Another wrestling-centric episode of Monday Night RAW was on the menu tonight, and yet again, things are looking pretty good.

The first pairing of the night featured the up-and-comer, Bobby Lashley (probably being groomed for the title as we speak) and Good King Booker, making his entrance with his pinky extended.

The match looked to be pretty good with a lot of action from both men before it was interrupted. What a shame considering this could have been a good one. Lashley and Booker T are of comparable sizes and ring abilities. Both guys move really well in spite of their height and bulk.

Right after a Dominator by Lashley, Ken Kennedy bum-rushes the ring and takes a shot at Lashley. It seems that Kennedy and King Booker have joined forces.

Jonathan Coachman comes out and boredom ensues. I miss Regal as the RAW stand-in-commish already. Coach books a main event match for later in the evening with Kennedy and Booker teaming up against Lashley and a partner of his choosing. Coach winds things up and heads to the back as Lashley and Booker T continue their kinda-sorta match with Lashley clotheslining the king out of the ring. Queen Sharmell collects her king and they haul it on back to the dressing room to prepare for the match later on in the program.

Speaking of the dressing room, William Regal is seated, waiting to speak with Coach and making faces at the decor. As Regal goes into his standard pose of his hand behind his back, Coach thanks him for standing in for him last week. Regal pats himself on the back, noting that his commissioner turn was heralded as "a breath of fresh air." (Forgive me for getting all Fred Durst here, but agreeance is in order here.) He tosses a back-handed compliment Coach's way, saying that his main event match was "not very creative, but very effective." Coach, slightly offended, slyly comes back with a "not very creative, but very effective" match for Regal on the card tonight, going one-on-one against the Sandman. Regal exits stage right, wrinkling his nose in disapproval. No one mugs the camera like Regal.

After a commercial break, Umaga and his toy-like Intercontinental Belt head towards the ring for his title defense match tonight. Umaga's sporting some new ink with a tattoo on his neck of someone's name written in cursive script. Uhh… That doesn't look very Samoan to me.

Umaga's challenger is… You guessed it. Again. Santino Marella. I wish they would just deport Santino Marella already. Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks he sucks since Santino's sporting quite a shiner under his right eye. Santino Marella sucks so bad, he makes Jamie Noble look like Eddie Guerrero.

The match begins as Santino hits Umaga in the face. He runs at the ropes and Umaga catches him in mid-air before dropping him down to the canvas like a sack of tortellini. Umaga cracks him across the chest after hefting him to his feet, then jackhammering away at him in the corner.

Maria jiggles her way down to the ring, lacking a support bra, but still there to support Santino. As she looks on, Umaga continues to pummel the crap out of Santino.

Umaga climbs the ropes and Santino moves. Umaga eats it. I have a Darth Vader moment and scream "Noooo!" and "Do not want!" from my couch. Things get better since it's Santino's turn to eat it as Umaga clocks him with an awesome side kick that takes Marella completely out of commission.

Umaga ass-splashes Marella in the corner, Santino laying limp like a rag doll. Umaga goes for the Samoan Spike and digs it into his opponent's neck. He kneels on Marella and retains his belt. This makes me smile like Ric Flair during a Triple H title run. God, I hate Marella! Umaga puts the title belt in his mouth and celebrates. Things get even better as Umaga blows a Samoan Snot Rocket on the fallen Santino below. Awesome! Every week, Umaga keeps moving up on my list of wrestlers to like.

Maria climbs into the ring to comfort Marella who grimaces in pain while doing such a piss-poor job of acting that he makes Keanu Reeves look positively Oscar-worthy.

As I've said before, Umaga is growing on me, but Santino does not impress me in the least. The match was what it was, certainly not one for the ages, but entertaining no less considering Marella got squashed. The snot-rocket at the end of the match really clinched it for me.

Up next are the World Tag Team Champions, Trevor Murdoch and Lance Cade. It sounded like Jim Ross announced Trevor Murdoch as "Kevin" Murdoch. Jerry "The King" calls J.R. out on it, too.

Their opponents for the night are The Highlanders, Rory and Robbie, back from a long RAW-hiatus.

Rory and Cade lock up and Cade gets him in a side headlock. Lance comes off the ropes and knocks Rory to the canvas. They lock up again and it's time for another side headlock. Rory punches his way out of it, goes for a hiptoss and Cade counters with a fireman's carry takeover. Once again, they lock up as Rory punches Cade in the stomach. Murdoch is tagged in via a slap on the back and he powers over Rory to the canvas, clamping him in yet another side headlock..

