10 WWE No Mercy 2017 Impulse Reactions
4. Going Over
Delivering on heightened anticipation at very least, the John Cena/Roman Reigns showdown highlighted how both men have evolved with the company's own shift towards workrate up and down the card over the past few years.
Cena has been a reliable hand in main events for over a decade now, highlighting his versatility during varying degrees of turmoil, tumult, and renewed prosperity for WWE, but 'The Big Dog' too has sharpened his skills to prove he belongs amongst the upper echelon he was destined to be shoved towards immediately following the separation of The Shield.
Hugely enjoyable as a result, the contest predictably worked through the gears rapidly until the pair had reached the optimum excitement levels Cena usually draws from all his major matches.
With little to separate them before the parade of finishers and hot spots took over, the two fought as much for headlines as they did control in the contest itself. A full-bore spear on Cena from Reigns saw Roman effectively DDT himself through an announce table, but even that was overshadowed by a spectacular nearfall for 'Big Match John' shortly after.
Repeating the move that won him his record-tying 16th World Title at the Royal Rumble, Cena floored Reigns with an Attitude Adjustment then held on and rolled through for a second, but Roman somehow rolled a shoulder. Rattled, 'The Champ' left himself exposed to a final Superman punch and Spear.