Steve-a-mania Reviews: No Mercy 2002

-No Mercy 2002 took place in the Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The main talking points of the PPV are the two World title matches and the unnecessary storylines that went along with it.

October 20, 2002

Attendance: 9, 074

Raw Commentators: Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler
Smackdown Commentators: Michael Cole & Tazz

– Undertaker is sitting in the locker room when Kane walks in and takes a seat beside him saying “How was your week?” making comedy of the hell they have had to endure.

Christian & Chris Jericho vs. Booker T & Goldust- WWE World Tag Team

-Christian and Jericho work away at Goldust keeping them away from Booker T which elevates the chants that Booker gets from the fans, Goldust hit’s a power slam and eventually gets the tag to Booker T to the crowd’s delight.

-Booker T gets Irish whipped to the ropes and Goldust manages a blind tag, upon entering Jericho and Christian go after Goldust but a clever reversal into a double bulldog shifts the momentum. Booker T goes up to the top rope and hit’s a drop kick. Back to his feet quickly dodging a title belt swinging his way. Jericho attempts a springboard drop kick when disaster strikes and the middle rope snaps, recovering quickly Jericho hit’s the bulldog and a moon sault off the top rope for the win.(8:46)

-Solid opener and credit to Jericho for the recovery of the rope break. Although solid, the match just seemed kind of there, but it was able to get two very entertaining tag teams on the card.

Winners: Chris Jericho & Christian retain
Rating:**

– Smackdown’s number 1 announcer stands by with 112 year old Al Wilson, as we are given a recap of Dawn Marie making advances towards Al. Funaki asks him why was he showering with his clothes on and that’s why he is the number 1 announcer. Al responds by saying that he didn’t have sexual relations with that woman, way to stay on track with the times WWE.

Dawn Marie vs. Torrie Wilson

-Torrie drop kicks Dawn off the apron, going out of the ring just to throw her back in. The momentum shifts and Dawn works on the back of Torrie with some pretty unconvincing stomps. The crowd pops at the stereotypical hair pulling and rolling around the ring. Torrie slingshots Dawn into the turnbuckle and rolls her up for the 2, Torrie sends Dawn into the ropes and hit’s a neck breaker for the win.

– Better than I thought it would be, but I was expecting a dud so that wasn’t too difficult to beat. It wasn’t embarrassing which is probably the most complimentary thing I could say about this match.

Winner:Torrie Wilson
Rating:½*

-The Coach is backstage and interviewing RVD about his upcoming match with Ric Flair. He talks about being a chair smashing, Frog splashing, risk taking, yinging and yanging, van dominating dude. Full with Ric Flair impersonation.

Ric Flair vs. Rob Van Dam

– RVD wastes little time and knocks for Ric Flair out of the ring, but he is sent into the ring post. In the ring though RVD lays some kicks into Flair. Despite Flair’s pleas to RVD he gets kicked again, in typical Flair fashion cowering into the corner and sneaks in a low blow. Flair works on the leg, tying it in the rope and stomping furiously. He locks in the figure 4 leg lock, RVD tries to claw at Flair to release the hold, RVD though reverses the pressure forcing Flair to release the hold.

-RVD hit’s a rolling thunder but only for a near fall. Back to their feet RVD hit’s a roundhouse kick knocking Flair down then hit’s a Five Star Frog Splash for the win.(7:59)

-Decent match and good for Flair to let RVD get his spots in. The working on the leg showed some psychology in the match despite the selling from RVD being less than desirable.

Winner:Rob Van Dam
Rating:**¼

-Big Show is backstage talking with Stephanie McMahon about his frustrations being on the Raw brand when not…so…fast. Here comes Eric Bischoff. Stephanie feeling the tension decides to leave, good call Steph. Big Show whines about not being on PPV and not being in the main event. Big Show then rams Bischoff into some steel trays threatening to break his neck.

-Video perspective on the Intercontinental title which shows some of the great and not so great champions of the past.

Jamie Noble vs. Tajiri- WWE Cruiserweight title

– This came together with Jamie Noble and Nidia having a boyfriend vs. girlfriend match on Smackdown with Tajiri as the special referee. After the match though both Noble and Nidia attacked Tajiri, love conquers all I guess.

