Tonight's program opens with Shane McMahon, who almost immediately calls out ECW Champion Bobby Lashley. Shane wants to restore some respect & dignity to the McMahon family. I admire the thought, personally, but it's a mountain too steep to climb considering the disgrace his father's become. Lashley talks Shane-O-Mac into putting up his hair. Could we see another bald McMahon already?

Candice Michelle & Mickie James vs. Melina & Victoria. Speaking of ECW, Justin Roberts is filling in for the injured Lillian Garcia, who's recovering from knee surgery. Justin also subbed for a vacationing Tony Chimel on Smackdown on Friday. Standard Diva tag match, but not quite as sloppy. They're building toward Mickie getting a title match at Backlash vs. Melina, methinks. Mickie takes a step in that direction by getting the win here with a MickieDT on Victoria, who sold it like she died. Either that or she was studying some of Jimmy Wang Yang's tapes from his run as Akio on Smackdown in 2003-05. Winners: Candice Michelle & Mickie James.

Backstage, Mick Foley is with Michael Pena, who is the guest of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Through the course of the night, Michael meets the Highlanders, Maria, Val Venis, Super Crazy, Cryme Tyme, and Jonathan Coachman, and the latter figures prominently, as Michael is a honorary GM for tonight.

Carlito & Ric Flair (w/Torrie Wilson) vs. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch (#1 contender's match for the World tag titles--winners to face the Hardys @ Backlash). Before the match, Carlito queues up a preview of the new Ric Flair & the 4 Horsemen DVD, including comments from Triple H, Barry Windham, & Rick Steamboat. Carlito all but said thank you to Flair for giving him a wake up call. Unfortunately, it did not have the desired result. Pretty even match, but kept too short. Turning point comes when Cade pushes Murdoch out of the path of a springboard elbow by Carlito while Flair is on the floor. As Carlito regains his bearings, he gets hit with the Hi-Lo and is pinned. Winners: Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch.

Shane is already dressed for battle when Coach bursts in, hoping to offer some guidance. Shane will have none of that and sends Coach packing. Earlier, the Boy Wonder was feeling so bold, he slapped Armando Estrada upside the head when Estrada & Umaga came down hoping to ambush Lashley.

Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton (#1 contender's match for the WWE title--winner faces John Cena @ Backlash). The absolute match of the night. Unfortunately, there had to be a fly in the ointment, and it was Edge, stirring the pot as only he can. Michaels & Orton engaged in a pre-match verbal joust backstage that was hilarious. HBK comes out to "Sexy Boy", so the DX party train has officially been derailed for the duration. Back and forth these two went, and it was all about just who was hungrier. At a critical point in the match, however, Orton ducked a flying forearm from Michaels, who ended up knocking out ref Chad Patten. Orton clotheslined Michaels over the top and to the floor, then hit the RKO on the floor right in front of Edge. Orton didn't like having Edge at ringside at all, and after rolling HBK in, Orton ended up eating a spear from Edge, who then threw Orton back in and swung to the other side to revive Patten. As he did, Jack Doan came in and started a 10 count. Both men were up at 9. HBK hit the superkick, but as he landed across Orton's chest, his shoulders were on the mat, and both men were pinned. Patten ruled in favor of Orton, Doan for HBK. You know how this goes. Winner: None. Double pinfall means this goes as a draw. Now, it's Orton who bursts in on Shane, who promptly sends him to Coach's office.

Matt & Jeff Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (Non-title). As with the earlier tag matches, this deserved more time. 8 tag titles between the two teams meant this deserved to be a title match itself, but it was not to be. Maybe after Backlash. Haas & Benjamin had things their way briefly, but then the champs took over. Haas was eliminated (think Flair earlier), leaving Benjamin to eat Poetry in Motion, then a Twist of Fate, and the Swanton. Winners: Matt & Jeff Hardy.

The Cutting Edge was supposed to feature WWE Champ John Cena as the guest. Edge is out, now adding a jacket to his attire. He claims the #1 contender is him, after he supposedly politicked to Coach. Orton is out, and he is hot at Edge. HBK follows, and then Cena finally shows up. Cena cracked on all three, and sympathized with his now ex-partner. Coach came out and made a handicap match---Edge & Orton vs. Cena----for Backlash. Out comes Mick Foley, who brings Michael Pena out. You could see this coming as soon as Mick's music hit. Coach is overruled. It's now a fatal 4-way--Cena vs. Orton vs. Edge vs. HBK---at Backlash.

Bobby Lashley vs. Shane McMahon (ECW title vs. Shane's hair). It's been 7 years since Shane last held a championship (Hardcore title, August 2000). He came out with guns blazing, attacking Lashley before the bell. Once he got the champ into the ring, Shane immediately went for the pin and got three near falls. Unfortunately, he shot his wad right then and there. Next thing you know, Lashley's tossing the heir to the fortune around like a tackling dummy. Shane punched out ref Mike Chioda for the intentional DQ. That brought Umaga, Estrada, and Vince out. Lashley was beaten down and taken out with a chair shot and the Samoan Spike, the latter coming after Chairman Wackjob, sporting a black derby this week, announced that he & Shane, along with Umaga, would challenge for the ECW title in another 4-way at Backlash. You can see that Vince's hair is already starting to grow back in the back. Winner: Bobby Lashley via DQ.