Murdoch flies off the ropes and then slaps Rory hard on the back. He whips Rory to the corner and then snap mares him over, choking up on the Highlander. Rory elbows his way out of it and then drops to his knees, nailing Murdoch in the beak, before tagging in his partner.

Robbie gets in several dropkicks on Murdoch before picking the big man up and flapjacking him. Rory intervenes illegally before Cade follow suit, both Cade and Murdoch taking Robbie to the canvas with Murdoch kneeling and Cade hard-clotheslining him.

Cade and Murdoch win again to retain their belts. Overall, a pretty good match. Neither one of these teams are particularly flashy, but still very solid overall.

Backstage, Maria is with Santino Marella. The Italian is bummed out, not wanting to go out in public with Maria for fear people will laugh, point, and say "There's Santino Marella, the man who never deserves to be I.C. champ." (And I would be inclined to agree with them.) He says he shouldn't be alone tonight and doesn't want to be by himself. Maria suggests that he can come to her hotel room and watch a movie, to which Santino agrees. Sheesh! What would CM Punk say!? Step down, Maria. BIG step down. Ugh.

Further backstage, Shelton Benjamin taping his wrists in preparation for his match tonight. Charlie Haas berates his partner's pre-match ritual, knocking last week's pre-match smooching of King Booker's ring. An angry Benjamin insists he doesn't need this crap and mentions that it's his birthday (Yaaay! Happy Birthday, Shelton!). Haas proffers his hand and says if it makes him feel any better, he can kiss his hand. Shelton slaps it out of the way and says that he's so confident in his abilities, that if he loses the match, he'll kiss Haas on the lips. Haas is amused and then realizes that this couldn't be too good. (Don't tell Rico that Charles might be smooching another dude!!)

You know, I think Shelton got an early birthday present on-air. He actually gave a good promo. Things are looking up for Mr. Benjamin.

Prior to his match, there's a Snitsky promo video. Apparently, along with his eyebrows, Snitsky lost the "Gene" part of his name. Too bad they couldn't kick it all Isaac Yankem DDS old-school style and refer to Snitsky as "The Dermatologist's Worst Nightmare."

Upon Snitsky's ring entrance, it seems that Jerry "The King" Lawler has found his newest cannon fodder, proclaiming "This guy is tough. Tough on the eyes." Raw may be war, but Lawler is GOLD.

Snitsky's intended victim tonight is Super Crazy. Super Crazy and his poncho/hockey jersey hybrid are going to get super-destroyed.

Snitsky rams Crazy to the corner and executes a high knee lift before headbutting Super Crazy in the back. Snitsky flings him to the corner like its nothing before dragging Crazy to the center of the ring and going for a pump-handled slam (AKA - The Meltdown) and just like that, it's curtains for Super Crazy. Snitsky pins him and then slams him yet again.

The camera closes up on Snitsky as Laswler makes an orthodontial crack on the big man, noting that Snitsky's teeth a dentist's retirement fund in the making. (See, an Isaac Yankem DDS joke could possibly apply here!) Snitsky's teeth are hideously yellow, looking as if he had gargled with iodine. Yick. As if Snitsky didn't look bad enough sans any sort of facial hair or hair on his head, then you factor in the bacne and now the crazy looking choppers, damn. We've got a whole big mess of ugly on our hands, people.

Not much can be said about the match itself. Things seem to be building towards Snitsky as an indestructible monster, probably filling the shoes that Umaga (who, incidentally, doesn't wear shoes) wore several months back.

After a "Triple H Returns!" video featuring Motorhead's "Bow Down to the King," we're treated to clips of last weeks' confrontation involving Orton vs. Dusty Rhodes in the presence of his son Cody. This week, things will get a little more heated.

Dusty Rhodes comes out to his kick ass music, doing the Dance of Dusty, much to the delight of the crowd. Dusty gets on the mike and calls "Randy Ot-tton out he-are!" Orton takes his time before making his entrance. He was probably pooping in someone's bag. Hopefully, Santino Marella's.

Dusty mugs the camera as Orton comes out and does his posing bit from the top rope and calls Orton a disrespectful, snotty-nosed punk. Dusty takes offense at Harley Race being spit on, lambasting Orton for his blatant disrespect to the people who brought him into the business.

Randy runs down a list of his accomplishments, including that he is the youngest WWE champion ever and that he ended careers of HBK and RVD. Rhodes notes that he doesn't gain any respect when he's talking about disrespecting others. Orton turns his head away and rolls his eyes. Rhodes snaps and yells exactly what I'm thinking: "Look at Dusty when he's talking to you!"

