WWE No Mercy 2016: Full Grades for Each Superstar at PPV
WWE No Mercy 2016 is in the books, and fans are still buzzing over the top two matches of Sunday night's pay-per-view.
Of course, one of those matches took place in the curtain-jerk position when it should have been the main event. The WWE faithful may have been a bit puzzled by the move, but when the main event came, everything began to make sense.
Dolph Ziggler and The Miz tore the house down. John Cena is the moneymaker but did his work in the first match and cashed out early. Perhaps he enjoyed the rest of the night behind a monitor backstage, especially when Ziggler won the Intercontinental Championship.
The SmackDown women's champion was nowhere to be found, however, as Becky Lynch was forced to miss the event due to injury. Alexa Bliss worked a short match against Naomi, which confused even more fans, especially when Bliss lost.
Wasn't she the top contender for the title?
Heath Slater and Rhyno retained their titles, much to the delight of the crowd. Tag team wrestling is alive and well on the blue brand, and this unlikely duo is getting over despite how silly the pairing may have seemed in the beginning.
These are just a few of the matches on the No Mercy card, and though not all of the bouts were hits, there was a little something for everyone.
But how did each Superstar fare in terms of overall performance?
AJ Styles vs. John Cena vs. Dean Ambrose (WWE World Championship)
1 of 7
This was the curtain jerk to end all curtain jerks.
The moment John Cena hit the ramp, fans likely knew he was not going to become the new WWE world champion. After all, that win would have tied him with Ric Flair's record of 16 world championships. When that moment comes, it will be celebrated right before WWE goes off the air.
The moment will be too historic to waste on the first match.
But this match was not a waste at all. This one saw SmackDown's top three talents going to war for the biggest prize in the industry. This match proved why AJ Styles deserves the belt in the first place; he's arguably the best wrestler in the world.
Dean Ambrose stepped his game up in a big way, and it's obvious that he will become champion again at some point. He's come a long way since The Shield, as he's now a top player in the company. But both men were overlooked during the past few weeks, thanks to Cena.
Cena was going for history, and that was the story everyone was talking about. But when this one was over, it was the work of all three men that made this match historic. The title didn't change hands, but it didn't need to. This was a win for all three Superstars.
Styles: A
Cena: A
Ambrose: A
Nikki Bella vs. Carmella
2 of 7
Carmella is trying to make a name for herself in the SmackDown women's division, and the best way to do that is to beat a contender.
That didn't happen at No Mercy.
For some reason, Nikki Bella was booked to win this one. It was obvious that Carmella needed the win, as it would have done a lot for her career. Bella would have rebounded, as one loss would not hurt her. But instead, she came out of this one with her hand raised.
Maybe it was for the best.
Carmella needs more work. That's not to suggest she won't get there, but she doesn't seem to be ready now. The match itself was not bad, but the chemistry was not there between the two women, though many fans believed it would be.
This was a learning experience for Carmella, as she's likely going to war with Bella again on TV. She will know more and hopefully deliver more the next time out.
Bella: B-
Carmella: C
Heath Slater and Rhyno vs. The Usos (SmackDown Tag Team Championships)
3 of 7
Heath Slater and Rhyno are the people's champions.
WWE is all about the random tandem, which could not be truer than in the case of The Man Beast and The One Man Band. Slater and Rhyno have nothing in common, they have no reason to get along and they shouldn't be able to coexist as a tag team.
But they're over, and they defeated a major threat in The Usos.
This was a good match and worthy of the titles. The Usos are looking better than ever, and their new attitudes have given them some much-needed swagger. They're the best team to test the champs, and they are the standard for SmackDown.
Of course, all of this is leading to The Usos vs. American Alpha.
By the time that feud kicks in, the championships will likely be in the mix. But until then, fans are having fun with Slater and Rhyno. They're entertaining, and they're getting it done every time they're in the ring. No Mercy was perhaps their best showing to date.
Slater and Rhyno: B
The Usos: B
Jack Swagger vs. Baron Corbin
4 of 7
This was the battle of the big men.
WWE has always been known as the land of the giants, but that has changed in recent years. Guys such as Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Sami Zayn and Daniel Bryan have become the rule instead of the exception. Vince McMahon may love those aforementioned giants, but that's not where the company is going now.
So maybe this match could be thought of as a throwback.
It was a good one, as Baron Corbin and Jack Swagger are still working to connect with the WWE faithful.
This match did a lot to help both men. It was well-paced, it was physical and both Superstars had chances to shine, which is what they did. This feud is likely not over, but the first chapter was written quite nicely at No Mercy.
Corbin: B-
Swagger: B-
Alexa Bliss vs. Naomi
5 of 7
This was supposed to have been a breakout performance for Alexa Bliss.
She was set to work Becky Lynch for the SmackDown Women's Championship, but instead, she was booked against Naomi. WWE had to make an adjustment, and Naomi was a good choice. The problem was that fans didn't want this match.
They tuned out, and their lack of desire to see it greatly affected it from start to finish.
Things actually got worse when Naomi won, which immediately turned the WWE Universe upside down. What was the point of taking the No. 1 contender to the women's title and asking her to do the job on the same show in which she was supposed to work the champ?
Bliss' loss sent the message that she shouldn't have been in that spot and that she would not have won. She will get her title shot, but now fans are likely wondering if she even deserves it.
This match never had a chance, and though the women put forth the effort, it wasn't enough to save it.
Bliss: C
Naomi: C
Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton
6 of 7
The Viper vs. The Eater of Worlds.
This could have been the main event, as it delivered on every level. Randy Orton looked good as always, and Bray Wyatt was as compelling as usual. When Wyatt is on TV, fans can't take their eyes off him. This was especially true at No Mercy.
Wyatt worked at a slow pace; he was methodical and took his time. He stalked Orton like a predator, and fans could sense these two were working hard to tell their story.
That story ended with the return of Luke Harper.
Harper came back and provided enough of a distraction to cost Orton the match. A Wyatt Family reunion followed, and Orton was left flat on his back.
This may not have been the ending fans wanted, but it worked. Wyatt needed this win, as he continues to be left behind when it comes to main event booking. Orton shouldn't be losing cleanly after his loss to Brock Lesnar. Each man came out looking good, and this rivalry is far from over.
Orton: B+
Wyatt: B+
The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler (WWE Intercontinental Championship vs. Career Match)
7 of 7
When Dolph Ziggler's number is called, he always delivers.
This was yet another big match where Ziggler proved what he can do with the spotlight. He is so committed to his craft and loves what he does so much that few can match him in the ring. But on this night, The Miz gave him all he could handle.
Miz is perhaps the most underrated Superstar in WWE.
He stepped up here, once again showing that he is one of the best in the company. He's a great heel and a well-rounded performer. When Miz works a match, fans know they're going to get his best every time out.
This was the perfect pairing, and the two told a great story. They deserved the main event, and they deserve a lot more. Ziggler and Miz represent the bridge between the New Era and the established guard, as they are still giving everything they have to entertain fans of all ages.
No Mercy ended on a great note, and it's thanks to Miz and Ziggler.
Miz: A
Ziggler: A
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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