?Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com

On Friday, May 6, 2005 at 12:26 AM EST

Pro's from the Palace has hit 20! Wow! What a concept.

I got a bunch of things to discuss, all over the spectrum, so let's get down to business.

Wrestlemania 21, the Recall

Man, I tell you, this thing is cursed. Let me explain. I did the recall procedures, like I mentioned in a previous column, to the letter. I sent the game out, yadda yadda yadda. I mention to my wife eariler in the day today that I thought I'd get it back possibly tomorrow or saturday. Well, sure enough, I was ahead of myself, I got it back today, thursday. Impressive.

So, I was naturally, very happy. I set this thing in, and I'm ready to rock.

The game stops loading midstream, totally.

I mean, dead stop.

If any of you know me personally, you know I have a bit of an issue with temper. Well, this issue became a freakin' catastrophe, as yours truly went nuts. I'm on the phone to California desperately searching for a body at THQ to give them a piece of my mind. Literally.

After almost an hour on the phone, I finally get a body at THQ technical support. I give them the details, they ask me a very simple question.

"Did you erase any old save files from the previous version of the game?"

"No."

"Do that, and restart your XBox."

So, I did.

Boom, it works.

Is it 100%? No, it's not. But is it better than the initial version? By a landslide. You can nail all you want the controls, the gameplay, etc., etc., etc., the bottom line is, this title has gone from at least looking great and unplayable, to looking great and playable. The little glitches have decreased significantly. I haven't explored it entirely, but I have enough to tell you its worth going through the procedure to get the new disc. BUT, REMEMBER TO ERASE YOUR OLD SAVE FILE, so you don't go through, what I went through.

Shawn Michaels & Shelton Benjamin

Who else thinks Shelton Benjamin had to pay one hell of a doctor's bill with the shot to the jaw he took from Sweet Chin Music this past monday night? For a Raw, that match was one of the most enjoyable, action packed, high tension matches I have personally seen in some time. I LOVED the pairing of the two in a match of that magnitude, I thought it was tremendous, and both men delivered 100 fold. And Michaels knew it. Look how he sat there and said good job to Benjamin for a good five minutes before leaving the ring. As much of a pompous ass as he was back in the day, he has shown the respect for the younger generation that, honestly, more of them should. I give both of them a tremendous amount of credit in their work last week.

The Game loses twice in a row....?

How shocking is this? I mean, really, the man with the supposed political pull of endless proportions taps out to the Wolverine, again? Now, everyone knows how much of a Benoit mark I am. Everyone also knows I do have a tremendous amount of respect for Triple H, even though his character absolutely sucks right now. Be that as it may, perhaps this is the beginning of a transformation back from the civilized, Ric Flair like Game, to the Game who breaks ankles of announcers because he just feels like it. The denim jacket wearing, kick ass and take names Game would be so refreshing to see once again, and THAT character, would have a serious chance of dethroning the Animal as World Heavyweight Champion. The current sniveling, hide behind Ric Flair all the time, Game, will never again sniff the championship, as far as I can believe.

Props to Triple H for putting Benoit back in to the title hunt. Benoit is so deserving of another run at the top of the mountain, he was that classy a champion last year at Mania 20. Even if he doesn't succeed in the tournament, or in the match against Batista, this match in itself, this win over Triple H on Raw brings credibility back to the Wolverine as a contender for the World title, and it is so damn overdue, it's not funny. And, also serious props to Benoit for making it look so damn real with his alleged concussion, or was it real after all?

Happy Birthday to the Great One

Ok. Who else here is absolutely, or was absolutely sickened by the shameless Mick Foley like plug to the Rock saying Happy Birthday? I thought it was almost too damn surreal. Here is a man who hasn't been on WWE programming since his appearance back during the '04 diva search when he forced Christy Hemme to sit on a pie, saying her butt is hungry, all the reports have said that his contract is up with WWE, and now, Ross is saying Rock wants to come back and electrify? Come on, people, do you think we're that stupid? Fine, keep Rock on the intros, God knows they're done well, and there isn't anyone out there respectable enough yet to be put in those intros to replace Rock, but don't pretend we're stupid by telling us Rock is coming back when we all know for love nor money that Rock will be back in WWE when hell freezes over, and you can bank on that, thank you very much.

