WWE No Mercy 2016: 9 Most Memorable Moments in Event's History
WWE is dotted with pay-per-views that may fly under the radar, shadowed by the bigger events produced by the sports-entertainment empire, but it has managed to consistently deliver memorable matches and moments that stand the test of time.
No Mercy is one such show, an event steeped in iconic matches and moments that have rewritten history books and established certain stars as top-ranked in their profession.
On October 9, the Superstars of WWE SmackDown Live will battle for supremacy, with championships and careers on the line in some of the most significant matches of the year.
Whether those men and women can live up to the rich tradition of unforgettable moments Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Edge, Rey Mysterio, the great Eddie Guerrero and Brock Lesnar have ensured through their amazing performances, remains to be seen.
Until then, take this journey through WWE history and relive these—the nine greatest moments in No Mercy history.
9. Kurt Angle: Olympic Champion (2000)
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Kurt Angle enjoyed one of the most monumental rookie years in WWE history, winning every singles championship available to him while quickly establishing himself as one of the industry's best in-ring performers.
At No Mercy, he culminated the first 12 months of his career with a WWE title match against The Rock, the marquee match of an October extravaganza that also featured the first Steve Austin match in 12 months.
The Olympic gold medalist stayed step-for-step with the champion, controlling the pace of the match and leaving The Great One reeling at points throughout the match. As electrifying as The Rock may have been, the contest was clearly Angle's coming-of-age bout—a contest designed to announce his arrival to the main event scene.
It would take interference from Rikishi and Stephanie McMahon, but Angle would ground The Rock with the Olympic Slam and score the victory, capping off an unbelievable year with a championship victory that cemented him as one of the WWE Universe's elite stars.
8. Jericho Wins the Big One (2001)
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Ahead of the 2001 incarnation of No Mercy, the big question was whether or not Chris Jericho would ever win the big one.
Always the runner-up and rarely the winner, he had battled the industry's top stars but was lacking the one defining victory that would firmly establish him as one of the premier competitors in Vince McMahon's company.
Frustration began to boil over in the midst of the Invasion storyline, pitting the WWE-loyal star against comrade The Rock, who wasted no opportunity to remind Y2J of his shortcomings. With tension at an all-time high, the two waged war for the WCW Championship in the show's co-main event.
Jericho turned in one of his finest performances to date, with the chemistry between him and The Rock undeniable. The dramatic twists and turns the workers took the audience on led to one of the best matches of the entire year.
Most importantly, Jericho won the match, capitalizing on longtime rival Stephanie McMahon's interference to pin his rival's shoulders to the mat.
In one fell swoop, Y2J was established as one of the industry's elite performers, and his eventual heel turn was hinted at in grand fashion.
7. Match of the Year (2002)
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The quest to crown brand-new WWE tag team champions culminated at No Mercy in October 2002 as Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit battled Edge and Rey Mysterio in a grand tournament's final.
With that much talent in one place, the product that those four Superstars delivered should have been of no great surprise. Yet, the five-star classic they provided fans still shook the wrestling world to its core.
In one of the best matches the company has ever presented, Angle and Benoit used technical expertise to ground the energetic babyfaces, who fought back into the match and nearly scored the win. In the end, though, Edge had no choice but to tap out to the Olympian's ankle lock.
Benoit and Angle emerged victorious, new champions of the SmackDown brand, and wrestling fans had the opportunity to witness the latest chapter in SmackDown Six saga.
6. Father vs. Daughter (2003)
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The most bizarre match in No Mercy history took place in 2003 as Vince McMahon battled daughter Stephanie in an "I Quit" bout.
Vince was over-the-top heel as he insulted his daughter, taunting her and the fans as he abused his pride and joy.
Stephanie was resilient, refusing to quit no matter the pain and suffering she was forced to endure. She battled back and even had her father on the ropes for a moment. Unfortunately, she found herself trapped in his clutches—the victim of a Camel Clutch using a lead pipe.
