CM Punk, Vince McMahon and Latest WWE News and Rumors from Ring Rust Radio

Ring Rust Radio is the best wrestling show on the airwaves, and this week was no different. With strong opinions on CM Punk, Vince McMahon and more, this is where you need to go to get all of your weekly WWE nuggets.

Bleacher Report featured columnists Mike Chiari, Donald Wood and Brandon Galvin give the lowdown on everything going on in the wrestling world.

With another unpredictable episode of Ring Rust Radio in the books, you can't afford to miss another second of the action. Catch us live every Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET (some language NSFW) or follow us on Twitter @RingRustRadio.

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Dec. 9: ROH tag team champion Bobby Fish

CM Punk Sounds off About WWE on Podcast

*Some language NSFW

It has been 10 months since CM Punk last appeared on WWE programming, but the Straight-Edge Superstar finally broke his silence on an episode of Colt Cabana's The Art of Wrestling.

Punk had plenty to say during the almost two-hour podcast, and he shed some light on his experience in WWE and his decision to leave the company.

Question on Everybody's Mind: What Are the Biggest Takeaways?

Punk's last WWE match came in the 2014 Royal Rumble, after which he decided to go home rather than appear on Raw. There has been a ton of speculation surrounding why he left, but Punk revealed on the podcast that much of it had to do with the fact that injuries were starting to mount.

According to the interview (h/t WrestlingInc), Punk suffered a concussion in the Rumble match and was dealing with what he would later find out was a staph infection, too. All of that was compounded by frustration regarding creative issues, so Punk felt that leaving was the best option.

Punk was later suspended for two months before ultimately being fired by WWE. In what was perhaps the most compelling part of the interview, Punk revealed that WWE terminated his contract on his wedding day (h/t Brian Fritz of Sporting News)

"

The day of my wedding (to WWE Diva AJ Lee) I got a FedEx in the mail. It was my termination papers. I was fired. I was fired on my wedding day. Very calculated, very deliberate. As much as I chuckled at it and didn't let it affect my day, I was like once again, you pushed too f-----g far. You pushed the wrong guy.

"

Those were just a couple of the many gripes Punk discussed having with WWE, and there is no doubt that fans now have a better understanding of his attitude toward and relationship with the company.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

Punk has always been a polarizing figure, which means most fans likely either loved or hated much of what he had to say.

He obviously needed some time away from WWE to heal his injuries, but it seems as though a hard-headed mentality from both Punk and Vince McMahon resulted in that becoming something far more permanent. Had the two sides been able to sit down and have lucid conversation regarding the matter, perhaps Punk would still be with WWE.

In addition to the injuries, hard feelings regarding booking decisions may have gotten the best of Punk, as he admitted to expressing his dismay over being booked to face Triple H at WrestleMania XXX. Those types of wounds tend to heal, but Punk seems dead set against ever returning to WWE because of the circumstances surrounding his firing.

Everything is still quite fresh in the minds of Punk, McMahon and everyone involved, so it is easy to see why tensions are still high. Even though the relationship may look irreparable right now, hopefully time will be able to change that.

Rumor Mill

WWE's backstage reaction to Punk's comments (Wrestling Observer Newsletter via WrestlingInc)

Vince McMahon Speaks Candidly on Steve Austin's Podcast

In what turned out to be an absolutely huge week for wrestling podcasts, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon appeared on a special edition of Stone Cold Steve Austin's The Steve Austin Show just days after Punk's tell-all interview.

The McMahon interview aired live on WWE Network following Raw, and the Texas Rattlesnake didn't back down when it came to asking the tough questions.

Question on Everybody's Mind: How Did Vince Come Across?

McMahon touched on a wide array of subjects during his discussion with his greatest storyline adversary and real-life moneymaker.

Among the talking points was the Punk controversy. Many were surprised that Austin brought it up, and while McMahon didn't discuss it great detail, he did apologize for the timing of his firing. According to the podcast (h/t WrestlingInc), McMahon chalked it up as an unfortunate miscommunication.

