Money Shot: WWE RAW Rewind

RAW is looking past One Night Stand, and is looking towards the future. They proved it tonight with the arrival of WWE Champion Triple H as the show kicked off in Bakersfield, California.

While The Game makes his journey to the ring, highlights are shown of how Randy Orton broke his collarbone during the Last Man Standing Match at ONS last night. As the champ enjoyed his moment in the spotlight, he was interrupted by the entrance of John Cena.

As the crowd goes into a frenzy, Cena makes his intentions real clear: He wants Triple H for the WWE Championship. Before the Game can accept, the music of Jeff Hardy sends the crowd back into a frenzy. Hardy makes it clear that there were three RAW superstars who won last night, and honestly, he should be included with this match.

So Jeff Hardy gets a great idea: He and Cena battle it out for the right to face Triple H at Night of Champions. All of a sudden, Vince McMahon comes on the RAWTron to make the match official. So tonight, in that very ring, it will be The Rainbow-Haired Warrior facing the Doctor of Thuganomics, and the winner will face The Cerebral Assassin at Night of Champions for the WWE Championship.

First Bout: Kennedy defeats Umaga via Countout

Back from break, Kennedy makes his entrance for his match. Unfortunately, his opponent left his nuts in London.

Instead of Paul Burchill, Kennedy faces Umaga. As Kennedy tries to get the offensive, he meets up with a Samoan Brick Wall for his troubles as the bell rings. The Samoan Bulldozer may have some jacked-up ribs, but he is still just as dangerous as before.

It's only after a missed dive from the apron that things pick up for the Green Bay native. Kennedy rolls back into the ring, and Umaga has some severe troubles getting back there as he's counted out. But Kennedy's celebration is short lived as Burchill returns to ambush the victor from behind. Guess that's how it works in England.

Back from break, the Chairman makes an appearance and gives the rules of his Million Dollar Mania competition. Simply put: Register on WWE.com with your name, address, and phone number.

But why is he doing this? "Because I want my fans back," he responds. "I want to show those snobby people that the fans of the WWE are from all walks of life, and I want to get more fans tuned into RAW."

As McMahon leaves the stage, we are forced to see Carlito and Santino, who according to the King, is the reason that God gave us a middle finger. So true, King. So true.

Second Bout: Cantino defeats Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes

Before the opening bell, Cody Rhodes announces that there will be a special timekeeper for the this match: Rowdy Roddy Piper.

Carlito gets Rhodes in the corner, and Santino comes in to continue the pressure as the match begins. It is only after a miscue from Marella that Rhodes is able to tag in Holly. Hardcore goes on a rampage and punts Marella in the midsection.

Piper steps away from the bell to run interference for the Tag Champs, but the ref catches him, and while he's tending to Piper, Carlito sneaks in to deliver a dropkick that proved to be the difference maker, as Santino rolls up Holly for the quick win.

Back from commercial, Santino is boasting about his victory to Todd Grisham, but someone forgot to tell him that his knowledge of late night is as pathetic and ridiculous as Eva Longoria's cheering at this year's Western Conference Finals.

Also in the back, Holly is showing his disdain for his partner's antics prior to the match, while young Ted DiBiase drops through to reiterate that in three weeks, he will be one half of the World Tag Team Champions.

JR and King take a little time to interview Chris Jericho about tonight and last night's cheerleading display during the Stretcher Match between Shawn Michaels and Batista. Jericho goes on to say "I promise to defend my Intercontinental Championship every chance I get, and that starts tonight against JBL." Before going to commercial, he also dedicates his match tonight to HBK.

Third Bout: Chris Jericho defeats JBL via DQ to Retain IC Championship

As the second hour opens, JBL goes on the offensive, but Jericho fires back with an armdrag followed by an armbar. As the match progresses, JBL uses every dirty tactic in the book to gain the advantage, including cheap shots in the corner.

He has Y2J in a full nelson followed by a shoulder block and a series of punches in the corner. But the tide changes quickly when Jericho hits a Tornado DDT from the top turnbuckle. He goes for the Walls, but JBL counters and sets up to finish the Ayatollah off.

Jericho ducks the Clothesline From Hell and uses two dropkicks to send his opponent to the outside. On the outside, JBL recovers and nails a big boot before going for a steel chair. The referree immediately DQ's Layfield, but the action doesn't stop there. Jericho uses a quick kick to send the Wrestling God's throat into the chair, reopening the bruised throat of JBL.

