10 Best WWE No Mercy Matches Ever (According To Dave Meltzer)

8. John Cena Vs. Kurt Angle - No Mercy 2003 (****1/4)

Chris Jericho The Rock No Mercy 2001
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John Cena debuted at the dawn of Ruthless Aggression in 2002, answering Kurt Angle's open challenge on an episode of SmackDown, and putting up a spirited display in defeat. The rest of the year saw him feud with the likes of Chris Jericho and Los Guerreros, before setting his sights on the WWE Championship in 2003, scoring huge upset victories over guys like The Undertaker and Chris Benoit along the way.

His rise to superstardom well underway, Cena rematched with his first main roster opponent at No Mercy. His 'Doctor Of Thugonomics' gimmick was on fire at the time, and his heat was through the roof, but he'd yet to deliver a truly excellent in-ring offering. That all changed in this bout, which remains one of his career's strongest showings.

It helped that he was in there with one of the best in the world, but Cena noticeably raised his game for the Olympian, and it didn't feel like he was being carried at all. His performance helped prove that while John still had much to learn, he could at least hang with the company's premier athletes, though the bout does devolve into a typical Angle finisher kickout-fest in the closing stretch.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.