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Csonka’s WWE No Mercy Review 10.09.16

October 9, 2016 | Posted by Larry Csonka
7.5
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Csonka’s WWE No Mercy Review 10.09.16  

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Csonka’s WWE No Mercy Review 10.09.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Kickoff Match: The Hype Bros. & American Alpha defeated The Ascension & The Vaudevillains @ 9:11 via pin [***]
WWE Championship Match: Champion AJ Styles defeated John Cena and Dean Ambrose @ 21:25 via pin [****¼]
– Nikki Bella defeated Carmella @ 8:15 via pin [**]
Smackdown Tag Team Title Match: Champions Heath Slater & Rhyno defeated The Usos @ 10:18 via pin [***]
– Baron Corbin defeated Jack Swagger @ 7:31 via pin [**½]
Career vs. Title Match: Dolph Ziggler defeated IC Champion The Miz @ 19:41 via pin to become the NEW IC Champion [****¼]
– Naomi defeated Alexa Bliss @ 5:24 via pin [*]
– Bray Wyatt defeated Randy Orton @ 15:43 via pin [**]


– Curt Hawkins debuted during the kickoff show; his intro features him discussing his wacky Curt Hawkins facts. He stepped foot in the ring at No Mercy, and then said on Tuesday’s Smackdown, he will have his first match.

– Alexa Bliss is informed that Becky Lynch will not be able to compete tonight, and she feels she should be the new champion. She gets a title shot on November 8th in Glasgow Scotland, but will still compete tonight.

Kickoff Match: The Hype Bros. & American Alpha vs. The Ascension & The Vaudevillains: Alpha ran wild early, looking good as they got their brief time to shine. Viktor and Ryder tagged in for some back and forth and then Mojo came in and did some wacky dancing and ear clapped Viktor. Viktor eventually took him to the corner and tagged Konnor in. Ryder blind tagged in and it broke down, suplexes by Alpha and then the faces tossed the heels to the floor for the network break. Post break, the heel had control as they worked the heat on Ryder. The heat was worked well, with quick tags to make sure it didn’t feel slow. Ryder eventually fought back, was pulled to the floor but sent Konnor to the barricade. Back in and he sent Viktor and Gotch to the floor. The heels pulled Gable and Mojo to the floor, Konnor posted shelf and Jordan got the hot tag. Straps down and suplexes followed, and Gotch made the save as it broke down into the big move buffet. Alpha hit grand amplitude to put English away. The Hype Bros. & American Alpha defeated The Ascension & The Vaudevillains @ 9:11 via pin [***] That was a good and fun tag match, and a nice way to kick off the show. They got the teams on the show, Alpha picks up the win (which is the right call) and this had a really nice energy. It also reminded me that I miss Fabreeze.

WWE Championship Match: Champion AJ Styles vs. John Cena vs. Dean Ambrose: Oddly they announced all three guys and THEN went to the hype package. They all went for finishers early, Ambrose then sent Styles to the floor and Cena followed. They brawled with Cena catching Ambrose and posting him. Styles they started to work over Cena, the crowd is really into this. Ambrose returned and Cena hit a German on both guys. They are not messing around here. Styles dumped Ambrose, Cena followed with a cutter on Styles for the near fall. Styles escaped the AA and hit the PELE. Ambrose returned and AJ hit a reverse DDT on him as he hit a regular DDT on Cena; he’d cover both for 2. Styles again tossed Ambrose, but Cena hit the code red on Styles for the near fall. Cena then climbed the corner with Styles on his back, but Styles escaped and hit the back breaker into the powerbomb for 2. Cena looked to fire up but Styles worked the sleeper, Cena countered and he worked the sleeper and then Ambrose returned. He worked the sleeper, Cena slammed him into Styles repeatedly to break and then Cena hit the shoulder blocks and the proto bomb. Styles then hit a German and the do don for a near fall. Ambrose broke that up, went to the floor and Cena hit the shoulder blocks and proto bomb to Styles. Ambrose hit the elbow drop and got 2 on Cena. Styles hit the springboard forearm on Cena as Ambrose avoided him, they worked to the corner and Styles got the RANA off the ropes, but Ambrose rolled into the sunset flip for a near fall. They did a double down, and Cena returned. He hit the five-knuckle shuffle to both AA to Styles but he rolled to the floor. AA to Ambrose and that got a near fall. Cena then locked in the STF on Ambrose; Styles broke it up and connected with a suplex on Cena on the apron. Styles then hit the springboard 450 on Ambrose for the near fall. Styles kicked away at Cena, but Ambrose countered the forearm but Styles raked the eyes, clash on Ambrose but Cena locked in the STF on Styles. Ambrose holds Styles’ arm so he can’t tap and breaks it up. Ambrose worked over both; Cena sends Ambrose into Styles and tries the double AA. Styles escaped and then they did a triple down spot. Ambrose worked over Styles in the corner, teased a dirty deeds but Cena snatched him up and hit the Liger bomb for a near fall. High cross by Styles, Cena rolls through but Styles escaped into the calf crusher. Ambrose made the save, and then he locked in the calf crusher on Styles. Cena then locked in the STF on Styles at the same time and Styles tapped. The ref then said that the match had to continue since there was no singular winner. Ambrose then hit dirty deeds on Cena, but Styles pulled out the ref. Ambrose hit the suicide dive onto Styles. Back in and Cena and Ambrose battled up top, AA off the ropes. Styles then beat down Cena with the chair and covered Cena for the win. Champion AJ Styles defeated John Cena and Dean Ambrose @ 21:25 via pin [****¼] That was an excellent match to kick off the PPV potion of the show. All three guys worked really hard, they had a hot crowd and they did a good job of avoiding the traps of a triple threat match. Styles winning is the right call, and with Cena about to leave to tape his TV show, him losing and protecting Ambrose was also the right call. You can also claim that Cena and Ambrose “won” as Styles tapped, which will continue Ambrose vs. Styles and Cena vs. Styles later on. I also love that Styles wrestlers and works to win, and only resorts to the heel tactics when he needs to and that he does it on his own. They worked a frantic pace, there was no down time and they delivered.

