10 Great Matches From WWE No Mercy PPVs
A collection of genuine classics from one of WWE's superior 'B' shows.
Buried in all of the hype for SummerSlam - which, admittedly, looks like it could be one hell of a show - is the news that the No Mercy brand is being resurrected for the first Smackdown-exclusive pay-per-view of the new post-brand split era. The event will emanate from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California on October 9th.
WWE presented No Mercy every year between 1999 and 2008. Oddly enough, it presented the show twice in '99 with the first one being a UK only pay-per-view. It was a bad start, with matches such as Gillberg Vs. Tiger Ali Singh and Nicole Bass Vs. Tori stinking the place up, but things would get much better in future iterations.
Over the years No Mercy produced a handful of great matches, despite falling to 'B' level status once it became a Smackdown-exclusive in 2003 (let's hope history doesn't repeat itself in 2016). It presented wild gimmick matches, five-star wrestling matches and major championship changes in its time.
All told, it was one of the more consistent minor pay-per-views on WWE's calendar and was usually good for a good match or two. Even shows without a true standout contest, such as 2004 and 2006, were enjoyable shows overall.
In anticipation for WWE bringing back the No Mercy pay-per-view brand, whet your appetite with these ten great matches from older shows.
10. The Undertaker Vs. Brock Lesnar - WWE Title Biker Chain Match (2003)
A year after The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar contested a classic at the very same pay-per-view event (more on that one later), WWE revisited the feud with another stipulation bout. The two warriors battled it out in a first-ever 'Biker Chain Match' which was, in actuality, nothing more than a chain on a pole match (I was hoping the ropes would be replaced by chains but there we are).
The Next Big Thing was in his 'real' Brock Lesnar phase and had developed a serious mean streak, completely destroying the likes of Brian 'Spanky' Kendrick, Paul London and poor one-legged Zach Gowen. 'Taker was a much more capable opponent, however, and took it to Lesnar in a match that supposedly favoured The Deadman.
This match is about what you'd expect from these two, with lots of brawling, suplexes and submission attempts. It was heavy-hitting smash mouth stuff and Lesnar displayed his newfound nastiness by piledriving 'Taker on the ringside steps. 'Taker, not to be outdone in the spectacular stakes, unleashed his rarely-seen no-hands over-the-top-rope dive onto an interfering FBI (Nunzio, Chuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli).
After weathering the Full-Blooded Italian storm and immobilising Lesnar, 'Taker grabbed the chain and was about to win the match when Vince McMahon popped up and caused the deciding distraction, allowing The Beast to clobber him with the chain for the win.
One of the more underrated matches in Undertaker and Lesnar's long and storied rivalry.