Extreme Rules, Johnny Mundo 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 Extreme Rules, 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. Also, Lucha Underground star Johnny Mundo 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.

Seth Rollins Retains at Extreme Rules, Payback Main Event Set

In the main event of Extreme Rules, Seth Rollins defended the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Randy Orton. The contest was held inside a steel cage with the RKO banned and Kane acting as guardian of the gate. There was chaos galore as expected, but when the dust finally settled, Rollins managed to escape the cage and retain his title.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Did Extreme Rules Deliver?

It was difficult for many to get excited for Extreme Rules knowing how convoluted the main event might be, and those suspicions were validated. In addition to J&J Security getting involved, Kane chokeslammed both Rollins and Orton. Also, Rollins hit an RKO on Orton despite the move being banned. The former Shield member walking away as champion was expected as well as the correct move, but the manner in which WWE got there was far from appealing.

The Rollins RKO set the stage for a rematch between Rollins and The Viper, which isn't particularly appealing, but another wrinkle was added in the form of Roman Reigns. Those three Superstars will do battle in a Triple Threat that should be far more entertaining and unpredictable than the Extreme Rules finale. Rollins is still likely to retain, but Reigns coming away with the strap is a possibility. Also, all three men have proven themselves as strong in-ring competitors as of late, so the match quality should be solid.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

As far as Extreme Rules is concerned, the pay-per-view as a whole fell flat. Much of that had to do with the Rollins-Orton encounter being overbooked, but the rest of the card was weak as well. The Russian Chain match between John Cena and Rusev was subpar with a mind-boggling ending to boot as Cena hitting The Bulgarian Brute with an Attitude Adjustment somehow didn't halt his momentum.

Also, while the Chicago Street Fight between Dean Ambrose and Luke Harper was fun, it didn't reach its potential. WWE dropped the ball by not filming footage of them actually fighting in the streets, and the end sequence of the match after they returned was far too brief.

The night wasn't a total loss as Reigns and Big Show put on a surprisingly strong Last Man Standing match that stole the show. Also, the Tag Team Championship match that saw The New Day defeat Tyson Kidd and Cesaro was solid. Even the bout between Divas champion Nikki Bella and Naomi was enjoyable, but those three matches weren't enough to save a lackluster event.

Rumor Mill

Backstage news on Seth Rollins' Curb Stomp (PWInsider via WrestlingInc.com)

King of the Ring Returns to WWE

After a five-year hiatus, WWE announced the return of the King of the Ring tournament at Extreme Rules. The opening round was held on Raw with the semifinals and finals taking place on a WWE Network special. In the end, Bad News Barrett managed to defeat Neville to not only gain retribution for his loss on the Extreme Rules Kickoff Show but also become king for the first time.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Did WWE Utilize KOTR Properly?

King of the Ring was once one of the most highly anticipated and popular pay-per-views in WWE. It was abolished after 2002, however, and the tournament was only held periodically thereafter. WWE gave no indication that KOTR was making a comeback in 2015, and the announcement at Extreme Rules was understated to say the least. Despite the relative lack of hype, there was certainly some excitement from the fans' perspective.

The first round of the tournament on Raw was somewhat underwhelming with the exception of Neville's match against Luke Harper. Things got a bit more interesting on WWE Network, though, as Dolph Ziggler cost Sheamus his match against The Man That Gravity Forgot before Barrett decisively beat Neville. In a battle of the Brits to determine the king, it was Barrett who prevailed and ensured that WWE would come under a reign of Bad News.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

While Neville may have been both the logical and sentimental favorite to win King of the Ring, it is tough to argue with the selection of Barrett. The former Nexus leader desperately needed something to grasp onto after losing the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania, and this could be it. The arrogant king character is a good fit for him as a heel, and the fact that he's British makes him more believable as royalty than many past King of the Ring winners.

Neville has basically lost as much as he has won on the main roster, but he certainly hasn't been damaged by the fact. He consistently puts on excellent matches, and the fans have reacted well to him. While winning King of the Ring would've been a nice feather in his cap, however, it probably wouldn't have been the greatest gimmick for him as a babyface.

Aside from that, WWE would be wise to bring King of the Ring back as a pay-per-view one day. Despite absolutely no buildup or hype, fans were excited when the return of KOTR was announced. Placing that concept on the pay-per-view stage would energize the WWE Universe, and it would make it even easier for the winner to receive a boost as well.

Rumor Mill

Backstage news on KOTR tournament (F4WOnline via WrestlingInc.com)

RRR Interview with Lucha Underground's Johnny Mundo

Lucha Underground is unquestionably the hottest new wrestling promotion in the world, and much of that is due to its talented and eclectic roster. Many of Lucha's stars are new on the American scene, but that isn't the case for Johnny Mundo, who wrestled in WWE for many years as John Morrison and Johnny Nitro.

Mundo is one of Lucha Underground's most recognizable stars, and his presence is a big reason why the company is on the rise. With Lucha firing on all cylinders, Mundo stopped by Ring Rust Radio to discuss what the future holds for both himself and the promotion.

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

There was a great deal of hype surrounding Lucha Underground ahead of its debut on El Rey Network due to the presence of Mark Burnett and Robert Rodriguez as executive producers. Add in a strong crop of wrestlers, and it was easy to get excited.

Even so, Lucha Underground has somehow managed to be even better than expected, and that is something Mundo takes a great deal of pride in:

"

It feels really good to be in on something from day one and the ground floor. Being a part of something that is finding its own identity as it evolves is exciting. It's in my hometown of Los Angeles, and it's been awesome to be a part of it since day one. That feels really good and I am proud of that. ... It's kind of nice to be an upstart since there wasn't much expectation of Lucha Underground. Wrestling promotions are kind of like new religions—nine out of 10 fail in the first year. So the bar was set low, and I think immediately we exceeded expectations.

"

Lucha Underground is no longer flying under the radar due to its red-hot start and extremely entertaining weekly shows. With high-caliber performers like Mundo in the fold, though, it shouldn't have much trouble continuing its momentum.

Ring Rust Radio's Take

While Lucha Underground is a small-scale operation at this point, every successful wrestling company has to evolve and grow at some point. As demand for the product continues to grow, Lucha may have to make some adjustments, and Mundo is well aware of that. In fact, he is supportive of it:

"

I hope that we start going a little bit longer, like a 90-minute show to give people more time to showcase themselves and longer stories. That is my hope, and it's ultimately not up to me. ... The main thing Lucha Underground needs to do is focus on continuing to produce a very good one-hour show, and grow slowly. Maintain the quality. So far everything I have seen is that everyone's head is in the right place, and everyone is excited for season two and everyone is excited about Lucha. Because of all those ducks lining up in an awesome row, Lucha Underground is going to continue to grow and be successful. 

"

Mundo has the utmost confidence in Lucha Underground, and it is easy to see why. With great stories and in-ring action, it delivers on a weekly basis. Mundo is a linchpin of the operation, and it is exciting to think about where he and Lucha will be moving forward.

Bleacher Report Article

Johnny Mundo Talks Lucha Underground, WWE, Alberto El Patron and More (via Brandon Galvin)

Ring Rust Radio's Season 8 Fantasy WWE Standings

1. Donald Wood: 102.5

2. Joe Arcidiacono: 92.5

3. Brandon Galvin: 77.5

4. Mike Chiari: 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.