Shawn Michaels, Fastlane 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 Fastlane, Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan 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. WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels also joined the show to offer his inside perspective on the business

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.

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March 3: 2006-2010 PG Era Draft

Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan Clash Ahead of Fastlane

There has been obvious bad blood between Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan since the leader of the Yes Movement defeated Seth Rollins to earn a shot at Reigns' No. 1 contendership. It finally boiled over in a big way on the go-home edition of Raw prior to Fastlane, as they engaged in a wild brawl that set the tone for their hugely important pay-per-view matchup.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Who Will Win at Fastlane?

WWE World Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will main event WrestleMania, but his opponent won't be known until Fastlane reaches its conclusion. Reasonable cases can be made for either Reigns or Bryan.

Given he won the Royal Rumble, one can only assume Reigns was WWE's preferred choice originally. It is entirely possible a decision has been made to go in a different direction, but it is abundantly clear that the WWE brass views the Juggernaut as the company's next top star.

As for Bryan, he is arguably the most universally popular Superstar on the roster, and he has already proved that he can handle the WrestleMania main event from an in-ring perspective, as well as on the mic. Bryan is the safer and perhaps better pick than Reigns to take on Lesnar, but Reigns could become an instant star if he thrives in that situation.

There is also seemingly a third option, which would pit both Reigns and Bryan against Lesnar in a Triple Threat match. That would require some type of non-finish at Fastlane due to an interference or something like a double pin. It may not even be on WWE's radar, but it is certainly a scenario worth considering.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

Based on how great the interactions between Reigns and Bryan have been and how entertaining their brawl was, it isn't a stretch to suggest that a Triple Threat is the best possible choice for WrestleMania.

It would allow the great face versus face angle to continue, and it would add even more mystery to the result of the title match on the big stage.

Also, Lesnar already showed how well he can perform in a Triple Threat match at Royal Rumble against Rollins and John Cena. In this particular scenario, Bryan could play the role of Rollins with Reigns playing the part of Cena. Ultimately, it is difficult to imagine that match being anything short of spectacular.

Due to the warning signs, though, Reigns vs. Lesnar still feels like the likely result. Bryan may very well be acting as a gatekeeper between Reigns and Lesnar. If Reigns beats him at Fastlane and impresses in the process, then it will almost be as if Bryan is giving his blessing and essentially giving fans the okay to support Reigns.

Also, the interaction between Reigns, Lesnar and Paul Heyman the night after Royal Rumble still resonates. That was a special segment, and it felt like the start of a significant feud leading up to WrestleMania.

Rumor Mill

Buzz surrounding Brock Lesnar's WWE future (via Jim Ross' blog at jrsbarbq.com)

John Cena Ramps Up Intensity Before Fastlane

With Rusev and Lana continuing to needle John Cena prior to their meeting at Fastlane, the 15-time world champion finally had enough on Raw. Cena showed his willingness to go to a dark place as he attacked Rusev and rendered him unconscious with multiple punches to the head. Rusev was manhandled like never before, and Cena showed the type of aggression likely needed to beat him.

Question on Everybody's Mind: How Will the Fastlane Match Play Out?

As nice as it was to see Cena drop the comedy shtick for a moment, this isn't the first time he has done something like this. Cena has long had fleeting instances of seriousness, only for his character to revert back to its usual state. It is quite likely he will be ultra-aggressive against Rusev at Fastlane, but it is extremely difficult to envision him carrying that persona beyond Sunday and into WrestleMania.

That is bolstered by the likelihood that Cena is going to lose at Fastlane. This feud has all the makings of one that will continue on to WrestleMania, but there really wouldn't be any reason to carry it over if Cena wins on Sunday.

Should Rusev come away victorious, however, it stands to reason that Cena will want to avenge that loss. It is also tough to envision Cena carrying the United States Championship after having been around the world title for as long as he has. With that in mind, the Bulgarian Brute prevailing at Fastlane feels like a mere formality at this point.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

The odds are most definitely in favor of Rusev winning on Sunday, so the focus now shifts toward how it happens.

