We open with a recap of last week's show, leading to Randy Orton being named #1 contender for the WWE title and a date with John Cena at Summerslam.

No theme music tonight as we jump live to the arena, and Cena opens the show proper. He commends Orton for his actions, referring to it as page 1 in the #1 contender's playbook, filed under, "Making a Statement". He advises jumping to the last page in said playbook, but Carlito comes out just as Cena is finishing his catchphrase.

Carlito is relaunching "Carlito's Cabana", with Cena as the first guest. Stagehands are hastily putting the set together with Carlito directing traffic in Spanish. Cena is digging and settles into the lawn chair, sipping on a pina colada. Carlito reminds that he beat Cena for the US title (on Smackdown) back in '04. Mr. Kennedy interrupts Carlito's claim to being a #1 contender, and makes mention of Carlito running away from Bobby Lashley. No one mentions that Kennedy blew his chance vs. Jeff Hardy last week.

Two matches are made as Carlito & Kennedy argue. Carlito vs. Cena, and Kennedy vs. Lashley. Those matches, though, are made by Da Champ, and no sign of Jon Coachman.

Match 1: Melina, Beth Phoenix, & Jillian Hall vs. Candice Michelle, Maria, & Mickie James For the 2nd straight week, Santino Marella escorts Maria to the ring. Sloppy in spots, especially on a out-of-sync double team by Mickie & Candice on Melina. However, the heels get the better of this deal. Near the end of the match, all 6 women are in the ring. Candice goes outside. Ref Jack Doan sends Beth Phoenix back to her corner, but as that's going on, Jillian & Melina hit a double-team facejam on Maria, so the selfish former champion gets the win back from last week. Winners: Melina, Beth Phoenix, & Jillian Hall.

Post-match, Santino is visibly upset over the way his girl lost the match.

Yet another Triple H video. This time, his 1999-2001 theme, "My Time", is playing in the background, coupled with a remake of his 2002-present theme, "The Game".

Back from commercial, and Santino remains in the ring with Jack Doan. Santino now has a mic, and cuts a promo, complaining about how Maria was cheated. He gets in an NBA reference, but says this was worse than any NBA official missing a call. Umaga comes out, which is cause for more concern.....

Match 2: Santino Marella vs. Umaga (non-title) Doan took the mic from Marella and called for the bell. The rout is on, and Santino has no chance. Umaga, perhaps in line for a future face turn, holds up his thumb to signal when the Samoan Spike is coming. I don't like the smell of this angle at all. Winner: Umaga.

Todd Grisham interviews King Booker & Queen Sharmell. Booker cuts a promo on his opponent tonight, Jerry Lawler, referring to him as "Jerome", and says he's hoping Triple H is watching. Spare me.

Jonathan Coachman is in the office on the phone until Cody Rhodes comes in. Clips are shown from last week's encounter with Randy Orton, and the ensuing attack on Dusty.

Coachman, however, has forbidden Cody to pursue vengeance on Orton. Noting the fact that the rookie is 0-2, Coach has given him one more chance to prove himself. Essentially, it's win or go home for Cody, because if he loses, Coach may "let him go". Cody thanks him sarcastically for the replay.

Todd is with Orton, who is then confronted by Sgt. Slaughter, setting up another match for tonight.

Match 3: Daivari vs. Cody Rhodes Pre-match, Daivari cuts a promo in Farsi. You need subtitles to understand what he's saying. He gets the early advantage on the rookie, but can't hold it for long. Cody hits a running bulldog for 2. He then takes a page from big brother Dustin's playbook and hits a snap powerslam for 2, and finishes off Daivari with a equally swift DDT to "break his maiden", as we say in horse racing. Winner: Cody Rhodes.

Match 4: Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. Kennedy This, I think, turned into an injury angle. Early on, Kennedy went outside to avoid the spear. Lashley swung around the other side to press the attack, but Kennedy met him with a thrust kick that knocked Lashley to the steps. A running boot to the shoulder turned the tide in favor of Kennedy, and Lashley favored the injured wing the rest of the way. I think this is the same shoulder that was injured earlier this year. Kennedy worked on the shoulder the rest of the match, and when Lashley attempted the spear a 2nd time, Kennedy met him with a knee to the shoulder and earned the fall. Winner: Mr. Kennedy.

Another Snitsky promo. Your pain is his pleasure. Feel free to cringe. They recapped the last match, and Jerry Lawler helped Lashley to the back. Lawler is in the next match. Meanwhile, we're being reminded of how the Lawler-Booker match came about.....

Match 5: King Booker (w/Queen Sharmell) vs. Jerry Lawler As Booker makes his way down, Jim Ross short-changes him in running down his accomplishments. JR credits Booker with 11 tag titles (10 in WCW), when he actually has won a grand total of 14 (2 w/Test, 1 each with Goldust & Rob Van Dam), 4 of those since arriving in WWE 6 years ago. As with the last match, the result isn't quite as satisfying as you'd think. Booker had control of the match much of the way, but Lawler pulled the strap down. JR credited Lawler with over 125 championships in his 30+ years, more than 100 of those in his regional promotions in Memphis. Lawler got a visionary pinfall, but Booker got his foot on the rope at the very last second, prompting ref Marty Elias to wave off the pin. The battle continued, and Booker drove Lawler to the opposite corner and began pounding away. Booker ignored Elias' 5-count twice, and the arbiter had no choice but to call for the bell. Winner: Jerry Lawler via DQ.

Post-match, Booker made his way down, thinking all was well. However, Lawler came back up the ramp and attacked, leading to a pull-apart.

Match 6: Cryme Tyme vs. Tom Mason & Brandon Gadsden Squashola #2. An old-school style jobber match, like the Road Warriors used to do it back in the 80's. Winners: Cryme Tyme.

Post-match, Shad & JTG decide to auction off Gadsden's boots. Wack, man.

Match 7: Randy Orton vs. Sgt. Slaughter It served its purpose. Slaughter hit the Cobra Clutch, but Orton made the ropes. He headbutted Slaughter to get free, then hit the RKO. Just like that, it was over. Winner: Randy Orton.

Naturally, Orton got in another cheap shot after the match, and Slaughter, like Dusty Rhodes last week, did a stretcher job. I realize they want to protect him en route to his first title run in 3 years, but the line has to be drawn somewhere.

Match 8: John Cena vs. Carlito (non-title) Randy Orton is lingering at ringside as Carlito makes his way out, and as Lawler tells us, Orton tells Carlito he's there to scout Cena. Riiiiiiight. He has a hand in the finish, though. Just when Cena has things going his way, after hitting the Throwback, and the Killswitch, he sets up for the 5 Knuckle Shuffle, but Orton gets on the apron to distract the champion. Carlito recovers and hits the backstabber to gain the fall. Winner: Carlito.

Post-match, Carlito spits some apple in Cena's face and escapes while referees try to keep Orton away. IMPO, Orton's distraction should've backfired, because he made contact with Cena, and that should've resulted in a DQ.