Aside from that, McMahon had a lot of interesting things to say about the current state of WWE. He was bullish about WWE Network, but he expressed some concern regarding the talent. He claimed that there isn't as much ambition in the current locker room as there was during the Attitude era, and he even said that few are willing to step up and "grab the brass ring."

He was specifically asked about Cesaro, and while he praised his physical gifts, he also expressed concern about the Swiss Superman not "connecting" with the audience. On top of that, Vince also had some interesting views on the value of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and the utilization of part-time Superstars.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

For most viewers, McMahon's interview likely felt like it had fleeting moments of both brilliance and madness.

McMahon isn't often an in-ring character at this point, but he is one of the greatest heels the business has ever seen. When McMahon talked about his dynamic with Austin and the fact that he patterned his character on the type of person he despised in actuality, it became clear that he is a virtual genius in terms of wrestling psychology.

That is what made some of his comments even more frustrating. The Cesaro statements were a major sticking point with many fans. Cesaro was unquestionably over with the crowd after winning a Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXX. Cesaro's push was botched by turning him heel and putting him with Paul Heyman, so it was a creative issue more than anything else.

Also, McMahon was surprisingly dismissive of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and suggested that the fans care more about the angles than the titles. The storylines are important, but many of the best ones involve the top championship.

At the same time, his school of thought as it relates to using guys like Brock Lesnar and Sting as special attractions feels cutting edge.

McMahon and Punk are at odds right now, but they are alike in terms of their controversial nature and polarizing personalities. Because of that, it is only fitting that they dominated wrestling headlines days apart from each other.

Rumor Mill

McMahon's rumored reaction to Punk's comments (F4WOnline via WrestlingInc)

John Cena vs. Seth Rollins Set for TLC

With a quick turnaround between Survivor Series and TLC, WWE got to work by setting the main event for the upcoming pay-per-view on Raw. John Cena will go up against Seth Rollins in a tables match with the added stipulation that Cena will no longer be No. 1 contender for Lesnar's WWE World Heavyweight Championship if he loses.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Should This Match Be Happening?

With WWE clearly holding back on Lesnar's in-ring return until Royal Rumble, it needed to find some type of hook for TLC.

Cena's No. 1 contendership being on the line will be intriguing to some, but perhaps the most interesting aspect is Rollins' involvement. Rollins has been brought along effectively since turning on the Shield, and there is little doubt that he is now the top full-time heel in the company.

That notion is cemented by WWE putting him up against Cena in a pay-per-view main event. In fact, TLC will mark Rollins' third consecutive pay-per-view main event, which means the company obviously believes in Mr. Money in the Bank.

At the same time, there is always inherent risk involved putting a rising heel in a match against Cena. Regardless of whose fault it was, Cena has been known to kill momentum and stifle pushes by going over, so WWE has to be extremely careful.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

It makes sense WWE felt the need to put Rollins up against Cena since they both captained teams at Survivor Series.

They are also the company's No. 1 heel and face, respectively, and they have never had a one-on-one match on pay-per-view. With that said, Dolph Ziggler was the shining star of Team Cena's win over Team Authority, and putting him in the main event against Rollins would have felt fresher since they aren't so overexposed in that part of the card.

There is nothing wrong with Rollins vs. Cena in terms of match quality. It should be a solid bout, but it is difficult to envision Cena losing this one. Everything has been building toward a rubber match between Cena and Lesnar; taking the No. 1 contendership away from Cena would leave a major void.

Rollins figures to get plenty of help from former Authority members in this match before someone like Randy Orton or Roman Reigns shows up to help Cena win. That way, Rollins can claim that he lost unfairly, but it will still be a loss.

Rumor Mill

Possible return at TLC pay-per-view (Wrestling Observer Newsletter via WrestlingInc)

Ring Rust Radio's Season 7 Fantasy WWE Standings

1. Mike Chiari: 55

2. Brandon Galvin: 25

3. Donald Wood: 20

4. Joe Arcidiacono: -10

For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio. Catch the latest episode in the player below (some language NSFW).

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