My hamper is literally overflowing with various shades of underwear and socks. My kitchen sink is filled with tomato sauce stained bowls that formerly contained delicious servings of Beefaroni. My comfortable bed has been unmade for days. I promise myself that I'll get to all of these menial chores once I'm victorious in this triple threat cage match against the immortal Hulk Hogan and The Rock.

In all my years of "video gaming" the wrestling genre has always been a dubious one. Not to say there hasn't been a lack of them. There have been many, many wrestling games created. The problem is that different gaming companies have created them all. Unlike Electronic Arts, who have had the ability to refine their enormously popular NHL and Madden franchises year after year to the point of perfection, the WWE license has never had a rock solid home where it could grow. Thankfully this curse seems to have been lifted as THQ releases its fourth version, WWE Smackdown - Shut Your Mouth for the PS2 system.

SYM's (Shut Your Mouth) predecessor, "Just Bring It" was a critical success. A damn fine wrestling game with a few significant flaws. Extremely short season mode, limited graphics in some aspects and imperfect move list. THQ makes up for these shortcomings in spades with its latest release.

The season mode in particular is much more robust. Instead of the four or five match season seen in "Just Bring It", SYM allows a player to select his favourite wrestler and play for roughly two years! The storyline is far more interesting as well. As seen on TV, you're selected character will be an active participant in the questionable draft storyline, the invasion of the NWO, the return of HBK and Shawn Michaels as well as many others. For example during the draft scenario you will be given the opportunity to choose to defect to the rival show. Based on your decision, in future storylines you will be seen as a hero or a traitor, both with interesting implications. Great stuff! Depending on whether you use your own personally created wrestler or one of the many WWE superstars, during the season mode you are subjected to a points system. This point system is determined by your win/loss record. The more wins you have, the more points you earn giving you the opportunity to challenge for more prestigious belts such as the Intercontinental or the coveted Undisputed Championship belt. Your character will fight at every single pay per view event (including the British ones) in masterful recreations of the original PPV sets. The PPV matches are extremely important in season mode due to the fact that if you win your match you will have an opportunity to "unlock" certain key items that make your choices in the "Create A Wrestler" mode much more diverse.

This has to be my favourite part of the game. Much like "Just Bring It" the create-a-wrestler has been unbelievably improved. For example, Rey Mysterio Jr. has not been added to this game but you can easily re-create him down to his tattoos, moves and entrance through the myriad of choices offered in the create-a-wrestler mode. Want to add a six foot green alien to the WWE roster? You can. Always wondered how you would look in a pair of wrestling tights? Create yourself and watch yourself get creamed with a sledgehammer in a hardcore match. Construct every minute detail; such as your entrance music, taunts and finishing moves, it's all there.

The match selection is equally diverse. Hell in the cell, cage matches, hardcore matches, tornado tag matches, handicap matches, lumberjack matches, TLC matches, literally every single match option is available to be selected. Have a hardcore match in the parking lot and run over your opponent with a car. Face The Undertaker in a street fight on Smackdown, climb the giant fist and do frog splash on him. I've done it! Remove the turnbuckle and slam your opponent into the corner with devastating results. Chokeslam the referee to break up the pin of your tag team partner. Place your feet on the ropes as you pin your stunned opponent. Prop a table in the corner and give your hated foe splinters as you Irish whip your hated foe through it. So much wrestling goodness in this game I can't even begin to describe.

My time is short. Needless to say I'm more than impressed with THQ's latest wrasslin' offering. Better graphics, detailed season mode and every match under the sun available for your grapplin' pleasure. Now if you'll excuse me I've got a hair vs. hair match against Kurt Angle that I must win!

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