-Noble attempts getting in the ring but is greeted with a baseball slide and a moon sault. Back in the ring Noble reverses an Irish whip, Tajiri tries to jump over but Noble catching him hits an electric chair drop. Noble starts to work on the back and kidney area of Tajiri. Noble trying to keep the advantage charges into the corner but Tajiri quickly catches Noble in a tarantula hold. Noble gets Tajiri in a Tiger bomb but its reversed and Noble gets his lights dimmed with a kick from Tajiri. Nidia distracts the referee in an effort to buy Noble some time. Tajiri jumps on the shoulders looking for a roll up but Noble reverses into a roll up of his own for 3.(8:15)

– Solid match which had a difference of styles that worked well especially well with Jamie Noble’s in ring personality being entertaining mixed with the always exciting offence of Tajiri. With those components its guaranteed to at least be a decent match.

Winner: Jamie Noble retains
Rating: **½

Triple H vs. Kane- Winner Take All (World- Heavyweight & Intercontinental title)

– I am sure everyone can remember the disastrous storyline that went along with this match. Being that apparently Kane had killed a friend of his called Katie Vick in a car accident. Included in this build had Triple H in a Kane mask have sex with a life size doll in a casket. Sorry about reminding those who forgot. If there was any match that didn’t need an over the top angle in it, it would be one involving two titles.

-They grapple up with each other which before long turns into an aggressive choke by Kane. Triple H clotheslines Kane over the top rope to the outside, but walks straight into a choke Triple H channelling his mentor gets a thumb to the eye and knee’s Kane sending him into the ring post. Back in the ring Triple H hit’s the 3rd neck breaker of the match.

-Flairs puts himself into the match trying to give Triple H an advantage. He has the title in hand and goes for Kane but is immediately knocked down. Triple H grabs the title and hits Kane square on the head with it but can only get a near fall. The Hurricane runs down and goes for Flair trying to even the odds, Triple H pedigree’s Hurricane.

-on the outside Kane choke slam’s Triple H through the announce table. Flair proves to be useless as he is knocked down by Kane again, determined but useless. Flair trying to inject himself in the match again gets a choke slam for his troubles. That proves to be distraction enough which allows Triple H to hit a pedigree.(16:13)

-Not a good tribute that was the temporary goodbye to the Intercontinental title. Jerry Lawler was insufferable in this match and just would not shut up about Katie Vick throughout. The match wasn’t any better with no apparent story to it and Triple H’s offence being very uninteresting which about sums up his whole run at this time. I can’t even take solace in it being a well executed encounter either.

Winner:Triple H Wins Intercontinental title and retains World Heavyweight
Rating:*¾

-Stephanie McMahon tricks a very gullible Tracy in front of a camera to confess that all she has said about having an affair with Undertaker was bullshit. Undertaker enters and calls Tracy a bitch and leaves.

Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit vs. Edge & Rey Mysterio- WWE Tag Team Titles

-Angle starts in the match with Rey Mysterio, using the weight advantage as he throws the much lighter Mysterio around. Edge gets tagged in, Edge hits some arm drags and a drop kick knocking Angle down. Benoit gets the tag in and dominates Edge with various mat based holds. Edge hit’s a gut buster on Benoit and they both exchange cringe worthy chops. Benoit sends Edge into the ropes, Angle knee’s Edge in the back preventing any potential fight back.

-Edge manages to duck a clothesline from Benoit and spears Angle sending him to the floor. Benoit and Angle working as a well oiled machine with quick tags keeping Edge away from Mysterio. Benoit hits three German suplexes on Edge and then knocks Mysterio off the apron. Rey Mysterio eventually gets the tag and runs riot taking down both Angle and Benoit. Mysterio sets up Benoit for the 619 but Benoit holds on to Mysterio, Edge is there though and hit’s a drop kick forcing Benoit down but only for a near fall.

