For the first time in over eights years, No Mercy has returned to WWE’s stacked pay-per-view lineup to serve as a SmackDown Live exclusive event. This year's installment features a handful of blockbuster bouts including a WWE World Championship Triple Threat match and a Title vs. Career match for the Intercontinental Championship.
No Mercy was always one of WWE’s most anticipated events of the year during its original run from 1999 to 2008, often featuring the culmination of ruthless rivalries, chaotic championship changes, and most importantly, remarkable matchups.
Through the power of the WWE Network, you can now relive some of the greatest matches No Mercy had to offer, including these five underrated gems that don't often receive the credit they deserve.
#5 Chris Benoit vs. William Regal (2006)
Following his loss of the United States Championship at WrestleMania 22, Chris Benoit disappeared from WWE programming. It wasn't until that October's No Mercy pay-per-view that he finally resurfaced as the surprise opponent for William Regal.
The match was merely meant to be a short showcase for Benoit in his first bout back, but it turned into a mat classic between the two seasoned veterans. They had plenty of experience working against each other in WCW, so they already had that strong in-ring chemistry together.
Regal, despite not being too high up on the totem pole on SmackDown at that time, took the fight to Benoit. The intensely physical fight between the two saw The Rabid Wolverine ultimately emerge victorious.
#4 Kurt Angle vs. John Cena (2003)
Kurt Angle and John Cena had no less than a dozen encounters between Cena's debut match against Angle in 2002 and their countless clashes over the WWE Championship in 2005, but the handful of matches they had in 2003 tend to be overlooked.
At that time, Cena was still a rising rookie and wanted to make a name for himself at Angle's expense. It was weird seeing Cena work as a heel against a babyface Angle, but what hadn't changed at all was what they were capable of producing in the ring.
Cena more than held his own against the former WWE champion and looked credible in defeat. This match actually featured one of the few (and possibly last) times Cena tapped out to a submission hold, courtesy of the Olympic Gold Medalist.
#3 Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy (2008)
The recurring theme throughout 2008 was that whenever Jeff Hardy was given a shot at the company's most prestigious prize, the WWE Championship, he would come close yet fall short. However, he remained resilient and refused to give up until he had gold in his grasp.
After nearly capturing the title at Unforgiven, Hardy earned himself another championship opportunity against Triple H at No Mercy. As popular as The Game was at that time, Hardy had the full support of the fans who wanted to see him oh so desperately fulfill his destiny of becoming a world champion.
He had an incredible outing against Triple H, and nearly had the match won on a few different occasions. But it was a quick roll-up from The King of Kings that allowed him to retain his title by the skin of his teeth.
#2 Paul London vs. Billy Kidman (2004)
The early installments of No Mercy were especially enjoyable, but one match that doesn't get nearly enough credit is this bout between Paul London and Billy Kidman from 2004. They had been tag team partners for a while and found success as teammates, but once Kidman started to get inside his own head, they started spiraling downward.
After Kidman accidentally injured Chavo Guerrero off a botched Shooting Star Press, he refused to go through with the move again, costing them the WWE Tag Team Championship. He eventually turned on London, leading to their one-on-one match at No Mercy.
As well-wrestled as the bout was, it was the storytelling that made the match such a masterpiece. Kidman won the encounter with the move that caused a rift in their friendship in the first place, the Shooting Star Press, before delivering another one to London while he was strapped to a stretcher. Just stellar stuff.
#1 Triple H vs. Chris Benoit (2000)
Chris Benoit's series of matches with Triple H (as well as Shawn Michaels) over the World Heavyweight Championship were absolutely exceptional, I think we can all agree. But do you remember when they initially went to war at 2000's No Mercy pay-per-view?
In my opinion, that was the best in-ring year of HHH's career, and he was by far the best heel in the business back then. The matches he had throughout 2000 were nothing short of sensational, including this five star classic with Chris Benoit.
Benoit was also on quite the roll that year, coming into the company as part of The Radicalz. They brought the best of each other in this match, but it was once again The Game who came out on top in a thriller.
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