Orton challenging Dusty to the match he created at the upcoming Great American Bash PPV. He taunts the American Dream, asking him, "Should I end Cody's career before it even starts."

Dusty agrees and says that he will meet Orton at the Great American Bash on his terms, which happen to be a Texas Bullrope Match.

Dusty's son Cody then makes his entrance, slapping Orton hard across the face Man, is it weird seeing a Runnels without blonde hair. Orton looks shocked and pissed. Pissed because Cody slapped him. Not because Cody doesn't have blonde hair. Oddly enough, Orton isn't the youngest guy in the ring right now.

After a commercial break, there is a brief interview with John Cena, live from the set of Larry King, Live! where he is being interviewed. Cena cleans up rather nicely, sporting some snazzy duds that make it look like he went shopping with Ric Flair. Nice!

After a commercial break, Shelton Benjamin and Paul London are scheduled to do b attle with one another. Benjamin takes down London ((who looks as if he's wearing Yukon Cornelius' beard) and clamps on a side headlock on him. He knocks London back down to the canvas and London gets back up with a pinning Matrix-style kick that temporarily disables Benjamin. Shelton forces him into the corner and London comes out swinging with hits to the head. London sails over Benjamin's head and then is caught midair and dropped to the canvas. Benjamin scoops up London and throws him to the canvas. Ouch.

London counters with a submission armbar on Benjamin before clocking Shelton in the face, sending him flying to the ropes. London goes for an inside cradle that results in a nearfall.

Shelton rattles off an impressive looking armbar slam before hammering London with his fists and feet. London gains to his feet and rolls Shelton backwards with a hurracuranna that turns into a pin. Paul London wins!

As a perturbed Shelton scrambles to his feet, I notice a yellow ribbon painted on the inside of his boots. Pretty cool. Looks like Benjamin's going to have to plant one on Haas.

This was easily one of the best matches of the night. I was expecting a little bit more, but it seems the focus was more on the storyline of Benjamin possibly having to kiss Haas. In a show that didn't have too much going on in the way of storylines, this was probably one of the only ones. Nevertheless, both Benjamin and London did a great job. Both wrestlers are always consistently outstanding in their tag matches and it was nice to see them engage in singles competition. I wouldn't have minded a longer match, but the combination of mat-work and high-flying maneuvers from both London and Benjamin was quite good.

Backstage, Kennedy passes Super Crazy in the hallway with his ribs taped. Kennedy goes awol, wailing away on the luchador, asking him if he's okay. As Kennedy continues to pummel Crazy, he screams out that he knows that last week was a misunderstanding with the language barrier and all. He then stomps on Crazy's head, leaving him in a heap.

Elsewhere backstage, Shelton Benjamin looks worried. Charlie nixes the deal with Shelton having to kiss him, thinking it would be very awkward… However he tells his partner that he can kiss his hand, offering it forward. Benjamin almost does it, but Haas pulls it away at the last second, saying "Gotcha! Happy Birthday!", giving Shelton big, birthday hugs. Awwww!!! Just then, Ron "Farooq" Simmons comes out, surveys the scene and interrupts the birthday celebration with a loud "DAMN!" Looks like Haas and Benjamin are gearing up to be Billy and Chuck, Version 2.0

Following the commercial break is women's tag team action featuring the Women's Champion, Candice Michelle and Mickie James taking on Jillian Hall and Melina.

Candice and Mickie make their entrances, Mickie bouncing around the ring happily and Candice wearing head-to-toe gold. Their opponents, Melina and Jillian Hall enter and it doesn't look like Melina will be wrestling, since she's holding the mike. However, she's having a really good hair night and I love the dress.

Melina mentions that she is invoking her rematch clause to face Candice for the Women's Title at Great American Bash. However, tonight, she is unable to compete thanks to a severely sprained ankle that she supposedly suffered at Candice's hands last week. Instead, taming up with Jillian Hall is a woman who dislikes Mickie James as much as Melina does. Making her return to RAW, Beth Phoenix take her place tonight in tag action.

Phoenix enters the ring, flipping over the top rope from a seated position, standing in the center of the ring. Mickie and Beth are the first pair to lock up. Beth wings Mickie into the ropes as Mickie tries to takeover Beth with her legs. She jumps over Beth's head and then clobbers Jillian on the outside. Beth grasps Mickie in an almost-Widow's Peak, instead hurling Mickie to the canvas face-first instead of dropping to her knees.

