5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE No Mercy 2016

3. John Cena

Last night was John Cena’s shot at history. Though the real landmark comes if and when he bests Ric Flair’s record, pinning AJ Styles or Dean Ambrose last night would’ve seen him draw level with the Nature Boy. The former Face That Runs The Place was fired up heading into No Mercy, and walked down the ramp energized and full of life, but his night ended in rank disappointment. Cena was pinned by Styles for the second time in a row, and it’s hard to say where he goes from here.

Cena fought well throughout. His Avalanche AA likely had Ambrose beaten until AJ attacked with the steel chair, but such things are legal in a three-way, and he has no grounds for complaint. The referee acted clearly and decisively in the double submission spot too, so while Styles technically tapped out to both Cena and Ambrose, there’s little he can take from No Mercy other than misfortune.

Cena’s at an interesting point in his career. He’s far from the all conquering burial merchant that he’s been for much of his career, and after losing to Ambrose on SmackDown, and Styles at SummerSlam as well as last night, he might be out of the title picture all together. Cena took the match’s decisive pinfall, and has much work to do if he ever wants to be within touching distance of Flair’s record again.