Don't get me wrong, I'd be lying to say I wouldn't want to see Rock come back, for any reason, and in any capacity, but we all know that will never happen, so don't parlay on us like it will, WWE, we're not that dumb.

Added 5/6/05, 5pm: I got an email from my new friend Vernon who provided me with a website saying that Rock & WWE have patched up their differences, and that he would be available to work if all the conditions fall in to place, i.e., location & schedule. I personally hope that is the case, as that would be a viable resource for WWE to use once in a blue moon. It provides a good source of surprise if Rock does a part time role as an 'instigator.'

Forgive me for being slightly pessimistic, I thank you Vernon for the source, (and if someone wants to see it, drop me a email, I'll send the link...), but when I see Rock back on Raw, I'll believe it. That's just me being a glass half-empty guy. Sorry about that.

WWE officials don't like the push of the current champions

Tell me who else on the company's roster, both brands, is really ready to take the helm and run with it as champion? Tell me.

Booker T.? Yes, technically he could, but he hasn't been a pure main eventer since the days of the alliance. Plus, his losses to JBL set him back a ways from full title contention.

Kurt Angle? His neck problems will consistently be a hamper to him as a potential WWE champion again. Will he win it one more time? Yes, probably, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he didn't.

Undertaker? Same reasoning, injuries. He could run one more time as the top dog in the yard, but will his injuries allow it?

Eddie Guerrero? Honestly, this is the man who is most likely ready to reclaim the gold as a heel. His turn against Rey Mysterio, if played properly, can lead him back to the promised land, or at least, one hell of a monster feud with John Cena, one way or another. He has all the tools to be a champion, he was a tremendous champion back in the day, and now as a heel, he could provide John Cena with an opposition incomporable. IF, WWE books it properly, though.

Rey Mysterio? Does anyone else think Rey Mysterio will never truly sniff Heavyweight Gold? Cruiserweight, definitely, he's got multiple runs as cruiser champ again, but the thought of bringing Rey in to the heavyweight division scares me to death. Is he capable? Indeed. Is he worthy? Indeed. Will WWE book it properly? Doubtful.

Big Show? If Big Show couldn't get the job done against JBL in a barbed wire steel cage match, the chances of him getting another chance are slim. Not to mention the fact that Big Show continues to team with John Cena in bonus matches against JBL and Orlando Jordan. Talk about inconsistencies. Sorry, big man, title matches are not in your future.

Orlando Jordan? Yeah, right. Sure. It's a travesty he's United States Champion.

On the Raw side...

Shelton Benjamin? He needs to drop the IC title, before going in to contention for the World strap. Quite honestly, I don't know who he's going to drop the IC title to....I thought Jericho was going to win the match at Backlash, even though I picked Benjamin. After that, I don't know who WWE is going to put at the top of the mountain as IC Champion, and with that, Benjamin will more than likely never get a full shot at World gold.

Edge? Who else here thinks Edge is going to find a way to cheat his way to winning the tournament? Makes me want to throw up. I'll discuss this, as best I can, later.

Christian? Yeah, ok. Sure. Christian as world champion. Uh huh. In his dreams.

Shawn Michaels? He probably has the juice left for one last run as the kingpin, but will WWE give him the ball to run with it?

Randy Orton? If Batista remains champion when Orton returns, Batista will kill him. Orton vs. Batista, one of the most stale matches on Raw to be booked since Triple H vs. HBK. Can you say, overdone?

Chris Jericho? Deserving, to the last. Only thing stopping him is WWE.

Chris Benoit? See Chris Jericho.