Jillian is then tagged in to go up against Candice Michelle. The Women's Champion nails Jillian with a dropkick and continues the assault with a Russian Leg Sweep on Jillian.

Mickie and Beth go at it outside the ring, while on the inside, Jillian gains a two-count on Candice with a side slam. Candice catches Jillian off-guard and pins her with a backslide.

Melina looks pissed. Just then, Beth Phoenix gets Candice from behind. Both Phoenix and Jillian hold Candice in place in a tabletop position as Melina leapfrogs over Beth Phoenix, landing on Candice's midsection, taking the Women's Champ to the canvas.

The trio heads out of the ring as Mickie intercedes to help her partner. Scrambling to her feet, Candice wants a go at Melina.

After the commercial break, for a second time, we're treated to a preview of Triple H's comeback. Lots of shots of HHH working out in the gym wearing a cut-up Motorhead t-shirt. Hey, Motorhead sure beats the hell out of U2.

Not much of a segway, however, into the William Regal vs Sandman bout. Carlito sits at ringside with the announce team, frothing at the mouth over last week's confrontation with the ECW beer-swiller. Regal is already in the ring looking disgusted as Sandman makes his entrance, busting his head open with beer can after chugging most of its contents.

Regal kicks him into the corner and gives Sandman a hard knee. Sandman covers up as Regal furiously pummels him, nailing him right in the gut and following up with a stiff forearm. Regal sends Sandman to the ropes and Sandman counters with a low knee lift.
Regal dumps Sandman to the outside where Carlito tries to get involved and Sandman goes for the cane, whacking both Carlito and then Regal. William Regal is declared the winner via disqualification.

Lawler strikes verbal gold again, screaming, "Get out of here Sandman….It's last call!"

Eh. It was a match. It sucked up time. I'm sure there's a storyline in there somewhere, but I have no clue what it is. I'm not entirely sure if I care, but I enjoy seeing Regal out there.

After a brief, Bobby Lashley career retrospective outlining his many achievements since his 2005 debut, it's on to the main event.

Having logged enough hours of Beverly Hills 90210,, I think Sharmell just did the Texas Dip as part of her introduction. (Take that, Donna Martin!) King Booker makes his regal entrance, replete with swirling cape and extended pinky, posing and smiling blithely in the middle of the ring as Mr. Kennedy makes his own entrance.

Kennedy's mike schtick is cut short as Lashley comes out to a huge ovation. Getting an equally humongous crowd reaction is Bobby Lashley's surprise tag-team partner… Jeff Hardy!

Jeff Hardy and King Booker start out. It's 10:58, so automatically, I know this match isn't exactly going to be epic. Booker T gets in Jeff's face and talks some trash. Jeff takes advantage of the element of surprise and busts him one right in the face. Hardy spreads Booker's legs and does his drop to the crotch. He twists the King's arm and Booker winds his hand around Jeff's hair dragging him to the back. (Aww! My Dad taught me that when I was a kid!)

Kennedy is tagged in and begins clobbering Hardy. The crowd loudly chants for Hardy, clearly behind him as he executes a spinning mule kick on Kennedy. He flies in the air and executes a new move, a twisting kick off the second rope onto Kennedy's face.

Lashley is tagged in and suplexes Kennedy over his head to the canvas. Kennedy hits Lahsley with a powerful fist. Meanwhile, King Booker knocked off the ring apron. Hardy leaps off of Bobby Lashley's back as he kneels and lands one on Kennedy. Nearfall by Hardy, who slams Kennedy to the corner.

Kennedy reverses things with a nearfall on Hardy after Booker retaliates by kicking Hardy in the back.

Booker is tagged in, almost pins Hardy but then is whipped to the corner and the victim of a Hardy-launched corkscrew plancha resulting in both men knocked flat on the ground. Booker manages to tag in Kennedy and Hardy tags in Lashley. Lashly and Kennedy go at it. After a vicious spear by Lashley, the big man picks up Kennedy like nothing and heaves him over his shoulder. Lashley has Kennedy up in the air, ready to go for the Dominator. Kennedy tries to rake the eyes to no avail. Lashley destroys Kennedy and pins him. Jeff Hardy and Bobby Lashley are the winners as the show fades out.

Not a bad match for being squeezed in at the end of the show like that. And it was quite refreshing not to have any sort of post-match drama or disqualification of a finish.

Overall, this last episode of RAW was pretty drama-free. It seems that they are still trying to find their bearings in terms of storylines for much of the talent. While there is no real clear-cut direction, this is the second week in a row that RAW has been very enjoyable in terms of wrestling with just enough storytelling to keep things interesting.