No Mercy was an annual WWE pay-per-view event that was first held as an international event in May 16, 1999, and became an annual event in October 17, 1999. It was held every October until 2009. From 2003 to 2006, No Mercy became exclusive to the SmackDown brand. Following WrestleMania in 2007, it became tri-branded.
In 2009, No Mercy was discontinued and was replaced by Hell in a Cell. After the second Brand Extension, No Mercy returned in October 2016 as a SmackDown pay-per-view, and became a Raw-exclusive pay-per-view the following year. However, in 2018, it was discontinued again as WWE reduced the amount of yearly PPVs held after they had ended the production of brand-exclusive PPVs following WrestleMania 34.
In 2023, No Mercy would be revived as an NXT-exclusive event.
If you were looking for the 2000 wrestling video game, click here.
No Mercy contains examples of:
- The Bad Guy Wins:
- There were many world title matches won by heels at this pay-per-view.
- 1999: Triple H defeated "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in a Anything Goes match to retain the WWF Championship.
- 2000: Kurt Angle defeated The Rock to win the WWE title for the first time.
- 2001: Steve Austin defeated Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam in a triple threat match to retain the WWF Championship.
- 2002: World Heavyweight Champion Triple H defeated Intercontinental Champion Kane to unify both title belts (the IC title was immediately defunct until it was brought back in May 2003); Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker to retain the WWE Championship inside Hell in a Cell.
- 2003: Brock Lesnar, again, defeated The Undertaker to retain the WWE Championship. This time in a Biker Chain Match and with Vince McMahon interfering; Additionally, Vince McMahon defeated Stephanie McMahon in a "I Quit" match, thus forcing her to resign as Smackdown general manager.
- 2004: JBL defeated The Undertaker in a Last Ride Match to retain the WWE Championship after Heidenreich interfered.
- 2006: King Booker defeated Bobby Lashley, Batista, and Finlay in a Fatal Four-Way match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
- 2007: In the beginning of the show, Randy Orton was awarded the WWE Title due to John Cena's injury, but lost against Triple H in a match. Later on, he defeated Triple H in a Last Man Standing Match to win back the WWE Championship.
- 2008: Chris Jericho defeated Shawn Michaels in a Ladder Match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship, thus winning the overall feud that started since the summer of that year.
- 2016: AJ Styles defeated Dean Ambrose and John Cena in a Triple Threat match to retain the WWE World Championship.
- In a non-title match example, the 2005 event had Randy Orton and "Cowboy" Bob Orton defeating The Undertaker in a Casket match. After that, Orton then burned the casket, which made it seem he won the overall feud until Undertaker's return a month later at Survivor Series.
- There were many world title matches won by heels at this pay-per-view.
- The Bus Came Back: Twice. The PPV event was brought back in 2016 after the second brand extension, only to be discontinued again after the 2017 event, and revived again for NXT in 2023.
- The Chew Toy: The Undertaker has lost six matches in this eventnote (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008) and has only won one in 2001.
- Evil Versus Evil: The 2023 event from NXT has Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin, who are both heels. Though Corbin receives a babyface heat.
- Fan Disservice: At No Mercy 2006, William Regal had a scene in the locker room after he just had a shower, and his towel fell, exposing his privates. WWE immediately apologized for the unscripted accident.
- Frying Pan of Doom: Chyna used one during her Good Housekeeping Match with Jeff Jarrett in 1999.
- History Repeats:
- Brock Lesnar defended the WWE Title against The Undertaker at this PPV twice (2002 and 2003), retaining it both times.
- The Undertaker has competed for the WWE Title three consecutive times (2002, 2003, 2004), and has lost the matches.
- The Miz has defended the Intercontinental Championship on this show two consecutive years (2016 and 2017), losing it to Dolph Ziggler in 2016 but retaining it against Jason Jordan the following year.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: The Undertaker challenged Brock Lesnar to a Biker Chain match at No Mercy '03, but was defeated by him, though that was partially due to Vince McMahon's interference.
- Kill It with Fire: In the Casket match in the 2005 event, Randy Orton and Bob Orton locked Undertaker in the casket and hit it numerous times with an axe. They then poured gasoline on the casket and lit it on fire.
- Loser Leaves Town: The 2003 event featured the "I Quit" match between Vince and Stephanie McMahon, which included two stipulations that really gave the "I Quit" match a whole new meaning: if Stephanie loses, she resigns as GM of Smackdown; if Vince loses, he has to resign as chairman of WWE.
- Mêlée à Trois:
- The 1999 international event featured the Triple Threat Match between "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Triple H, and The Undertaker with Austin's WWF Title on the line.
- 2001: Stone Cold Steve Austin defends his WWF Championship against Kurt Angle and The Alliance's Rob Van Dam.
- 2005: The U.S. Title Fatal-4-Way match featured Chris Benoit, Booker T, Christian, and Orlando Jordan.
- 2006: King Booker vs. Bobby Lashley vs Batista vs and Finlay for the World Heavyweight Championship.
- 2016: AJ Styles vs Dean Ambrose vs John Cena for the WWE World Title.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: During the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match between The Rock and Chris Jericho, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley tried to give The Rock a steel chair despite her hatred for both wrestlers; after The Rock hit Stephanie with the Rock Bottom, Jericho then hit The Rock with his new finisher, The Breakdown, on that chair, pinning him to become the new WCW Champion. Post-match, Jericho taunted Stephanie by flaunting the WCW Title belt in front of her.
- Squash Match: Bobby Lashley made his PPV debut flattening Simon Dean at the 2005 event, in a mere 1:56.
