WWE No Mercy 2016: Best Possible Finish for Each Contest
WWE No Mercy is here, and fans are anxiously awaiting this one.
The reason for that has to do with John Cena and his quest for greatness. Cena is pursuing his 16th world championship in the Triple Threat Match involving Dean Ambrose and current champ AJ Styles. If Cena walks away with the gold, he etches his name in the record books alongside The Nature Boy Ric Flair.
To say that fans saw this coming is a tremendous understatement, to say the least.
However, fans did not see Dolph Ziggler's possible retirement coming. The Showoff is getting one last shot at The Miz's Intercontinental Championship, and his career hangs in the balance. If Ziggler loses, he's done with WWE.
The drama continues to mount for No Mercy, and that drama also includes the SmackDown Women's Championship.
Becky Lynch was supposed to once again prove her main event prowess against Alexa Bliss. However, that is not going to happen, according to F4Wonline.com via Wrestlezone. Lynch will reportedly miss the event due to an undisclosed injury, which leaves the title match off the card.
It's a blow for WWE, but hopefully the company will be able to reset and book a match to fill the spot.
This is the blue brand's opportunity to shine, as there's a little something for everyone. But as is always the case, fans are choosing their favorites to win. The only question is how will each match end? The finishes are important and can mean the difference between a successful hit and a mediocre letdown.
Jack Swagger vs. Baron Corbin
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Jack Swagger should be a star in WWE, but he's been unable to really connect with fans since his alliance with Zeb Colter ended. He's got the right look, he's got the talent and he has the ability to get over under the right circumstances.
Maybe he's finally found those circumstances.
Baron Corbin has not exactly struck gold since coming in from NXT, but his growth has been a slow and steady process. Part of that growth means finding the right opponents, and he may have now found one with The Real American.
These two look like the perfect fit in the ring, and No Mercy will gauge just how perfect they are.
Corbin and Swagger are good for each other and can help each other in the long run. Swagger had a taste of fame very early in his WWE career and can help Corbin behind the scenes. Corbin will benefit from his knowledge, and Swagger will benefit because this feud puts him back on the map.
Though Corbin is part of the New Era, this match should go to Swagger. Forcing Corbin to tap out due to the Patriot Lock is really not the answer, however; that may do too much damage to Corbin's run. But Swagger should get the pin here thanks to the Gutwrench Powerbomb.
The match goes to Swagger, but the feud is far from over.
Nikki Bella vs. Carmella
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Carmella's claim to fame was being the sidekick to Enzo Amore and Big Colin Cassady. But now she's trying to do something different.
That may not be easy thanks to fans who are having a hard time buying into her new character. But she's picked the right woman to mess with in Nikki Bella, as fans are very much connected to her.
No Mercy will be the test for Carmella's new run.
This is about establishing her as a player in SmackDown's women's division, which means fans must begin taking her seriously. The only way that can happen is if she gets the pin on Nikki at No Mercy. Bella's fans may not be happy about that outcome, but it's the right thing to do.
The loss will not hurt Nikki, and she can rebound on the following Tuesday night.
But Carmella needs this win, and she should get it at any cost. So when she rolls Nikki up and grabs the tights for leverage, fans should not be surprised. A cheap win is still a win, and while Nikki will come back for revenge later, this match should go to Carmella.
The women's division on SmackDown is already strong, but building another star in Carmella is definitely the right move here.
Heath Slater and Rhyno vs. the Usos, SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
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Heath Slater and Rhyno are the SmackDown tag team champions, and they've become one of the most popular acts on the program.
The unlikely duo has reeled fans in with the comedy, and fans have become connected to them because of it. They've gained a following, and it's a following that should warrant a win at No Mercy. Of course they will have to get past The Usos first.
Jimmy and Jey have reinvented themselves, and it could not have come soon enough. They had become stagnant over the past several months, but now they have their second wind. The only thing they need now is the tag team titles.
But that will have to wait, as Rhyno and Slater are not done yet.
One well-timed Gore from Rhyno is all it takes to finish The Usos, and the championships will remain with the champions.
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt
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Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton have a unique feud for one very important reason: Neither man can afford a loss.
Orton needs a rebound win from his SummerSlam match against Brock Lesnar, and Wyatt needs a win in general. The Eater of Worlds has never been able to build any relevant momentum because every time he gets started, WWE stops him.
Oftentimes fans make too much of wins and losses, but not in Wyatt's case.
So because of this, Bray must get the win at No Mercy. It may seem like a stretch considering WWE's penchant for bad booking here, but that's all the more reason to give Wyatt the nod. Orton cannot be hurt by one loss, and that loss should come thanks to Bray's patented Sister Abigail finisher.
Of course, that finish could come after the first appearance of Sister Abigail herself.
If that does indeed happen, then it will surely be one of the more intriguing parts of No Mercy. Wyatt will hopefully have what he needs to move forward at a better pace, and Orton will have a reason to come after him on the next SmackDown.
This one may not be over after No Mercy, but it will be Bray's night to shine.
The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler, WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
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Is this Dolph Ziggler's last stand?
Fans believe it very well could be, as a loss to The Miz means Dolph walks away from WWE. It seems like a silly scenario; why would Ziggler leave when he has so much going for him? But the fact is he's no closer to the main event than he ever was, and many fans are not happy about it.
The guy has worked too hard and is too talented; he should be rewarded for his efforts.
While Roman Reigns still can't get over and Superstars like Rusev have been built from the ground up, Ziggler has been ready to go for years. All he needed was the right opportunity to shine, because every time he gets the chance, he makes it count.
He will do the same at No Mercy.
This is Ziggler's time to once again show he deserves to be a top guy. He will beat The Miz on a clean pin after the Superkick and become the new Intercontinental champion.
He's got a lot left to offer, and even if WWE doesn't book him as a main event star, that's definitely what he should be.
AJ Styles vs. John Cena vs. Dean Ambrose, WWE World Championship Match
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John Cena is knocking on Ric Flair's door.
One more world championship means Cena will tie Flair's record of 16, and that will be a major accomplishment in recent WWE history. The Undertaker's broken streak is really the only thing that compares, and if Cena wins at No Mercy, he definitely makes history.
But that win is too big and should be reserved for an equally big event.
Either the Royal Rumble or perhaps WrestleMania would be the best choice for Cena to win the gold. The thrill of the chase should be in play here, which means AJ Styles needs to retain the title at No Mercy. But that doesn't mean he should pin Cena to do it.
Dean Ambrose is a top guy and should be booked as such. His world title reign was too short, and he deserves another run. However, he will likely take the Styles Clash, or perhaps even Cena's AA, to find himself pinned to the mat.
If the AA does take him down and AJ slides in for the three-count, then it gives Ambrose a reason to feud with Cena. This doesn't mean he should turn heel, of course, but it would bring out more aggression from the former champ on the following SmackDown.
This could lead to a major feud, which would eventually see John head back out of WWE for a while, as Dean heads back to war with AJ again.
But Cena will eventually tie the record. It's only a matter of time.
Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here
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