Nikki Bella vs. Carmella: Despite the good booking of this feud, Carmella still gets the coldest reaction on the brand. Carmella slapped Nikki, who went on the attack right away. She’d send Carmella to the floor, but Carmella shot her to the barricade and then the apron to take control back. Carmella started to target the neck, slamming Nikki to the apron and then bending her around the post. Carmella grounded Nikki, working a chinlock. She used the hair to maintain control, hit the broncobuster and that got 2. Carmella again grounded Nikki, and then worked her over in the ropes by sing the hair again. Nikki battled back with the spear, sort of hit a dropkick as Carmella took the bump too soon and then hit the corner clothesline and disaster kick for 2. Carmella fought off the TKO, but Nikki ht the Bella buster for the near fall. Carmella hit the superkick for 2 and they did a double down. Nikki got a roll up for 2, but Carmella then hit the flat liner and then locked in the code of silence. Nikki powered out, Carmella escaped and Nikki then dropped her with the forearm. Carmella then rolled into the code of silence, which felt way too soon, and Nikki was able to get the ropes. She beat on Nikki, who then hit the TKO (rack attack 2.0) for the win. Nikki Bella defeated Carmella @ 8:15 via pin [**] This was a perfectly solid, but unspectacular match. It felt long, Carmella’s heat segment was really bland and the layout felt off (like Carmella just popping up after the forearm of death, which has been very protected). It wasn’t bad, but it was just there. Nikki needed the win after dropping so many matches to Carmella.

– The Miz meets with Shane and Bryan. Miz says the show will be great when he retires Ziggler in the main event, and says that Bryan will also get some credit because he forced Ziggler into this situation. Miz then said he would want to renegotiate a nee contract when he wins, because there will be extra money available when Ziggler is forced to retire. What a spectacular asshole.

Smackdown Tag Team Title Match: Champions Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. The Usos: Rhyno and Jimmy started things off, Rhyno controlled with the power game and then tagged in Slater. Slater tagged in, and was quickly cut off by Jey. He worked slams and suplexes, and then quick tags with Jimmy as they isolated Slater in their corner. Slater managed a tag to Rhyno; he worked over both Usos and hit the belly to belly on Jimmy. He set for the spear, Jey distracted him and that allowed Jimmy to attack. Jay tagged in and hit the Samoan clambake, which got the near fall. They worked the heat on Rhyno, which is different and sets up Slater for the hot tag. The Usos did well isolating Rhyno and grounding him. Rhyno tried to fire up, but Jey beat him down and mockingly chanted “ECW” at him. Rhyno hit the desperation spinebuster and got the hot tag to Slater. Slater ran wild, got a good reaction for it and then got a near fall on Jey after a neck breaker. Jey cut off the DDT, hit the toss up Samoan drop and got a near fall. Rhyno pulled Jey to the floor, but ate a baseball slide from Jimmy. Jimmy took down Slater, went for the top rope splash but Slater ran up and hit a powerslam off the ropes for a good near fall. Jimmy managed to hit the superkick, Jey took out the knee of Slater as Jimmy ate a gore on the floor. Rhyno saved Slater from the tequila sunrise, Slater got the tag and Rhyno hit the gore and the champions retained. Champions Heath Slater & Rhyno defeated The Usos @ 10:18 via pin [***] Slater & Rhyno pick up the win when everyone though that they were set for the loss here, which I don’t mind because they are over. Good match, they worked well together and the crowd was into it. They have been teasing a bunch of issues with the tag teams, and I can see the return of the tag team Survivor Series match this year for Smackdown. It makes sense and will get them on the show.

