WWE TLC, Brock Lesnar 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 WWE TLC, Brock Lesnar 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.

We may just read your questions and comments live on the air. Visit our new website at RingRustRadio.com. You can also email us here: [e-mail].

*Some language NSFW.

Upcoming Guests/Events

Dec. 23: TNA and Bellator star Bobby Lashley

Dec. 30: Global Force Wrestling founder Jeff Jarrett

Dec. 30: Ring Rust Radio Year-End Awards

Reviewing WWE TLC PPV

Many fans had reservations entering WWE's TLC pay-per-view, and while it can be argued that a sizable portion of the card didn't deliver, a few select Superstars came away from the event looking great.

Among them were Dolph Ziggler, Luke Harper and Dean Ambrose, who all put forth transcendent performances that prevented TLC from being a total loss.

Question on Everybody's Mind: What Stood Out Most?

While a select few may have preferred the Tables, Ladders and Chairs main event between Ambrose and Bray Wyatt, the general consensus seems to be that the high point of the night came at the very beginning.

Ziggler and Harper kicked off the pay-per-view portion of the show in spectacular fashion, as the Showoff defeated the former Wyatt Family member to recapture the Intercontinental Championship in a hard-hitting and captivating ladder match.

Both men laid it all out on the line and were busted open, battered and bruised by the end of the match. The IC title hasn't felt truly important in quite some time, but they changed that—even if it was only for one night. Not only did the match help Ziggler continue building upon the momentum he created at Survivor Series, it also showed that Harper has the potential to be an upper-tier heel.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

Ambrose and Wyatt put on a good performance in their own right, but it suffered from the fact that fans had to sit through a slew of other gimmick matches before getting to it.

Also, while Ziggler and Harper looked like equals in their match, Ambrose undoubtedly shone brighter than Wyatt in their encounter, as the Lunatic Fringe took the vast majority of the big spots, including several death-defying elbow drops off ladders and through tables.

The other match of note pitted John Cena against Seth Rollins in a tables match. Shockingly, that bout didn't close the show, but that may have been a good thing, since it was an overbooked mess at times.

Cena ultimately won when Roman Reigns returned to even the odds by taking out Big Show, but Mr. Money in the Bank wasn't done any favors. Rollins needed a ton of help and was essentially put through a table on three occasions. Rollins should ultimately be fine, due to his immense talent level, but there were some bizarre decisions in the match to say the least.

Rumor Mill

Backstage fallout from TLC (h/t Reddit.com's MetsFan4Ever via WrestlingInc.com)

Brock Lesnar Returns on Raw

After three months away from WWE programming, WWE World Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar made his return Monday night on Raw.

In addition to taking out guest general manager Chris Jericho, the Beast Incarnate closed the show by interfering in a cage match between Cena and Rollins. He helped Rollins win in the process, which should make for an interesting build toward Royal Rumble.

Question on Everybody's Mind: What's Next for the Champ?

As has long been anticipated, Lesnar will face Cena for the third time in five months when they meet in a world title match at Royal Rumble.

Cena earned the No. 1 contendership by beating Randy Orton at Hell in a Cell, and he retained it Sunday at TLC with his tables match victory over Rollins. Now that the rematch is officially set, the focus shifts toward who will come out on top.

While some seem to think that Cena has a legitimate shot, all signs seem to be pointing toward Lesnar retaining. WWE has already gone this far with the Beast as champ, so it might as well take it all the way to WrestleMania.

Lesnar ended The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania and dominated Cena at SummerSlam this year, which means he is the perfect candidate to put someone over in an absolutely huge way in the main event at WrestleMania XXXI. In order to do that, he needs to look strong and be the champion, which will be the case when he defeats Cena at Royal Rumble.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

Aside from Lesnar's likely triumph at Royal Rumble, an interesting wrinkle has been added to the mix in the form of Rollins.

After Lesnar aided Rollins Monday, Mr. Money in the Bank shook hands with Paul Heyman. Rollins then revealed on SmackDown that he orchestrated the attack. He also claimed that he planned to make Cena's life miserable until he agreed to reinstate the Authority. Lesnar can certainly help him do precisely that in the coming weeks.

From Heyman's perspective, striking a deal with Rollins makes sense because he possesses the Money in the Bank briefcase. Rollins tried to cash in on Lesnar at Night of Champions, but he was foiled by Cena.

Since Rollins is an ever-present threat, Heyman is wise to get him on his side. Of course, this alliance could break down at any given time, since none of three men involved are known for their honesty. Regardless of how it plays out, though, it's an intriguing addition to the bigger angle of Lesnar vs. Cena.

Rumor Mill

Backstage update on Lesnar's future (F4WOnline via WrestlingInc.com)

Roman Reigns Returns at TLC

Roman Reigns missed three months of in-ring action after undergoing surgery to correct an incarcerated hernia just prior to Night of Champions.

Although he made some appearances in via-satellite promos and accepted the Superstar of the Year Slammy Award, TLC marked his return to physical action as he took out Big Show and helped Cena defeat Rollins.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Is Reigns Destined to Win the Rumble?

While it seems blatantly obvious that WWE views Reigns as its next big star, the WWE fanbase seems split on him.

He gets massive reactions whenever he appears and boasts the look and overall presence a top guy needs. At the same time, however, he needs to make strides on the mic, and not everyone is sold on his in-ring work, either, despite the fact that he brings a certain degree of explosiveness and excitement to the table.

Regardless of which side of the fence one might fall on, it's time to get prepared for Reigns' ascent to the pinnacle of the company. It is a matter of time before it happens, and it could occur as soon as WrestleMania XXXI.

Whoever wins the Royal Rumble match will end Lesnar's title reign at 'Mania. Reigns is already a top candidate and has been announced as the first entrant, following his record-breaking performance in last year's Rumble match.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

There is still plenty of time before Royal Rumble, but early indications are that Reigns is the odds-on favorite.

WWE has made the Rumble winner blatantly obvious leading up to the pay-per-view in recent years, and Reigns stands out in that regard thus far. Although Reigns clearly wouldn't be the worst choice, Superstars such as Daniel Bryan (if healthy), Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose all seem like better options on paper.

They could all play the underdog role against Lesnar at WrestleMania, they're all hugely popular and they're all as well-rounded as a Superstar can be. Bryan is the true wild card, since it is unclear when he is coming back. Ziggler is intriguing in because nobody on the entire roster has more momentum than him at present.

Reigns would likely benefit from another year of development before winning the Rumble and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but it seems like a very real possibility that he'll accomplish those goals in the coming months.

Rumor Mill

Backstage reaction to Vince McMahon's comments (PWInsider via WrestlingInc.com)

Ring Rust Radio's Season 7 Fantasy WWE Standings

1. Mike Chiari: 80

2. Joe Arcidiacono: 45

T3. Donald Wood: 30

T3. Brandon Galvin: 30

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

Follow @RingRustRadio on Twitter.