What's the bottom line on all of this? Who else was WWE going to do for new title holders? It's obvious the roster has a lot of new faces on it, and a lot of them are not even close to ready to sniff the air at the top of the company. Batista is ready, though. Yes, his mike skills are not that of a Triple H, or even a John Cena, but his athleticism is still untapped, even at 36, and he could run the gauntlet of competitors for a while in my opinion.

And Cena? Cena's response as a contender has been almost chaotic. Now, as champion, the chain gang continues to grow in leaps and bounds. His potential is limitless. Anyone who doesn't see that is blind.

WWE officials would be wise in not criticizing the talent at the top of the mountain, they'd be wiser in helping keep the talent there mistake free, and let them run the gamut as long as necessary to keep the product fresh.

Edge vs. Lita vs. Matt Hardy

Is Vince purposely trying to piss off the entire wrestling fan base? It seems that 99.9% of the entire wrestling fan base is so against Lita and Edge, yet, the two of them continue to be at focal points on Raw storylines, yet, they take the time to edit out Matt Hardy signs, chants, and anything else that may be present.

My personal opinion on the matter is this. One person was punished for a situation that is a black eye to WWE. Lita, Edge, & Matt are all in the wrong here, yet Matt is the only one who was dealt with. Edge still is getting his push, as Lita is still prepping for another shot to regain the women's title from Trish Stratus. Will Edge & Lita ever be shown some form of punishment from Vince McMahon for the public stain they both have put on World Wrestling Entertainment?

Doubtful.

Will the Matt Hardy backlash ever stop?

Doubtful.

So, what's the end result? Who knows. I would shudder to think what would happen if Edge ever were to get his hands on the World title.

Who else wanted the other week when Edge faced off with Val Venis, who else wanted to see Sean Morley haul back and cold cock Edge right in the teeth? Sad, cause we all know he wanted to, badly. And he couldn't, because Sean Morley is a company man, not like some of the other talents I have been discussing in this segment.

John Cena's new CD

Who here, I want to take a poll, is going to buy Cena's new disc? I am not a hip hop fan, but I will. Why? Three reasons. 1. I am a huge Cena mark. 2. I love his new theme sogn, and 3. I am willing to give it a shot. Are you?

Click here and tell me if you are going to buy Cena's CD.

Stacy Keibler in Stuff Magazine

Two words. Holy guacamole, Batman. She is just too damn smokin' hot. Get the mag. Now, people. Not five minutes later, now. What are you still doing here?

Pay Per Views

Sad to say, but I think I am upset I didn't pick up Backlash, it sounded like it was a positive PPV for WWE. I am curious to see how, although I won't, WWE sets up Cena/JBL II in a I quit match, considering neither of them are submission specialists.

Who else, though, is pumped up for the ECW Pay Per View? I can't wait. I have to witness this as it happens, and I wish to hell I could go, since it's in my backyard, but come on, $150 is just too damn much money for a father of three.

Besides, going to an atmosphere like that may honestly kill me. I expect it to be that nuts.

See ya over the weekend with a report from my latest chapter of the quest, meeting Torrie Wilson and Paul London. I'm getting London, hopefully, to sign two belts. My cruiserweight (Rey & Hurricane), and my new Smackdown tag. Yes, the collection has grown.

Life meter = Zero. :)

Kimosabe, SUMO!?!?!?!

If anyone has any opinions on the column, I welcome all feedback, and read every email. Another thought that just came in, as I write this little piece on Friday morning, May 6th, my new friend Aidan from England is curious to know what's going to happen at the ECW ppv, as in matches, who's gonna show, etc. I didn't watch much ECW back in the day, so I am not too up on the rivalries. When the time comes, I'll do a column on the reunions with my own thoughts, but now, I'd love to hear yours. Tell me what matches you think will go down at the WWE ECW PPV, even Shane Douglas's one as well. If I like the thoughts, I'll add it to my work leading up to, and over the weekend of the ECW pay per view.

Click here to send me some feedback, either on whether or not you're buying the John Cena CD, or what matches you're looking to see at the WWE ECW pay per view.