WWE's Top Stories, Rumors and Buzz for Week of December 19

WWE had a packed week with the Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view, NXT TakeOver: London, an eventful Raw and a solid episode of SmackDown.

We saw some titles change hands and a few incredible matches, but there was a lot more going on in the world of wrestling than what was happening inside the ring.

Stephanie McMahon Receives Award

WWE has had a great relationship with the United States military for years. The company has performed for the troops inside and outside of the U.S. and offers free tickets to soldiers who want to attend live events.

Stephanie McMahon was recently recognized for her hard work with the first-ever Golden Boot award from the United Service Organization.

Stephanie tweeted out a picture of the award with a joke about her being glad she got the whole boot and not just the heel.

Stephanie has been as active with various charity organizations as anyone else in the company, and while she probably doesn't do it for the accolades, it's nice to see someone who devotes so much time to others being recognized for her efforts.

MMA Announcer Joins SmackDown Broadcast Team for 2016

WWE announced during TLC that veteran broadcaster Mauro Ranallo will join the SmackDown commentary table when the blue brand moves to the USA Network in 2016.

For those unfamiliar with his work, Ranallo has been a sportscaster for several years, covering everything from MMA, boxing and wrestling to football and hockey.

He is definitely more familiar to Canadian fans thanks to his work on The Score's Right After Wrestling, which eventually became Aftermath.

"

So excited to welcome @mauroranallo into @WWE! He's one of the best, with a voice that stands above the rest! This is gonna be fun!

— Donkey Kong Daddy (@ReneeYoungWWE) December 14, 2015"

This makes Ranallo the third host of Aftermath to be hired by WWE after Renee Young and Kyle Edwards, whose real names are Renee Paquette and Arda Ocal respectively.

The shake-up to the SmackDown announce team could help the brand, or it could end up being another Mike Adamle situation. We will have to wait a few weeks to see how he does.

Charlotte Appears on the Cover of a Major Magazine

WWE Divas champion Charlotte was given a boost to her already-successful career this week when she appeared on the cover of Muscle & Fitness Hers.

The Daughter of The Nature Boy is just one of many WWE Superstars and Divas to appear in an M&F publication, but she might hold the record for getting the cover faster than anyone else after debuting on the main roster.

She is now part of a club that includes familiar names like Triple H, Vince and Stephanie McMahon, The Rock, John Cena, The Bella Twins and Batista.

While one magazine cover might not seem like a big deal, it's great for both Charlotte and the company, because they are being exposed to people who may not watch pro wrestling on a regular basis.

Charlotte has clearly been earmarked by management as a major star in the Divas division, and appearing on the cover of Muscle & Fitness Hers could help legitimize her in the eyes of her critics.

Tyler Reks Claims John Cena Tried to Bury Alex Riley

We are constantly bombarded with stories about the backstage antics of WWE Superstars, but it's hard to tell whether much of what is being reported is true.

However, sometimes the story comes directly from a wrestler, so there is a little more weight to it than if it comes from an anonymous source.

Former WWE Superstar Gabe Tuft, who used to go by the name Tyler Reks, recently participated in a Reddit AMA, and he made some comments about Cena and Alex Riley having some backstage issues.

"

There is truth that there was some sort of unknown, unreasonable heat between Riley and Cena. To the point where everyone on the roster thought that Cena was treating him in a way that was totally uncalled for.

No one approached Cena about it, but the entire locker room was on Riley's side, a lot of condolences, and this is "ridiculous, bro," and it was every freakin' day. Cena thought Riley did something wrong every single day.

"

This isn't the first time someone has accused a big star of being a bully, but there's always two sides to every story, so take Reks' comments with a grain of salt.

Titles Change Hands

Between TLC and TakeOver: London, every single championship in WWE was defended, and two people came away with some gold around their waists.

Dean Ambrose defeated Kevin Owens in a great match at TLC to win the Intercontinental title, but he wasn't the big winner this week.

Roman Reigns ended up defeating Sheamus on Raw to win his second WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and this time he got to keep the belt longer than five minutes.

2015 was a great year for former members of The Shield. With the exception of SummerSlam and Hell in a Cell, every PPV featured at least one member of the group in the main event. SummerSlam and Hell in a Cell featured Seth Rollins defending the title, but it wasn't considered the biggest attraction on the card.

Seeing Rollins, Ambrose and Reigns dominate the main event picture in 2015 is proof that WWE is trying to build new stars. Hopefully 2016 sees more talents grab the proverbial brass ring and ascend to the top.

Superstars Campaign for Slammy Awards

Monday's Raw will feature the return of WWE's Slammy Awards. The fans will be in charge of voting for the winners, but the most interesting thing about this year's ceremony is every wrestler being eligible for the Superstar of the Year award.

WWE usually narrows down the field to five candidates, but opening it up to the entire roster will make the award seem more legitimate.

Several Superstars have been campaigning for Superstar of the Year through social media, some of whom haven't been featured on television in months.

The winner will almost certainly be someone in the main event scene, but the fans could end up making WWE give the honor to someone like Damien Sandow or Heath Slater if they vote in large enough numbers.

Hopefully the award goes to someone who deserves it, but you have to admit it would be funny if we had a Sanjaya situation and somebody like Bo Dallas walked away with the trophy. 

What do you think? Who deserves to win the Superstar of the Year award?

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