– Bryan Wyatt cut a “promo,” where he spoke in tongues and sang. That’s it.

Jack Swagger vs. Baron Corbin: This is a rematch from Smackdown, where Swagger “won” when Corbin “tapped out.” Corbin is pissed about this, and they brawled right away and battled to the floor. Corbin trapped Swagger’s hand in the steps and stomped it, taking the heat as Swagger was selling the hand. Good aggression by Corbin here, and they are working the right style here. No one wants to see these two grab holds and grapple; they want to see brawling, especially after the angle on Smackdown. Corbin is pissed and wants revenge. Swagger tried to fight back with rights, avoided the charge and hit a par of corner clotheslines and then a slam. Swagger hit the Swagger bomb, which got a near fall. He went for the ankle lock, but couldn’t lock his hands due to the injury. Corbin hit deep six, which got a near fall. Corbin yelled at the ref, worked over Swagger with rights and then ran into a lariat for 2. Swagger then got the ankle lock and was able to hold it this time; Corbin fought for the ropes and grabbed the apron skirt. As the ref fixed that, Corbin hit an eye poke and end of days for the win. Baron Corbin defeated Jack Swagger @ 7:31 via pin [**½] Not a bad match at all, they largely worked the right style here, but it just lacked something. I thought that it was better than their Smackdown match. So that’s good news. The Smackdown move was a chance to reboot Swagger, but they kept him exactly the same and that is really hurting him. They can try to make him competitive with Corbin all they want, but no one cares at this point because he’s the same guy.

Career vs. Title Match: IC Champion The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler: I am rally disappointed that this match didn’t get to main event. The feud has been great and both guys have delivered, I hate to use the term deserve, but I feel that they do. Ziggler was fired up at the bell, going for a ton of near falls to see if he could end this early. Ziggler kept going for pins, Miz was able to cut him off and took control. Miz grounded Ziggler for a bit with a butterfly lock, Ziggler escaped but ate a clothesline and a boot to the face, which got Miz a near fall. Miz again used some Daniel Bryan moves and mocked the YES chant. Miz stayed a step ahead of Ziggler, every time he tried to fight back or fire up, Miz had an answer and kept control. Miz hit the Daniel Bryan corner dropkicks, and again mocked the YES chant. He’s an unbelievable asshole. Ziggler finally managed a dropkick, and then connected with a series of clotheslines. The corner splash and elbow drop followed, but that only got 2. Miz countered the RANA, tried the slingshot powerbomb but Ziggler got the sunset flip for 2. Miz got busted by the ref using the ropes, and then posted himself as Ziggler sidestepped him. They went back and forth, Miz took out Ziggler’s knee and hit the DDT for the ear fall. Miz went to work on the knee, working it over in the ropes and dropkicking it. he went for the figure four, but Ziggler got a small package for 2. Miz is showing frustration as Ziggler is countering what had previously worked in matches. Ziggler crotched Miz up top, they battled for position and Miz tried the sunset flip bomb, Ziggler fought and countered out, but Miz rolled into the figure four. They got a bit ambitious there, it was rough but it worked. Ziggler struggled for the ropes, Miz pulled him back center, but Ziggler fought and finally got the ropes. Maryse distracted the ref as Miz took off a buckle pad. Ziggler then hit a rough Ryder, which got him the near fall. Ziggler keeps trying to fight back, got sent into the exposed buckle and Miz then hit the slingshot powerbomb for a near fall. Miz is showing complete frustration here, and then went into the Daniel Bryan YES kicks, as he crowd chanted NO at him. Ziggler avoided the big head kick and scored with the zigzag for a great near fall. Ziggler struggled to his feet, they traded counters and Ziggler got the roll up for 2. he then locked in the sleeper on the mat (more of a rear naked choke) and Miz finally made the ropes. Maryse then blinded Ziggler with the hairspray, Miz hit the skull crushing finale, but Ziggler got a foot on the ropes to survive. Miz was pissed and just beat on Ziggler and attacked the leg again. Miz ripped off Ziggler’s boot, and Ziggler then hit the desperation superkick and crawled across the ring to try and make the cover. Maryse then called out KENNY and MIKEY! They distracted h ref, and Mikey ate the superkick, Miz hit the skull crushing finale but Ziggler kicked out again! The ref sent Maryse, Kenny and Mikey to the back, Ziggler hit the superkick and FINALLY overcame the Miz to win the title and save his career. Dolph Ziggler defeated IC Champion The Miz @ 19:41 via pin to become the NEW IC Champion [****¼] This was an outstanding match, as these two took the chance given to them once again and delivered. The performances from both guys may have been one of the best of their careers, as they played off of the previous matches and finishes well, the “over booking” was an example of it being done will without it having too much direct impact on the finish and then, despite all of Miz’s “bullshit cheating,” he finally got his comeuppance as Ziggler managed to survive and beat him clean. I do think that the ending needed a bit more time and drama worked in after the ejections, but they delivered and Ziggler finally gets is redemption. Miz was absolutely devastated post match, as he should have been after all of the shit he talked. They played their roles well, they fed off of the previous matches as they should have and it was easy to get into this match. This really should have main evented the show.

