Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Friday, July 21, 2006 at 9:45 PM EST

A week without much to say. The Palace isn't used to that. Ah well, time for another PPV pick deal, and let's go down the card for the Bash this upcoming sunday, sunday, sunday.

GREGORY HELMS to defend the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Since they're pushing Helms as the longest reigning champ in history, I would doubt that he would lose the title to an opponent that he hasn't even had published yet. Since that is the case, my recommendation if you want my opinion on this, wait till it is published, and then come back. I'll add to this column once the opponent is known, and make a pick. Of course, if there is no release of his opponent, I still think Helms will win, as it would be incredibly silly to push his reign as the longest, and then all of a sudden have it end to someone out of the blue.

BRA & PANTIES FOUR WAY
ASHLEY vs. KRISTAL vs. MICHELLE McCOOL vs. JILLIAN HALL

Hrm. Should I be honored? I met three out of these four divas. The only one I have not met yet is Kristal. McCool is lanky, which is dangerous, but I don't think she will compete very much in this match. Her character doesn't "allow" it. Hall can scrap, as seen in previous contests, but she doesn't really have a niche on Smackdown since her departure from JBL's staff. Kristal and Ashley seemingly have developed a feud, and this, to my knowledge, is Ashley's first match back from injury, and I think the Dirty diva will get a push to start her back on the road to recovery in WWE. I think the best action will be between the two diva search contestants from last year, however. It'll be nice eye candy, but do we really need this on a pay per view?

WINNER: Ashley

WWE Tag Team Championship
PAUL LONDON & BRIAN KENDRICK vs. THE PIT BULLS of KID KASH & JAMIE NOBLE

This match intrigues me to no end. Kash & Noble are a unique pairing, I didn't think Kash would accept a tag team role in WWE, but he seemingly has. Noble can go with the best of them, I've seen it first hand during his work in Ring of Honor. I am thrilled for London & Kendrick being the champs for this long, and there's two lines of thinking with this angle. A) There are no tag teams left in WWE Smackdown except for Kash & Noble, or B) They see something in London & Kendrick to let them stay atop the tag team division on the blue & white brand.

As much as I would like to say B), we all know what the answer to that statement is. Back to the match, I think this is the first full blown confrontation of these teams on television. I know they both have been competing on the house show circuit. While I think eventually the belts will go to the Pitbulls, this may not be the time, it just may be the seedling for a blossoming feud between two damn good teams with four super athletes. Let's say the champs retain, for now.

WINNERS: Paul London & Brian Kendrick

WWE United States Championship - Triple Threat Match
FINLAY vs. LASHLEY vs. WILLIAM REGAL

1. It is so damn nice to see Regal back on PPV. Even if he has to be a lackey to King Booker, at least he has the role to get back in to matches where he is able to showcase his talent. 2. Finlay and Lashley have the seedlings for a major league knock down drag out violent feud that I haven't seen in WWE in a long, long, long time. It's damn refreshing too. Lashley is a big sumbitch, like I said when I met him, and Finlay looks tough as nails. Now, get rid of the dumb midget, and you got a hell of a brawl on your hands.

I think the two members of King Booker's court will find a way to subdue the rising star and future of WWE, for now, and Finlay will retain the belt. But, this one will be violent, and that, for WWE, is saying something.

WINNER: Finlay

PUNJABI PRISON MATCH
THE GREAT KHALI vs. THE UNDERTAKER

Is the Undertaker done? Is this blossoming alliance between the Great Khali and the ECW Champion Big Show going to show its face again? What the hell is a Punjabi Prison match? Khali is a specimen, no question about it, but this is the damn Phenom of the WWE. He has really put Khali over in a big way. I don't really know how to pick this match. I would think Taker would find a way to get back at Khali on the stage of the Great American Bash, but so far, all the times that I have expected Taker to get the better of Khali, it hasn't happened. This match, being absolutely unknown in my book, makes this pick even more difficult. I know I have to go out on a limb, here.

WINNER: The Undertaker

Is that truly going out on a limb? You decide.

BATISTA's open challenge

I know who Batista is going to face. I read the spoiler. And, I will not ruin it for anyone who has not read the spoiler, or does not wish to know who the sacrificial lamb is going to be. I will say this. I met both men. I wish to God that Batista would get his ass kicked. But, we all know that is not going to happen. This opponent is taking one for Smackdown. After Mark Henry goes down, thank God, with another injury, (it was only a matter of time), this man is stepping up, and I am sure he will deliver a proper match to bring Batista eventually on the road back to title contention. This is merely step one. Batista wins the match, hard fought, yes, but definitely a stepping stone match leading him to an eventual confrontation with the World Heavyweight Champion.