As Y2J goes for the chair and the kill, last week repeats itself. Jericho has second thoughts, drops the chair, and walks away from the ring with a bloodied JBL gasping for air.

As the show returns from break, Beth Phoenix makes her way to the ring, still gleaming from last night's Divas "I Quit" Match against Melina. But tonight, she's in a tag match with her partner for the evening, Katie Lea.

Fourth Bout: Katie Lea & Beth Phoenix defeat Melina & Mickie James

The match begins with Mickie giving Katie Lea a quick wrestling lesson. But as she goes to tag in her partner, the Paparazzi Princess is in a euphoric state on the apron. It isn't until Phoenix is brought in that Melina snaps out of it, gets tagged in, and snaps on The Glamazon.

After the Women's Champion is brought in, she has the win at the palm of her hands, but as the official tries to get Melina out, Phoenix comes in and nails Mickie from behind, securing the win for Katie Lea.

As the two divas celebrate, Lea's brother comes out to join in the victory celebration. Unfortunately, the British Shih Tzu gets ambushed by an American Made Pit Bull in the form of Kennedy. As Kennedy continues the assault, Lea grabs her brother to save him (again). But it's pretty clear that the Bitch from Britain (and his sister) will have to sooner or later deal with Misterrrrr Kennedy...Kennedy!!

The show returns with the entrance of Lance Cade, who is living proof that what happens on Brokeback Mountain doesn't always stay on Brokeback Mountain.

Fifth Bout: Lance Cade defeats Trevor Murdoch

The match begins just as it is advertised: A Slugfest/Slobberknocker. After a back toss and a knee to the skull on the outside, Cade takes control. Murdoch counters a necklock and delivers a big boot and some head shots of his own.

As Murdoch goes for the Hammer Drop, Cade counters with a kick to the head and a modified Sit Down Power Bomb to pick up the win.

Public Service Announcement: Look for the new "The Rock" DVD on sale next Tuesday in stores everywhere and on www.wweshop.com.

As RAW returns from commercial, JR and King take a look back at the controversial finish to the World Heavyweight Championship Match at One Night Stand. In the back, John Cena checks on Mickie James after her tag match, and also extends an apology about their questioned friendship.

But the Doc also pops in to give something back to her that she left last night: her thong! As RAW goes to break, Triple H is pulling up a chair to watch the #1 Contender's Match to see who his opponent at Night of Champions will be.

Main Event: John Cena defeats Jeff Hardy to become #1 Contender

The show returns with the arrival of both Hardy and Cena, as well as highlights from the Falls Count Anywhere and First Blood Matches at One Night Stand.

As the bell rings, the crowd shows its unity and its division as both men jockey for control. But the match takes a unexpected turn as a fan pulls a Zach Smith (read the NHL columns) and jumps over the barrier to either interfere with the match or go after the One Million Dollars at the top of the entrance way.

The unplanned distraction gives both combatants time to rethink their strategy as security drags the man out of the arena. After a back and forth test of superiority, Hardy gains the advantage by countering the STFU. He then gives Cena a one-way coach ticket on Air Hardy via a Springboard Body Splash over the top rope.

Back from break, Hardy has the advantage once more after a flying neck breaker. Cena fires back with a Fisherman's Suplex, but the Warrior hits yet another Neckbreaker. But as always, Cena fights back via The Throwback. As he goes in for the FU, Hardy counters with a Facebuster, but misses the Swanton Bomb.

Cena recovers enough to hit a shoulder block, the Spin Out Powerbomb, and the infamous 5-Knuckle Shuffle. Hardy manages to wiggle out of the FU, and has The Doc reeling after a set of Mule Kicks. But it was the Whisper in the Wind that almost sent Hardy to the Main Event at Night of Champions.

As Hardy goes for the Twist of Fate, Cena counters and goes for the FU again. Hardy fights it off, heads for the top rope and dives down for a Body Splash. Cena catches him, carries him around, launches him over his shoulders, and executes the third attempt at the FU for the win.

Before Cena could take in the victory, the WWE Champion arrives to the entrance. Cena slips out of the ring to confront Triple H and the show ends in a staredown between The King of Kings and The Doctor as they are now officially on the road to Night of Champions.

So at Night of Champions, it is truly on! Triple H versus John Cena for the WWE Championship. See ya tomorrow night for ECW as the backlash and aftermath of One Night Stand continues.