-Angle sits on the top turnbuckle and Mysterio runs at Edge, Edge launches Mysterio up to Angle and hit’s a hurracanrana. Edge looks for a spear on Benoit but Benoit catches Edge in a cross face locking it in and pulling back on Edge. Rey Mysterio hit’s the 619 though saving Edge from tapping out, Angle hit’s the Angle slam on Mysterio!

-Edge locks in the Edgecution, Angle manages to reverse it into an ankle lock, Edge reverses again in an ankle lock of his own and the reversals keep on coming with Angle locking in the ankle lock giving Edge no choice but to tap.(22:03)

– Breathtakingly awesome match that was perfectly paced and had unique double team moves and reversals throughout. All 4 wrestlers went all out with this match and it clearly shows, with quite possibly the most exciting closing to a tag team match I have ever seen. Everything was executed perfectly and when the tempo took off it had no signs of slowing down.

Winners:Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle, new champions.
Rating:*****

Trish Stratus vs. Victoria- WWE Womens title

-Trish gets in some impressive kicks on Victoria. It doesn’t take long before it spills to the outside, Trish is rammed into the post by Victoria. Back into the ring Victoria catapults over the ropes hitting a leg drop on Trish. Trish ducks a clothesline attempt and hit’s a chick kick but only for two. Trish goes for Stratusfaction to finish it off but is pushed off, after a blocked roll up attempt Trish gets a pin on Victoria for the win.(5:31)

-Pretty good match. these two have had some good matches with each other and at this point Trish was actually pretty good none of it was boring or insulting and I was entertained by the exchanges they had.

Winner:Trish Stratus retains
Rating:**½

Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker- WWE Championship (Hell in A Cell)

-Undertaker goes straight on the attack with the cast but its ducked by Lesnar. Brock Lesnar charges full throttle at Undertaker but its moved and he gets a gut full of cast. Brock Lesnar feeling the fear of the cell tries to find an escape. Undertaker makes his way to Lesnar as he quickly gets back into the ring Undertaker follows which allows Lesnar to get on the attack, he stomps away at the injured hand.

-Paul Heyman tries to claw at Undertaker from outside of the cell in fear for his client, Undertaker kicks Heyman in the face knocking him on his ass. he grabs the tie of Paul Heyman and pulls him through, Lesnar charges into Undertaker but he moves and Lesnar crashes into Heyman.

-Lesnar gets Heyman’s belt and ties up Undertaker’s arm in the cage and grabbing a chair he hits it across Undertaker’s back and then repeatedly hit’s the injured hand with it. Lesnar attempts to rip off the cast but Undertaker battles back. Back in the ring Lesnar does get the cast off of Undertaker taking away his only equalizer, he stomps on the injured hand again.

-Undertaker looking to go for old school balancing precariously on the rope but is pulled off and sends Undertaker crashing to the canvas! Lesnar grabs hold of Undertaker and gets him on his shoulders for an F-5 but Undertaker finds the energy to reverse and hit’s a choke slam! Lesnar kicks out after 2.

-Lesnar now with the advantage sets up for the Last Ride in a purely insulting manner. Undertaker reverses it though, bounces to the ropes and hit’s a DDT but again another kick out! Undertaker this time signals for the last ride. Lesnar drives him into the corner though. Lesnar gets up on second turnbuckle for the 10 punches, up to 6 and Undertaker hit’s a last ride. But the match has taken too much out of him and he struggles to cover, eventually getting his arm over but another kick out by Lesnar!

-Undertaker signals for the tombstone. he gets Lesnar up but shifting his weight he reverses it and has Undertaker in a fire man carry position, and hit’s the F-5! Lesnar covers Undertaker 1..2..3!

-Fantastic Hell in a Cell match where rather than the brutality of crazy bumps it had the brutality of two bitter rivals beating the crap out of each other. Very exciting closing moments that solidified Lesnar as a major star. it really represented how I feel the end of a feud in Hell in a Cell should go.

Winner:Brock Lesnar retains
Rating:****½

The 411: The Smackdown side of this PPV was fantastic with two amazing matches and a solid under card that would have been great on its own. Raw’s side was a bit of a let down but did have some decent matches but the Smackdown side does more than make up for it. Tag Team title match and Hell in a Cell are both must see’s.
Final Score:  7.5   [ Good ]