked some great matches with the aforementioned superstars.

Because of that, there is no question that the overall quality of SmackDown will go down a bit in his absence. Perhaps the biggest casualty of his injury, though, is Barrett. Feuding with Orton has really helped Barrett become relevant again, and he has gotten himself within shouting distance of the main-event picture.

With Orton out, something will need to be done with Barrett. I would imagine he will be put in a program with Sheamus, which should be beneficial for both wrestlers. Losing Orton hurts the company, as he is one of the top two or three faces, but at least we will get to see what others can do with an increased role in his absence.

Read More:

WWE Breaking News: Superstar Randy Orton Injured at SmackDown Tapings via Bleacher Report

Randy Orton: Long-Term Back Injury Opens Door for Seismic WWE Shift via Bleacher Report

Listen to internet radio with RingRustRadio on Blog Talk Radio