WWE NXT No Mercy 2023 Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights

WWE NXT promised a special show with NXT No Mercy. Every NXT title was on the line, and top names across the brand would be in action in front of an excited crowd in the Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, California.

Tiffany Stratton wanted to prove herself against Becky Lynch, who took her NXT Women's Championship just a few weeks back. Who would win this brutal Extreme Rules battle?

Carmelo Hayes walked into a rematch with Ilja Dragunov as an underdog. Even he seemed uncertain if he could defeat The Mad Dragon. Who would emerge as NXT champion?

Butch returned to NXT and won the Global Heritage Invitational to challenge Noam Dar for the Heritage Cup. Would The Bruiserweight emerge as the new Heritage Cup champion?

"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio has shown no respect to NXT as North American champion, and his next challenger, Trick Williams, looked to shut him up. Could Trick follow Melo's example and win NXT gold?

Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo wanted to prove themselves as NXT tag team champions. Did they bite off more than they could chew by challenging The Creeds Brothers, Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo and Out The Mud?

Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin ended the go-home show NXT with a brawl that could not be stopped. Could they stay contained in an NXT ring at No Mercy?

This show was stacked with memorable matches, and it had a chance to be the biggest premium live event in NXT history.

Kickoff: Blair Davenport vs. Kelani Jordan

Kelani Jordan showed out against Blair Davenport, but she could not finish the job. Davenport caught her with a diving stomp into a swinging side slam for the win.

After the match, Gigi Dolin hit the ring and stomped on Davenport until officials separated them.

This was longer than the typical NXT women's match, which allowed Jordan more time to show what she can do. Her move-set is evolving quickly. She was the highlight of the match.

Davenport did her part and picked up the expected win. She remains a veteran with upside in the division. However, she may soon be eclipsed by athletes like Jordan that are more flashy.

The immediate focus is her feud with Dolin. Hopefully, those two get a solid spotlight for their one-on-one clash.

Result

Davenport def. Jordan by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• Jordan caught the boot of Davenport then planted her with a rebound cutter.
• Jordan nearly took the win with a handspring back elbow and swinging leg neckbreaker.
  

Bron Breakker vs. Baron Corbin

Bron Breakker brutalized Baron Corbin in a surprisingly one-sided fight. However, after Mr. Stone distracted Breakker, he walked into End of Days, which sealed the win for the former Lone Wolf.

This was better than expected, but it never quite told its own story. It was best in spots and flat during the beat-down sequences.

The crowd did not quite know how to react to this match despite being invested in the NXT action. This was indicative of the inconsistent build The Badass and Corbin were working around.

The money match is still focused on Von Wagner. Stone's interference showed that NXT has plans with that angle, but until then, the best path would be for Corbin and Breakker to work together not against each other.

Result

Corbin def. Breakker by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• The show started with a fun No Mercy video-game-inspired introduction.
• Breakker came out with a wolf hood. Corbin rode in on a motorcycle.
• The two brawled into the crowd before the bell. The Badass threw around security.
• The crowd was loud early but mainly just popped for the spots.
  
• Corbin survived the military press powerslam then goaded Breakker into brutalizing him more.
• Corbin sent Breakker through the announce table, but The Badass sat up and speared his rival outside.
  

North American Title: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Trick Williams (Referee: Dragon Lee)

Dragon Lee and a second referee both went over the course of this match. Luckily for Trick, Dragon recovered just in time to count three after Trick caught "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio with a bicycle knee strike through the North American Championship for the win.

Mysterio has impressed against certain opponents lately, but he and Trick did not click. This was a fine match carried by contrivance over pure in-ring action.

Dirty Dom's time had come to an end, and Trick was the right man to take the gold. He is massively over and putting it together in the ring. He still has room to grow but needs to be tested.

Dragon and Dirty Dom will continue their feud on the main roster. The luchador has a chance to become a star by the end of this story.

Result

Trick def. Dirty Dom by pinfall to become the new North American champion.

Grade

C-

Notable Moments

• Before the match, Carmelo Hayes and Trick talked up leaving No Mercy as champions together.
• Dragon tried to hand off the title at the bell. Dirty Dom took a cheap shot at Trick and was angry when Dragon was late to the count.
• The crowd's favorite chants in this match: "Whoop That Trick" and "We Want Mami".
• Dirty Dom accidentally superkicked Dragon, who was down for several minutes. Classic referee work.
• Joe Gacy told Ava that she needed to find a new family as Schism was gone.
  

NXT Tag Titles: The Family (c) vs. Creed Brothers vs. Angel and Humberto vs. OTM

The Family faced a row of intense challengers. Everyone at some point looked ready to win. However, Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo were the last men in the ring against Lucien Price. They hit Bada Boom, Bada Bing to win.

This was a fun match and a marked step-up from the opening two matches on the main card. Everyone got in some solid spots throughout, though it was hard to truly spotlight anyone.

Prince and Bronco Nima were protected in this, just hitting their expected moves. The Creed Brothers showed out as always and clearly established why The Family vs. The Creeds is the best path forward.

Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo received the least spotlight. They will show more when they get back to standard two-on-two action.

The Family could not afford to lose here. D'Angelo and Stacks have a long exciting run ahead as long as The Don is healthy.

Result

The Family def. OTM, Creed Brothers and Angel and Humberto to retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• OTM came out in low-riding bicycles with Grand Theft Auto-inspired presentation. The Family brought out some family members for their entrance.
• Ivy Nile took out SCRYPTS when he jumped on the steel steps to interfere.
• D'Angelo's right knee collapsed on him when holding both Angel and Humberto. He was helped to the back. He came back out with a knee brace.
• The faces hit the heels with four simultaneous superplexes.
• OTM hit their elevated powerslam finisher on D'Angelo, but he kicked out.
• NXT showed another video package for Brian Pillman Jr.
  