Unwilling to watch her daughter suffer any more, Linda McMahon appeared and threw in the white towel as the rabid fans in Baltimore came to the realization that on that night, there would not be a happy ending with a heroine standing tall and triumphant.
5. Eddie's Last Main Event (2005)
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The No Mercy 2005 main event saw Batista defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Eddie Guerrero. What was a fairly decent, though unspectacular, main event took on greater meaning a few weeks later when Guerrero unexpectedly died at the age of 38.
The final main event in Guerrero's long and illustrious career, it served as the fans' final opportunity to witness the virtuoso performer who was Latino Heat.
Promising Batista he was a changed man, honorable in his quest of gold, he teased betraying the champion's faith throughout the match before ditching the opportunity to cheat and ultimately losing the match as a result.
It was a story-heavy match, one that proved just how versatile a performer he was, and another reminder of his greatness.
4. Ladder Match Classic (2008)
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Chris Jericho rolled into No Mercy in October 2008 on the hottest streak of his career. The most detestable heel in the industry, he had made life a living hell for Shawn Michaels. To make matters worse, he had managed to capture the World Heavyweight Championship.
The feud had become so incredibly intense and personal, there was only one way to end it: a ladder match with the industry's top prize up for grabs.
Jericho lost a tooth, Michaels was bloodied and the fans watched with great excitement and intrigue as they guessed who would leave with the championship and bragging rights. Would it be Jericho, who would then be able to hold over the head of his rival the fact he beat him in the match he revolutionized, or would it be Michaels, who could take the title from the man who had threatened to take his career?
It was Jericho who would win an epic game of tug-o-war with the championship and add to his career year with another extraordinary performance.
3. The Beast Conquers Hell (2002)
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Just moments after Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Edge and Rey Mysterio tore the house down with an all-time great match, Brock Lesnar stepped inside Hell in a Cell for a WWE Championship match with The Undertaker. An intensely personal rivalry, the barbaric cage match would serve as its bloody conclusion.
Lesnar was opened up first, shedding blood for the first time in his main roster career. Unfazed, he sent his legendary opponent into the steel steps, busting him open and watching with great satisfaction.
The Beast Incarnate survived a brutal assault from The Deadman to catch him with the F-5 and pick up the pinfall victory.
After six months of demolishing every other Superstar put before him, including The Rock and Hulk Hogan, it was the win over The Phenom that firmly entrenched Lesnar at the top of the company.
2. Chyna Makes History (1999)
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The inaugural No Mercy pay-per-view featured the most historic title change in WWE history as Chyna defeated Jeff Jarrett to capture the Intercontinental Championship, becoming the first female in history to win a male-centered title.
The feud between the competitors had been brewing for months, intensifying with every passing week as Jarrett insisted women were inferior to men.
After a controversial finish at Unforgiven, which saw Jarrett win via a screwy referee decision, the two agreed to a Good Housekeeping match that would bring their feud to its end.
For eight minutes, the two would battle for the industry's most prestigious midcard title, blasting each other with everyday household items.
Eventually, The Ninth Wonder of the World scored the win and forever etched her name in the history books, all the while providing fans with one of the most memorable moments in event history.
1. Stealing the Show (1999)
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The Hardy Boyz, Edge and Christian had been delivering show-stealing performances in basic tag matches for months before they met in the first-ever tag team ladder match—the Terri Invitational Tournament final.
With a main event of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Triple H and an undercard featuring Kane, Mankind and The Rock, the pressure was off the two teams to provide another outstanding performance. That did not deride them from seizing the opportunity and providing fans with a defining moment in their careers.
Throwing all caution to the wind, they pummeled each other with ladders and put their bodies through unimaginable punishment for the sake of both entertainment and career advancement. Willing to do whatever they could to generate a push for themselves, they wowed the audience with the most unbelievable display of athleticism and attitude fans had ever seen to that point.
The Hardys won, earning Terri Runnels' management services for a few months, but it was the foursome of determined competitors that emerged riding a wave of momentum that would carry them into the new Millennium and Hall of Fame-worthy careers.
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