Enter the human alter ego of Foghorn Leghorn himself, John Bradshaw Layfield, with his own brand of self-serving gaga. Randy Orton comes out, and makes the profound statement that no one gives him a chance of retaining the WWE title. Umaga comes out, and actually snatches the mic from Orton. Umaga cuts his first-ever promo, partially about Batista, and the rest is pseudo-Samoan gibberish, which Cena translates into jokes about boy bands and "My Two Dads" reruns in reference to Orton. Triple H is the last man out, and puts his 3-way over as the biggest match, declaring that the "King of Kings" will return to his throne. JBL isn't digging, and the arguing starts in earnest before William Regal comes out and sets up a 8-man, no-DQ tag for later: JBL, Big Show, Umaga, & Orton (which one doesn't really belong?) vs. DX, Cena, & Ric Flair.

Match 1: Chris Jericho & CM Punk vs. Montel V. Porter & Carlito 4 of the 7 men in the Money in the Bank match are in our opener. As we already know, Y2J will face MVP on Smackdown this Friday. It is also the first time each team has been together as a tag team. Decent opening match, and the story was built around MVP avoiding Jericho like the plague, saving himself for Friday, no doubt. Jericho was in much of the way, but there really wasn't much heat to speak of. Porter missed with the ole kick in the corner, and Jericho tagged out to Punk. Punk hit the knee lift in the corner, then booted Carlito off the apron before hitting the bulldog. Punk missed the springboard clothesline, but rather than go for the cover, MVP tried to intercept Jericho coming in for the save. Jericho, however, misfired on an enziguri intended for Porter and hit Punk instead. Porter simply cashed in and got the pin. Winners: MVP & Carlito.

Backstage, Mr. Ken Kennedy states his case, and predicts that Undertaker & Ric Flair will lose their matches, and he will repeat as Money in the Bank winner, going on to cash in the briefcase, but this time, he doesn't say whether or not he'll do that the same night. Maybe someone reminded him that common sense prevails in cases like this.

A Ric Flair video retrospective plays, chronicling Flair at his best. Classic matches vs. Rick Steamboat, Harley Race, Vince McMahon, and of course, Dusty Rhodes. There will never be another Ric Flair. They broke the mold with him.

Big Show training video. Show is sparring in the ring, and watching tapes of Floyd Mayweather. We get comments from Artie Artwell, Show's trainer. Show reiterates the size difference between him & Mayweather, and Artwell notes that nothing in Mayweather's arsenal could dent the colossus. We'll see.

Match 2: Great Khali vs. Hardcore Holly Squash. The World tag titles won't be defended at Wrestlemania, and Holly left his partner, Cody Rhodes in the locker room, perhaps sparing him the embarassment of this match. Khali no-sold everything Holly threw at him. Jerry Lawler noted that Khali may also have some boxing experience, the way he blocked Holly's punches. Chop to the shoulder instead of the head (Holly turned away to the right) sets up the Khali Bomb. Winner: Great Khali.

We're well past the shank of the evening, and that's usually prime time for Ric Flair. The Nature Boy is out, and calls out Shawn Michaels. Even though they're partners again tonight, the bigger, more underlying issue is their match at Wrestlemania. Flair feels slighted because HBK defied him last week and got involved in his match vs. Vince McMahon. Shawn apologizes, but otherwise it's essentially a repeat of an earlier face-to-face between these two. It ends with Michaels likening Flair to "Old Yeller", telling Flair he will put the Nature Boy out of his misery. Flair looks like his eyes may pop.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. at the gym, bragging about "breaking the nose" of Big Show. Otherwise, the same old gaga.

Everything you really needed to know about Show-Mayweather was compressed in excerpts from Show's appearance on Late Night w/Conan O'Brien last Friday.

Match 3: Melina (w/Beth Phoenix) vs. Maria Jim Ross tells us that Candice Michelle had surgery "hours ago" to repair her reinjured clavicle, so Candi is now out of Wrestlemania 24. That gives Team Jealousy 2008 a big advantage, as if the poser princess needs it. Melina has an early advantage, but after Beth pulls Maria off the middle turnbuckle, Ashley Massaro returns from the DL and tells ref Marty Elias what happened. The argument ensues as Santino Marella and his bad mohawk haircut come down. That prompts Jerry Lawler to leave the desk, and before you know it, the heels are routed from the ring, prompting William Regal to change it to a 6-person intergender match, up next.

Winner: None. Match declared no contest.

Match 3a: Santino Marella, Melina, & Beth Phoenix vs. Maria, Ashley Massaro, & Jerry Lawler Not much to this, and again, Marty Elias' inability to detect wrongdoing proves to be a major factor. At one point, Lawler was in with Melina, and the haughty former women's champ dared him to throw a punch. She turns her back, and Lawler tags Ashley in. Melina turns back around and right into a thunderous right hand from Ashley. However, the heat again is on Maria. Marella is tagged in. Cheap shot to Lawler, but the girls chop him silly. Marella retreats to the floor, but the King is waiting, and beats him like a proverbial government mule. Meanwhile, Melina & Beth scoop the legs out from under Melina, and Marella backpedals back into the ring, and into a pin. Winners: Santino Marella, Melina, & Beth Phoenix.

John Cena is regaling Val Venis & Cody Rhodes with some story when Triple H happens along. Cody & Val are ready to break up a fight if it should break out, but Hunter assures that isn't the case. A duet money promo. Losing 2 years ago to Cena has burned a hole in The Game, and it's frustrated him that Cena has blocked his path the last couple of months. Cena is flustered as well, seeing Randy Orton walking around with a title that Cena never lost. Come Sunday, as Cena declares, the title is coming home. Hunter seems to agree, but home might apply to him, too.

For the 2nd straight week, the Hall of Fame induction news will be revealed on ECW on Tuesday. The ceremony will be broadcast on USA on Saturday.

JR & the King run down the Wrestlemania card.

Match 4: Randy Orton, Umaga, Big Show, & John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, & John Cena (no-DQ) William Regal referred to this as a "Wrestlemania Showcase". Not even five minutes have passed before Fit Finlay comes out to confront JBL. Layfield leaves the ring and no-sells a shillelagh shot. A boot to the face separates Finlay from his weapon, and the fight is on as we go to break. They ended up brawling to the back. HBK is the face in peril. Umaga hits the buttsplash in the corner, but before he can deliver the Samoan Spike, Batista appears, and suddenly, Orton & Big Show are left all alone. Show takes over, and clears out HHH & Cena as Flair tags himself in. Orton is barking at Show for some reason, talking smack when he hasn't been in the match since the start (Orton & Michaels started the match). Show has heard enough, and turns on Orton, throwing the champion into the ring. One chokeslam later, Show steps on Orton on his way out of the ring. Cena & HHH jockey for the right to finish off the champion, but then they start brawling to the back. Flair & Michaels look like they may do the same, but Flair ends that with a low blow to HBK. Flair then applies the figure four, and Orton taps out to a phat pop. Winners: Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, & John Cena.