Heritage Cup: Noam Dar (c) (w/ Meta-Four) vs. Butch (w/ Tyler Bate)

Oro Mensah caught Butch with a kick to set up a Nova Roller from Noam Dar to take the first fall in round two. The Bruiserweight took the second fall with the Bitter End in round three.

It went all the way to the sixth round where Gallus got involved. Joe Coffey hit Butch with All The Best For The Bells. Dar pinned The Bruiserweight to win.

The ending was heavily overbooked, but the action to get there was phenomenal. This might be the best Rounds match to date as Dar and Butch fully leaned into the format to tell their story.

It looks like The Bruiserweight may stick around for a while longer to continue feuding with Gallus. Dar will continue to define the Rounds format in NXT. That is the best option for the gold brand.

Result

Dar def. Butch two-to-one to retain the Heritage Cup.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• Butch dominated round one with joint manipulation, but after the bell, Dar hit a cheap elbow strike to set up for a strong round two.
• Dar was caught in a triangle choke and passed out, but the clock expired just in time in round four.
• At the start of round six, Mensah caught Butch with another enzuigiri followed by Dar's Nova Roller, but Dar kicked out.
• Bate took out Mensah outside then Butch hit a Bitter End in the ring, but Dar kicked out.
  

NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov

Ilja Dragunov dominated this match early, but once Carmelo Hayes got going, he was hard to slow down. It was back-and-forth all the way to end. It took two H-Bombs and a super H-Bomb to end it.

Afterward, the new NXT champion hugged Melo in respect as both men sold the physical damage to their bodies.

Melo vs. Dragunov II was even better than the first. This was one of the best matches NXT has ever produced. It was certainly NXT's match of the year. Both men brought everything to the ring.

This was electric and physical. It needed this loud crowd that was completely bought into the action. No matter who emerged victorious, both men looked like money players for the future.

Dragunov needed this win. He could not go any further in NXT without the gold. He established this as his "destiny", and that promise has been fulfilled. He is one of the best wrestlers in the world right now and will prove it.

Result

Dragunov def. Melo by pinfall to become the new NXT champion.

Grade

A+

Notable Moments

• Melo showed off his latest jersey collection of fallen challengers before he headed to the ring.
• Dragunov booted Melo to the floor and yell at The A Champion that this was "his ring".
• The Mad Dragon chopped Melo in the corner until The A Champion caught his chop, finally finding his confidence.
• Melo countered a running forearms into an enzuigiri then followed up with a rebound bulldog for a near-fall.
• Melo attempted to counter the Coast to Coast with double knees, but The Mad Dragon lifted him up into a rolling fireman's carry on the turnbuckle. He then hit the Coast to Coast for a near-fall.
• Dragunov took a double-knee facebuster but rebound into an H-Bomb near-fall. He then went to the second rope for a second H-Bomb for a close near-fall.
• The show ended with Melo and Trick embracing backstage.
  

NXT Women's Championship - Extreme Rules: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton

Tiffany Stratton and Becky Lynch fought with reckless abandon, brutalizing each other with everything in their arsenal. It took two Man-Handle Slams including a second onto steel chairs after ducking the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Lynch retained.

While it was always going to be difficult to follow Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov, Lynch and Stratton delivered their own fantastic performance. It was a pure pillage match where both kept the pace moving fast.

It was too soon for Stratton to regain the NXT Women's Championship, but she proved a point in this match. She hung with The Man and further earned her respect by kicking out on a Man-Handle Slam.

The women's division is heating up, and giving the division the main event shows that the brand's dedication to women's wrestling is only growing. The goal is for Lynch to elevate the division, and she is doing that so far.

Result

Lynch def. Stratton by pinfall to retain the NXT Women's Championship.

Grade

A

Notable Moments

• Before the main event, NXT showed the participants in the women's Breakout Tournament: Jakara Jackson, Karmen Petrovic, Lola Vice, Jaida Parker, Izzi Dame, Dani Palmer, Kelani Jordan and Arianna Grace.
• Tegan Nox was shown watching closely at ringside.
  
• Lynch came out after highlights of her wrestling career. She brought a cart of weapons to the ring. They brawled outside first.
  
• The two fought into the crowd where a fan handed The Man a chain to use as a weapon.
• Some unique weapons used in this match: a workman's hat, Barbie dolls, a fire extinguisher and a barbed-wire bat.
  
• Lynch caught Stratton with a double underhook suplex on a pile of chairs then locked in the Dis-arm-her. The Center of the Universe rolled outside and powerbombed The Man on the steel steps.
• Stratton somersaulted onto Lynch on an announce table chair through the barricade. She caught The Man with a senton bomb on a table then again in the ring.
  

Overall Show

No Mercy started slow, but the hot crowd stayed committed through an early rough patch to get to some fantastic wrestling down the stretch.

This show truly reached premium live event standard with the Heritage Cup match, and the final two matches were some of the best of the year for the gold brand.

Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov will be genuinely in the WWE match of the year conversation. Both men fought with main roster poise in front of a crowd that was complete enthralled.

Becky Lynch vs. Tiffany Stratton was a wild Extreme Rules brawl that delivered on its promise to elevate The Center of the Universe. The Man continues to build a new legacy of the NXT Women's Championship.

While the finish of Noam Dar vs. Butch was a miss, the first 16 minutes were pure technical action, showcasing what made NXT UK special before it was folded into NXT.

The future of NXT is exceedingly bright. Even if Trick Williams match with "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio was only fine, the moment was special. Trick has finally stepped out of Melo's shadow, and the story from here will be special.

NXT delivered in the bright lights. No Mercy was a show to watch, even if some will likely skip to the great stuff on replay.

Overall Grade: B+