– Randy Orton looks in a mirror backstage and starts to trip out. Bad shrooms bro.

– Bliss hits the ring and comments about Shane and Bryan protecting Becky Lynch. Bliss doesn’t buy their story, and says that Becky is avoiding her so that she won’t lose her title. She says there is no woman on her level, and Naomi appears.

Alexa Bliss vs. Naomi: Bliss took control right away and talked a bunch of shit to Naomi. Naomi fought back and hit the speedball kicks, the split legged moonsault follows and that gets Naomi a near fall. Bliss fired back with forearms, Naomi stopped that but Bliss slammed her to the apron and then worked the arm. Solid heat here, the crowd unfortunately doesn’t care all that much. Bliss showing more aggression as she continues to work the arm. Naomi was finally able to slam Bliss to the corner, hit the facebuster but was slow to follow up due to the work on the arm. Naomi hit the dropkick, the rear view sort of connected and Bliss kicked out at two. Bliss then worked the arm bar, but Naomi rolled over and got the cover when Bliss wouldn’t let go. Naomi defeated Alexa Bliss @ 5:24 via pin [*½] This falls under the “replacement babyface tends to win” rule, which I am not a fan of. I get that Lynch is out for a few weeks and that Bliss will need something to do, but having her lose here was a poor choice. I thought that they were going for something good with the arm work, but it turned into the fluky loss. I would have had her win here with the arm bar, and then do some enhancement matches with her using Lynch’s arm bar to pick up wins and mock the champion. I know why they did this, but Bliss had momentum here and they just tossed it aside because they took the lazy way out. As for the match, it was ok in parts, and rough in others. This was easily the weakest match on the show so far.

Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt: Orton looked for the RKO almost immediately, but Wyatt bailed to the floor. Wyatt returned to the ring, and they battled back and forth. Orton worked the Garvin stomp, Wyatt would try for Sister Abigail and get stopped. He stunned Orton in the ropes and then took the action to the floor. Orton tried an RKO on the floor and Wyatt tossed him over the announce table. Wyatt tried to use the steps, but Orton fought back but Wyatt sent him off the apron and sent him to the barricade. We got a countout tease on Orton, and then Wyatt took the heat. Wyatt kept cutting off Orton as he worked a bland and lifeless heat segment. They worked to the apron, Wyatt hit something resembling a DDT and got a near fall. Wyatt has been talking about devouring the soul of Orton and been constantly mind fucking him and his vehicle to get to his end game is slow and boring house show offense. This should have been a no DQ match. After what felt like 30-minutes, Wyatt missed a backsplash off the ropes and they traded strikes. Orton finally hit some clotheslines and they did some counters, leading to the Orton snap slam for 2. They again worked a series of counters around their finishes, Wyatt hit the uranage and got 2. They went back to the floor and to the steps, Wyatt hilariously missed the running backsplash into the steps. Orton was rolling away before he even jumped. Orton slammed Wyatt off the commentary tables, back in Orton hit the hangman’s DDT and set for the RKO. Wyatt’s gimmick hit and Luke Harper was back. He distracted Orton, and Wyatt hit Sister Abigail to win. Bray Wyatt defeated Randy Orton @ 15:43 via pin [**] This match felt as if it lasted an eternity, as it felt as if they worked for 15-minutes just to get to the Harper return. From a technical standpoint it wasn’t “bad,” but was lifeless and worked in completely the wrong tone. This was an extremely poor choice for the main event considering you could have went off the air with the huge Ziggler celebration. The good news is that Bray Wyatt actually won a match and that Harper is back, I just wish he got half the push as Wyatt did.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

 photo fe36ffd0-0da4-4e3b-a2d3-b026b341dd87_zps41ef5d61.jpg
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.5
The final score: review Good
The 411
WWE No Mercy is an overall good show, highlighted by two excellent matches (Miz vs. Ziggler & Cena vs. Styles vs. Ambrose). I was not a fan of Alexa vs. Naomi, from a wrestling and a booking standpoint it was the worst thing on the show for me. The show followed up on the established booking well, Ambrose is till in play as a contender, and outside of how slow and unenthusiastic the main event felt, the show was easy to watch. If your shot on time, Miz vs. Ziggler & Cena vs. Styles vs. Ambrose are must see.
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