The Russian sympathizer's primary means of beating opponents is making them tap out via the Accolade. Cena doesn't give up, as his slogan so clearly states, though, which presents an issue. Cena could conceivably pass out in the Accolade, as a few others have done in the past, but WWE generally shies away from anything that could be construed as making their top star look weak.

Rusev could pin him, but he doesn't have a secondary finisher. Count-out or disqualification wins are on the table as well, but they wouldn't pack much of a punch in terms of making Rusev look strong. As much as Cena's detractors would love to see Rusev score a clean victory at Fastlane, it isn't realistic when you consider Cena's booking history.

That means the only remaining possibility is for Rusev to cheat, which is something he hasn't resorted to much despite being a heel. The perfect fit would be for Rusev or potentially Lana to jab Cena in the eye with a Russian flag, since Cena has been dealing with an eye ailment, which WWE has played up as part of the angle.

Not only would that get Rusev the win, but it would also make him an even more dastardly and hated villain entering WrestleMania.

Rumor Mill

Backstage reaction regarding Cena's character (Wrestling Observer Newsletter via WrestlingInc.com)

RRR Interview with WWE Legend Shawn Michaels

WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels is widely recognized as one of the greatest performers in the history of the business. He has also been no stranger to controversy over the years, but since renewing his faith, Michaels has thrived on a personal level.

His new book, Wrestling for My Life: The Legend, the Reality, and the Faith of a WWE Superstar, details that transformation, and he graciously sat down with Ring Rust Radio to discuss that and many other things regarding his illustrious wrestling career.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Should I Buy HBK's New Book?

If a Mount Rushmore of wrestling existed, a very strong case could be made for the inclusion of the Heartbreak Kid. He truly did it all in WWE as a multiple-time world champion and quite possibly the greatest in-ring performer of all time. From Michaels' perspective, that latter point is what he takes the most pride in.

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(...) I think my legacy would be performance. A smaller guy that can prove you can still do well. My legacy is going to be determined between the WWE and the Internet folks and neither one of them is dealing in hard and fast reality. I've done what I've done and [I'm] very proud and thankful for it. Somebody else will make those decisions, and I'll be just living with them.

"

When Michaels first entered WWE as one half of the Rockers, it is fair to say that few expected him to become one of greatest singles competitors in wrestling history. He showed up during a time when giants ruled the landscape, but he is perhaps the biggest reason why perception changed, and smaller wrestlers have been given a chance to prove themselves ever since.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

There is no question that Michaels' wrestling career had a profound impact on many. That includes HBK himself, but even he admits that there are much bigger parts of his life. Religion fits into that category, and he wanted to tell his story in order to perhaps help others find the right path much like he did.

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As far as what I'm hoping to accomplish, I'm just a guy trying to tell a story certainly from a faith perspective. In the church, we believe in giving one's testimony a way of glorifying the Lord and what you have done in your life.

It also might make it easier for other folks to be honest or be open or come to a crossroads where they might not have all the answers and they are searching for them. Giving them a way and an outlook on what helped us. Perhaps giving them an opportunity to reckon themselves with the almighty God and Jesus Christ and the impact that could have on your life.

"

Michaels' story is very much based in religion, but even those who aren't religious can take something away from it. He didn't like where his life was heading, so he did something about it. That is extremely admirable, and it is something that everyone can learn from.

In Wrestling For My Life: The Legend, the Reality, and the Faith of a WWE Superstar, Michaels also has plenty to say about his WWE career from 2002 onward, so it is a book that truly has something for everyone. HBK's tale is an inspirational one, and everyone who becomes aware of it could benefit.

BR Article

Shawn Michaels talks WWE Return, Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, his new book and more (via Donald Wood)

Ring Rust Radio's Season 7 Fantasy WWE Standings

1. Brandon Galvin: 352.5

2. Joe Arcidiacono: 192.5

3. Mike Chiari: 170

4. Donald Wood: 45

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

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