World Heavyweight Championship
REY MYSTERIO vs. KING BOOKER

Is it time for the five time WCW Champion to become World Heavyweight Champion? Is the cinderella reign of the 619 over? Think of it this way. You know within a short period of time, the returning Animal of Smackdown will come to try and claim his throne that he never lost. Now, the question remains. Will Batista draw vs. Rey Mysterio or will Batista draw vs. King Booker? Will Finlay and Regal play a role in this contest to assist Booker in his quest to become a World Champion again? I think they will. I think Mysterio is in trouble this time. Batista is back, he wants the title, and I don't think WWE believes Batista vs. Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Title is going to draw. But Batista vs. King Booker, heel vs. face, good vs. evil, the Animal vs. Royalty, will draw, I think WWE believes. With that being said, and the reign that Rey has endured has been wraught with dangers, I think WWE is going to give the Mysterious one some needed time to heal, and put the belt on the King, with an eventual showdown against the Animal, waiting in the wings.

WINNER: New World Champion KING BOOKER

Ok. Couple of quickies in closing.

First, who here thinks Kelly Kelly is screaming to anyone who will listen asking why she has been put in a setup where she got caned by Sandman? Did anyone else see that shot on WWE.com? My God, that looked painful. I loved every second of it.

SNME bombs. I wonder if WWE will get it through their skulls that Hulk Hogan is no longer the draw that he used to be. I doubt it.

Here's one that my boy Slim Cullen will find sycotic for me. John Cena snaps on SNME, then gets his ass kicked by Umaga on Raw. Whrere's the snap again from Cena going ballistic after getting his ass kicked? What is he doing in a segment with Matt Striker? Is it me, or did Cena become a victim of some ridiculous creative booking? I love the intensity from Cena, but can we keep it going for longer than five minutes?

I guess WWE has had enough with the wet behind the ears rookies in green and white, if the rumours are true that the Spirit Squad is breaking up. All I have to say is, maybe now we'll get some tag team title defenses again on Raw instead of having the champs be lackeys for the McMahons.

Test gets one promo saying he's coming to ECW, and then debuts and immediately is thrust in to a program with Tommy Dreamer. Meanwhile, the new blood gets multiple promos, and no sign of him on television. And who decided on the nickname the "Reject" for Shannon Moore? If that isn't a sign of things to come, I don't know what is. And if my choice is Test or CM Punk, well, sign the Punk and lose the test, if you ask me.

I don't have a lot of comments on Smackdown because I miss it all the time. I hate it being on fridays, and I always forget about it on saturdays after it's been pre-empted for the Yankees. As a matter of fact, I should be watching Smackdown now, but instead I am writing to you guys. Go figure.

8 months without Mark Henry. He takes out Benoit, Angle, Batista, three MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR PLAYERS, AND what happens, he ends up going out himself for eight months. Can we see his contract get turned in to buckshot powder please?

Lastly, a note on TNA. I was PISSED when I heard Sting won the road to victory match at Victory Road. But, I read some spoilers that made me feel better. In the meantime, I am looking for some more violence coming from some of the guys in TNA, and I think we may get some next week with the collision of the Machines, Rhino vs. Samoa Joe. An Impact match, eh? That is going to be interesting. Also, LAX going for the tag team titles, I wonder how Styles and Daniels are going to combat Konann's constant interference.

I got my tix for August 4th on Long Island for Ring of Honor. The main event, Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles. Ultimate Endurance for the ROH tag belts, and former GHC jr. Heavyweight champ KENTA in tag team action. Independent wrestling rocks, ladies and gentlemen.

In closing, a new thought. Perhaps I will start putting some smaller versions of the palace columns up at my blog, just some thoughts that may pass through my lethal weapon brain, not worthy of a full blown column, but worthy of some work someplace, at least until you guys tell me different. I'll also maybe begin to publish some feedbacks that catch my eye there. Check it out, my myspace by clicking here.

Click here to email me.

Click here for info on signings coming to Long Island with the ECW contingent of Sabu and the Sandman on August 13th.

Beaucoup cenabling! See ya.

UPDATE: 10PM

I just read Ryan Droste's column that shows that the ECW shows were pulled this weekend to allow stars to be involved at the Bash this sunday. That does not bode well for the Undertaker, I think. I think we may be seeing an alliance between Khali and the ECW Champion. It's just a matter of time before we find out for sure.