No Mercy was a good show overall. 7/10
It would've been much better if it wasn't for the order of the matches. The two absolute highlights of the show were the WWE World title match and the IC title match.
Everything else (besides Naomi vs Bliss) was decent to good and easy to watch.
- American Alpha & The Hype Bros vs The Vaudevillains & The Ascension was solid. **½
It was a nice way to kick off the show. They showcased AA and Hype Bros against two heel teams that don't really matter and the right team (AA) picked up the win. All I can say, really.
- AJ Styles vs John Cena vs Dean Ambrose was a very good show opener. ***¾
"WE ARE KICKIN' IT OFF WITH A MAIN EVENT, MOHROW!" :jbl:
While I wasn't a fan of them opening the show with a ME-caliber match, I thought to myself: "Oh, well. If this isn't going to ME or at least co-ME the show, then there's another high stakes match that will." And while that didn't end up being the case either, I was OK with the decision for this as an opening match because it was so damn good and fun. All 3 guys worked hard and at a good pace, had a hot crowd behind 'em and delivered one of the best PPV opening matches in recent memory. Cena was good here, Ambrose worked really hard (just needs to drop that silly Suicide Dive and goofy face expressions), and AJ Styles was AJ motherfucking Styles! I didn't mind the overbooking with Styles tapping out to both Cena and Ambrose, since it's going to continue Ambrose/Styles and Cena/Styles for later on, so no harm done, I guess. Styles retaining was the right call, as was Cena eating the pinfall (which is, like, amazing) and protecting Ambrose in the process. All in all, good stuff and the second best thing on the show.
- Nikki Bella vs Carmella was decent. **
Nikki was good here and Carmella's... Well, improving. Her heat segment was bland and all, but it wasn't bad. She's limited right now, but she'll grow as a performer in due time. Also, Nikki's Running Forearm Smash is a thing of beauty. I'm glad she won and finally did something good after her return.
- Heath Slater & Rhyno vs The Usos was good. ***¼
Well, I'll be damned! Beauty & The Man-Beast retained. Everyone thought they were set for the loss here, but this was a nice surprise. This was a good match, the crowd was into it and both teams worked well together. The Usos are killing it with their heel act and Rhyno and Slater are becoming a really good team.
- Baron Corbin vs Jack Swagger was a good hoss battle. ***
I didn't really care for this match up until last week's SmackDown where they did that unique and "controversial" finish. And I thought "Well, this little feud's got something interesting going on right now!" Swagger and Corbin worked the right style here and the match was so much better than the one before. Also, Swagger took the End of Days like a MF.
- Dolph Ziggler vs The Miz was great and MOTN, I loved it. ****¼
This was their best match yet and I was so disappointed it didn't get to ME the show. I mean, Title vs Career match should definitely be a reason for a match to headline a show. Plus, The Miz and Ziggler deserved it, alright! They'd fucking earned it with their matches and promos beforehand. This was by far the best feud on both RAW and SD and I really cared about it. And once the match started, oh man... They killed it with their performance. Both guys were great and played their roles well, the match was full of little callbacks to their previous outings and when it was all said and done... The Miz finally got his comeuppance and Ziggler finally got his redemption and saved his career. Great, great stuff.
- Naomi vs Alexa Bliss was boring. *
I wasn't a fan of the wrestling here, nor did I like the booking. Okay, now, if the Women's title match wasn't cancelled due to Becky's injury, Alexa would've lost anyway. But, she didn't have to lose here, especially to someone who isn't even in a feud (even though they made it seem like that Nattie/Naomi thing was happening). And I get that it was a fluke finish and doesn't hurt Bliss, but Bliss had some momentum and had she defeated Naomi with the Dis-arm-her (mocking the champ by winning a match with her own finishing move), that would've been glorious. Oh, well.
- Bray Wyatt vs Randy Orton was a decent ME. **
Needless to say that I found myself not giving a fuck about this feud, this would've been much better if it didn't go on last. Plus, the match felt like an eternity. It wasn't bad, but just felt lifeless and couldn't follow The Miz/Ziggler, ya know. In a perfect world, the show would've went off the air after that Miz/Ziggler match. But, oh well. At least Bray Wyatt won a match and I'm happy Luke Harper is back.
::trump2:
tunga
