WWE's Top Stories, Rumors and Buzz for Week of December 12

You would think the week before a pay-per-view would be filled with news regarding that particular event, but that hasn't been the case. Let's look at some of the more prominent WWE news from the past week.

Before you continue, it should be noted that one of the following stories contains possible spoilers for Sunday's TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, so read with caution.

Kevin Owens Makes 'Sports Illustrated' Social 100

"

Got Owen's birthday card...and this year, I get to say that I physically assaulted the guy that's on it! pic.twitter.com/tlQZ1GnwQr

— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) December 4, 2015"

Many WWE Superstars are active on social media. It gives them a way to engage with fans, show off their real personality and have a little fun.

However, Kevin Owens has earned a reputation for being one of the wittiest wrestlers on Twitter when it comes to responding to his critics.

Owens is no stranger to criticism. His physique isn't typical of a WWE Superstar, but he has proved time and time again he is capable of things people with six-pack abs wouldn't try on their best day.

"

Especially the way you spell "sense" https://t.co/OxUIYLz7ts

— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) December 5, 2015"

"

I'm confused. Which poor decision on your head/face are you pointing at? https://t.co/Z8sdOFKinv

— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) December 5, 2015"

Not only is he funny when he responds to his haters and fellow wrestlers, but he has also shown himself to be a family man by posting several pictures of his son Owen, including his Twitter profile pic, which shows the young man hold his dad's Intercontinental Championship.

Sports Illustrated recently revealed its Social Media 100 list of athletes, and Owens is the one WWE Superstar to make it. If you follow him on Twitter, you're probably not surprised.

Sting Needs Neck Surgery

Sting and Seth Rollins produced a memorable match at Night of Champions, but the bout took a heavy toll on the WCW's legend's body, and according to WWE.com, he is going to require neck surgery. Sting commented on the severity of the injury during an interview.

"

Bottom line, I had tingling, numbness down both arms, all the way to my fingertips. And then, later in the match, I just fell wrong, whatever it was, and this time [the tingling and numbness] went down both arms and into my legs, and I couldn’t feel my legs too well.

"

It sounds like the procedure will be similar to something John Cena went through in 2008, so it's possible this isn't the end of the road for The Stinger.

The good news is not only does Sting not blame Rollins for the injury, but he gave the former WWE champion a huge compliment by calling him one of the best he has ever worked with in his career.

"

After 30 years and working with some of the best and some of the greatest, [Rollins] is, I’m telling you, he’s got to be the best I’ve ever worked with. I mean, this guy has it. And I think he’s just scratching the surface on what he will do. I’ve never seen somebody as talented.

"

Even if Sting does recover enough to have another match sometime in the future, it will likely be a long ways away.

'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows' Trailer Features Sheamus and Stephen Amell

Last year's reboot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise was a bit of a mixed bag. While it did well financially, it was panned by critics.

Luckily for fans of the half-shelled crime-fighters, the film made enough money to justify a sequel, and a few familiar faces will be showing up alongside our favorite green heroes and Megan Fox in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.

Not only will Sheamus be playing the iconic villain Rocksteady, but WWE fan, star of Arrow and rival of Stardust Stephen Amell will be playing the hockey mask-wearing Casey Jones.

This is a huge opportunity for the Celtic Warrior. If the movie is successful and his character survives, he could find himself involved in another sequel down the road.

It will be interesting to see how much time Sheamus is on screen before he transforms from a human into the rhinoceros he will eventually become.

Brock Lesnar Appearing at Live Event (Possible TLC Spoilers)

According to a post on the official Facebook page for The Forum in Inglewood, California, Brock Lesnar is scheduled to challenge Alberto Del Rio for the United States Championship on December 19.

It should be noted this is not an official announcement by WWE but by the venue holding the event, so it's possible plans could change between now and when the show takes place.

If this is true, it means Del Rio will be retaining the title when he fights Jack Swagger at TLC. Even if Zeb Colter joins his former protege to fight ADR, it doesn't mean Swagger will leave with the strap.

It has been a long time since Swagger was relevant, and this feud feels more like a way to build up Del Rio than it does anything else.

Another UFC Fighter Challenges CM Punk

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Ever since CM Punk was signed to a deal with UFC in December 2014, fighters have been challenging him left and right. Considering he got a deal with no previous MMA experience, it's not a shock that everyone wants to prove he is just a publicity stunt by president Dana White.

Another fighter named John "Doomsday" Howard added his name to the list of potential Punk opponents during an interview with Sports Illustrated.

"

Phil Brooks got a pass to the UFC because of his notoriety. Maybe he is a legit caliber UFC fighter, but I want to be the guy he fights to prove he belongs in the UFC. I’m smaller than him. He’s a middleweight and I’m a welterweight, but I’ll come up in weight. If he whips my butt, I’ll eat my words—but let’s see him prove it against me.

"

Howard has racked up an impressive 23 wins in his MMA career, but he has also suffered 12 losses, so he is not unbeatable. His experience would give him the edge over Punk, but his size would put him at a bit of a disadvantage.

However, anyone who watches MMA knows size isn't everything. It would be interesting to see how Punk would fair against such an experienced fighter, especially if Howard was his first opponent.

Is Daniel Bryan's Career Almost Over?

Daniel Bryan recently gave an interview with the New Paper while he was over in Singapore to promote WWE programming, and he gave some cryptic comments relating to his wrestling future: "I think it could be the end of my career in WWE, but I don't think it will be the end of my career. I could find another passion, but it would just be sad because this is what I have been most passionate about since I was five."

Bryan has been vocal about his desire to return to the ring, but WWE officials are understandably cautious about putting him back in action because he's suffered a string of injuries over the past few years.

Bryan was forced to vacate two different titles because of his injuries, and if WWE doctors refuse to clear him, we might have to wait until his contract is up to see him wrestle on the indy circuit again.

Hopefully things work out and the leader of the Yes Movement is able to return at some point.

Jim Ross is Alive!

Jim Ross became the latest celebrity to suffer an online death hoax when his Twitter account was hacked and a message was posted saying he had died.

Ross has since regained control of his account and posted a few messages letting everyone know he is alive and well, but the issue caused him to lose a fair amount of followers.

"

Let your friends know that my Twitter account is back! Please RT This is Jim Ross of WWE's ONLY twitter account.

— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) December 9, 2015"

It's unfortunate there are people out there with nothing better to do than mess with the lives of people online, but at least there are procedures in place to solve the problem.

Fun Story: What if John Cena Was Cast as Shazam!?

It has always felt like pro wrestlers were real-life versions of superheroes, and Hollywood has taken it one step further by using WWE Superstars in movies based on comic books.

Batista is Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy, Sheamus is in TMNT: Out of the Shadows and The Rock has been cast as Black Adam in DC's upcoming adaptation of Shazam!

Thanks to ComicBook.com, we now know what it would look like if John Cena were to play Billy Batson. BossLogic has created concept art for Cena as the titular character, and it looks pretty impressive.

Casting has yet to take place to fill the title role, so it's actually possible we could see Cena and The Rock face off against each other in a film instead of inside the ring, but it's a long shot.

What do you think? Would Cena make a good Shazam?

Thanks for reading and follow me on Twitter: @BR_Doctor.