Randy Orton, Mr. Anderson 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 Randy Orton, Roman Reigns 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. TNA star Mr. Anderson 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.

Upcoming Guests/Events

March 3: ROH star ACH and 2006-2010 PG Era Draft

Randy Orton Returns at WWE Fastlane

After months away from WWE programming, Randy Orton made his long-awaited return at WWE Fastlane, hitting Authority members Big Show, Kane, Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble with a series of RKOs. Seth Rollins got away, and although it seemed likely that Orton would get his revenge on Raw, he instead opted to rejoin the Authority after having a business meeting with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Where Is WWE Going With the Viper?

Orton was put out of action by Rollins and the Authority in November, courtesy of a Curb Stomp on the steel steps.

The Viper was written off television in order to take part in the filming of a movie, and although he has been done with that project for quite some time, WWE held him off TV. That finally changed at Fastlane, but it didn't lead to what many anticipated.

After speaking with the Authority, Orton and Rollins decided to put their differences aside. They teamed up to take on Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns on Raw, but things nearly unraveled. Orton flipped out when Rollins tagged himself in and lost the match, but rather than attacking Mr. Money in the Bank, he tapped him on the back and walked off.

That has left some to wonder if Orton is truly back with the Authority or if he is actually playing mind games with Rollins.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

WWE is certainly taking an interesting route with Orton, but there is no question that it will ultimately lead to a match between the Viper and Rollins at WrestleMania.

Having Orton torment Rollins and the Authority for five weeks leading up to the big event likely would have been entertaining to some degree, but it could have gotten old quickly. Having Orton feign allegiance to the Authority adds another wrinkle to the story, though, and it adds a layer to Orton's character as well.

What the writers are essentially doing is building anticipation until Orton ultimately snaps for good. Not only will that make for a great crowd reaction, but it will also generate even more heat between Orton and Rollins prior to WrestleMania. It has been a very long time since Orton's character has been interesting, so WWE's effort to make him more complex and cunning is well take.

Rumor Mill

Jon Stewart to get involved with Orton and Rollins? (Wrestling Observer Radio via DailyDDT.com)

Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar Set for WrestleMania

The match that was originally in place following the Royal Rumble is now set in stone, as Roman Reigns will challenge Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. Reigns defended his No. 1 contendership against Daniel Bryan at Fastlane, and not only did the Juggernaut win that match, he also silenced some critics by putting on a very strong performance.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Has Reigns Proven to Be Main Event Worthy?

When Reigns won the Royal Rumble in Philadelphia, the disapproval was palpable. He was showered with boos after crowd favorites such as Bryan, Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose fell by the wayside, but WWE decided to stick with its guy.

Reigns has steadily improved in almost all aspects since that fateful night, and it seems as though at least a portion of the fanbase is starting to embrace Reigns as a guy who can be the next big thing in WWE.

Rather than force-feeding Reigns jovial promos, as was the case prior to the Rumble, WWE has started to play to his strengths. His work on the mic has been fairly simplistic, but it has also been effective. Reigns has developed into more of a loner who, while face, isn't afraid to mix it up with fellow faces such as Bryan.

Perhaps the biggest question mark surrounding Reigns has been his ability to work a lengthy, quality singles match, but he did precisely that against Bryan.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

There is no doubt that Reigns can still afford to make strides in several areas, but failing to acknowledge his significant improvement is the most obvious way to expose an unfair grudge.

Many will continue to resent Reigns due to the fact that he didn't come up through the independent scene and "pay his dues" like many of the other Superstars on the roster, but he can't be blamed for being put in this position. All he can do is perform to the highest level of which he is capable.

The interactions between Reigns and Paul Heyman thus far have been extremely compelling, and they promise to make for an excellent build toward WrestleMania. Adding Lesnar to the fold adds even more intrigue, since he has essentially been built as an unstoppable monster since ending the Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania XXX.

Bryan may very well prove to be the better choice to main event against Lesnar if Reigns ends up flopping, but his progression over the past several weeks suggests that he is capable of handling the spotlight.

Rumor Mill

Backstage news on Lesnar walking out (PWInsider via WrestlingInc.com)

RRR Interview with TNA's Mr. Anderson

Mr. Anderson has been a cornerstone performer for TNA since joining the company in 2010, and he will unquestionably be a huge part of its success moving forward. TNA has entered a new era with its move to Destination America, and Anderson sat down with Ring Rust Radio to discuss both his own future and that of Impact Wrestling.

Question on Everybody's Mind: What's Next for Anderson?

Anderson first made a name for himself as Mr. Kennedy in WWE, and while it looked as though he was on track to become one of the promotion's top stars, things never materialized, largely due to injury issues.

Anderson consequently signed with TNA, where he instantly became a world title contender. Anderson is a two-time TNA World Heavyweight champion, and while he hasn't held the strap in quite some time, getting back to that level is his goal.

During the interview, Anderson revealed that being the top guy is something he has always desired. That isn't necessarily the case with every wrestler, but it is clear that Anderson doesn't shy away from the spotlight. He made his return to TNA programming recently to enter into a feud with Ethan Carter III, so while he isn't currently in the title hunt, it is easy to envision that changing in the near future.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

Anderson also had plenty to say about TNA's move from Spike to Destination America.

The 38-year-old star acknowledged the fact that Destination America may not be quite as far-reaching as Spike, but he is excited about the partnership regardless. Anderson made mention of TNA's ability to potentially elevate Destination America by becoming one of its flagship brands, and that is a huge opportunity for everyone involved.

As an experienced guy who has seen and done it all in professional wrestling, Anderson is a great representative for TNA. He is one of the company's top guys on the mic, and he is a very capable in-ring worker as well. He is among the most reliable wrestlers in TNA today, and it will be interesting to see how he is utilized in this next generation of Impact Wrestling.

Ring Rust Radio's Season 7 Fantasy WWE Standings

1. Brandon Galvin: 367.5

2. Joe Arcidiacono: 205

3. Mike Chiari: 182.5

4. Donald Wood: 55

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

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