Guests: Chris Benoit & Edge

Next up is Edge with an update on how his injured shoulder is progressing. Edge sounds pretty good, all enthusiastic and everything.
He says the first doctor he went to scared him by saying that he needed surgery NOW.
He then went to Birmingham, AL and saw Dr. Andrews for a second opinion. Dr. Andrews decided a more conservative regimen of rehabilitative therapy was in order, and to leave the surgery as a last resort.
"Because of this, we are now talking about weeks instead of months for my return to the ring," says Edge, and you can just hear the enthusiasm coming through in his voice.

Edge says he is starting to get cabin fever with all the sitting at home, going to rehab, and sitting at home some more.
(At this point in the conversation, Edge's dogs cut loose with a lot of barking and snarling in the background like they are fighting off a wolf pack. It takes a couple of minutes for Edge to get them calmed down so he can get back on the phone.)

Kelly asks if Edge saw the unveiling of Kurt Angle's bald head?
Edge says he was flying home and missed it.
Edge has an update on Rhyno. He will be out of the hard neck brace soon, and will be able to give up sleeping only on his back.
"Rhyno will be back to work before too long. He has to. He's got cabin fever worse than me," laughs Edge.

Kelly asks Edge his thoughts about Austin leaving the active roster.
"Christian told me the next day, and I said, 'Whoa, THAT sucks!' I don't know what I'd do about this. With Austin gone, maybe you make a trade to have somebody step up and fill the spot that Austin has left."

Edge repeats that WWE is in flux, though Austin's departure only magnifies that.

The ChatRoom is hotly divided today, with some thinking Kelly and Co. are hammering on Stone Cold much too much for leaving.
Other ChatRoomers say that Austin's leaving is the best thing that could have happened to WWE.

Talk shifts to "King of the Ring," and Edge's thoughts on who will win.
Edge says that Jericho doesn't need the win, nor does RVD.
"I look at Bob Holly, Test, Brock Lesnar, and Booker T as needing the KoTR Title to help their careers along," says Edge.

(No mention of X-Pac or Big Valbowski, you'll notice.)

Edge talks about moving on from his feud with Kurt Angle to his pending feud with Chris Jericho, saying that it is the next logical step.
Kelly says he'd like to see Edge work with HHH more, and Edge agrees. "The top guys bring out the intensity," says Edge, "that you need to take it to the next level. It was a cool thing. I'm looking forward to working with Jericho."
Dr. Tom asks how cool it was for Edge to work the backstage promo with Hogan, with all the feather boas and the pose-downs? Edge laughs, saying that nopbody knows it but he hurt his shoulder BEFORE doing the promo with Hogan, and played through it because he didn't want to miss working with Hulk Hogan.
Edge says he was glad Angle lost the wig, though: it was beginning to smell.

Being Edge, it's time for the "Hockey Talk!" segment.
Edge says that the NHL's New Jersey Devils will be back stronger than ever next year, and that he's pleased the Detroit red Wings have won the Stanley Cup for the third time in six years.
Edge closes out by saying that the next time he talks with Kelly and Dr. Tom he will be back on the active roster. Kelly and Dr. Tom are glad to hear that, and thank him for being on the show.

Edge leaves, as Kelly and Dr. Tom discuss elective surgery, and all the good work Dr. Andrews does for WWE's talent down in Birmingham.