WWE No Mercy 2016 PPV Review
WWE No Mercy was the second Smackdown branded show of the new era, and in many ways it was a two match show. Going up against the second Presidential debate on Sunday night, the WWE made the outrageous decision to schedule the promoted main event for the show, the WWE title match between AJ Styles, John Cena and Dean Ambrose to open the show. This was crazy, as c,early they were scared viewers would be watching the debate and not their PPV.
I have never seen anything like it. But then after I thought about it, I figured, well they will main event the show with the well built up IC title- career on the line match between the Miz and Ziggler. But Oh no, that wasn't the plan either. Instead, the show closed with the boring and terribly built feud between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt. Smh. A two match show indeed.
I have never seen anything like it. But then after I thought about it, I figured, well they will main event the show with the well built up IC title- career on the line match between the Miz and Ziggler. But Oh no, that wasn't the plan either. Instead, the show closed with the boring and terribly built feud between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt. Smh. A two match show indeed.
Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton
Wyatt won after Luke Harper made a suprise return. In this heated grudge match, they started with a basic collar and elbow lockup. They grappled in the ring before a brawl erupted moments later on the outside. Wyatt began to pummel Orton, methodically working him over. Wyatt missed a senton off the top and Orton fired up. Great counters, near falls and exchanges as they went back-and-forth. At ringside, Orton rolled out of the way on an attempted senton and Wyatt crashed into the steps.
Back in the ring, Orton hit a drapping DDT and slithered into place to set up the finish. Then the lights went dark. Luke Harper appeared in the ring. A distracted Orton walked into Sister Abigail and Wyatt pinned him.
Back in the ring, Orton hit a drapping DDT and slithered into place to set up the finish. Then the lights went dark. Luke Harper appeared in the ring. A distracted Orton walked into Sister Abigail and Wyatt pinned him.
Baron Corbin vs. Jack Swagger
Corbin won via pinfall after executing End of Days.
Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler pinned Miz to win the IC title in a heated match. The early portion of the match saw Miz working over Dolph with him fighting from underneath. Miz started mocking Daniel Bryan, giving Dolph a hope spot. They traded near falls with Miz cheating by holding the ropes and grabbing tights. Miz started working a knee and they traded some more near falls, then Miz eventually applied the figure four leglock. Miz exposed a turnbuckle, removing one of the pads. Dolph hit the buckle but still kicked out, and he kept kicking out until he hit a zig-zag for a near fall. Even more near falls and Dolph applied a sleeper.
Maryse tried using a spray can to blind Dolph, but Dolph got his foot on the ropes when Miz went for a cover. Spirit Squad members did a run to eat a superkick from Dolph. Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale but Dolph kicked out. As the referee went to eject Spirit Squad, Dolph delivered a superkick for the finish. Best match of the night and a great moment for Ziggler.
Maryse tried using a spray can to blind Dolph, but Dolph got his foot on the ropes when Miz went for a cover. Spirit Squad members did a run to eat a superkick from Dolph. Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale but Dolph kicked out. As the referee went to eject Spirit Squad, Dolph delivered a superkick for the finish. Best match of the night and a great moment for Ziggler.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. The Usos
Rhyno scored the deciding pinfall to retain the titles. Usos briefly worked over Heath before singling out Rhyno to get heat on him. Heath ran wild off a hot tag until he got cut off. Usos tried to take out Heath's knee, and an Uso applied a tequila sunrise. Rhyno made the save and hit a gore for the finish.
Nikki Bella vs. Carmella
Nikki pinned Carmella after using the Rack Attack 2.0, her newest finisher. Carmella worked over Nikki's neck to shine her up for a comeback. After Nikki fired up, Carmella cut her off. Nikki twice escaped the Code of Silence leglock submission hold before hitting her own finisher.
WWE World Champion AJ Styles vs John Cena vs Dean Ambrose
Tremendous match with Styles retaining the title after hitting Cena with a chair and pinning him. What started as a big melee continued as such from there. Lots and lots of near falls. Cena squared off with Styles. Later, Styles squared off with Ambrose. All three kept trading near falls. The pacing was incredibly fast. Rope breaks were invalid, as it was no DQ, so the third man had to break up submissions.
The action was wild with some unbelievable highspots. For a false finish, Styles tapped out while both Cena and Ambrose simultaneously applied submission holds. The referee ruled the match would continue. They set the bar incredibly high on trying to follow this.
This was a great match and only second to the excellent IC title match.
The action was wild with some unbelievable highspots. For a false finish, Styles tapped out while both Cena and Ambrose simultaneously applied submission holds. The referee ruled the match would continue. They set the bar incredibly high on trying to follow this.
This was a great match and only second to the excellent IC title match.
