The fact that the main event for WWE's No Mercy 2006 was changed just two days before the event from Bobby Lashley's singles push to a Fatal Four Way probably signals it wasn't selling very well. Instead WWE added it's number one draw, Batista and his scheduled opponent Finlay to King Booker's list of opponents to mix things up a bit more. The match was good. Better than what I thought it was going to be. Finlay and Booker T did the teaming up/splitting up routine that we all know and love and the altercations between Batista and Lashley were entertaining and surly a sign of things to come. The ending came when Batista nailed Finlay with the Batista bomb but Lashley took Batista out of action with a spear. The craft King Booker then capitalised by crawling over and pinning Finlay for the win. Looks like Batista will be chasing the World Championship for a bit longer.
There were two main matches on the under card from Raleigh, North Carolina that fans were eager to see as well. First off, United States Champion, Mr Kennedy battled The Undertaker in a non-title match. This was decent enough and picked up towards the end. It was no surprise that The Undertaker wouldn't not lie down clean for Kennedy, I am in fact surprised he was willing to lose at all. Kennedy picked up the win after many false finishes by disqualification after the dead man whacked him with the Championship belt. Afterwards Kennedy and the referee were laid put by a couple of tombstone piledrivers.
The other eagerly anticipated match was the Falls Count Anywhere match between bitter rivals, Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero. Even though I hate this story line I was expecting a great match from the two. I was instead very, very disappointed. The match was two short and the ending was botched. All the two seemed to do was fight through the crowd. With Mysterio due to take time of for knee surgery, this would have been a great opportunity for Chavo to put out Rey and further himself as a top heel. Another wasted opportunity by WWE.
Another disappointment of the night was the long awaited, cough cough, debut of MVP. Montel Vontavious Porter instead done a number on some jobber by the name of Marty Garner. I know this was only an angle rather than a match but come on WWE; we paid to see the guy wrestle a match. And what is that ring attire like? He looks like a cross between Flash Funk and a Power Ranger.
One thing that didn't disappoint was the return of Chris Benoit. It is not very often a bonus match is any good in WWE but Benoit's surprise match with Sir William Regal was fantastic. A very brutal, old school affair. Did you hear that head butt that busted Regal open? Ouch! And those chops to the forehead? Excellent, excellent, excellent. Benoit picked up the submission victory with the cross face. Welcome back Benoit.
The opening two matches of the night saw Matt Hardy finally pick up a pay per view win over Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms in a non-title match. This was a great opener. Also WWE Tag Team Champions, Brian Kendrick and Paul London successfully defended the gold against K.C James and Idol Stevens in another fine match involving the Champions.
So the eighth instalment of No Mercy was an average affair. An event that will be forgotten about in months to come. Sure the action was good on many levels but it feels like the event itself produced nothing and did not further any story lines or really end any feuds. Added with the story lines of The Miz's birthday celebration and William Regal running around having a bad night, this felt simply like a decent episode of Smackdown!
There were two main matches on the under card from Raleigh, North Carolina that fans were eager to see as well. First off, United States Champion, Mr Kennedy battled The Undertaker in a non-title match. This was decent enough and picked up towards the end. It was no surprise that The Undertaker wouldn't not lie down clean for Kennedy, I am in fact surprised he was willing to lose at all. Kennedy picked up the win after many false finishes by disqualification after the dead man whacked him with the Championship belt. Afterwards Kennedy and the referee were laid put by a couple of tombstone piledrivers.
The other eagerly anticipated match was the Falls Count Anywhere match between bitter rivals, Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero. Even though I hate this story line I was expecting a great match from the two. I was instead very, very disappointed. The match was two short and the ending was botched. All the two seemed to do was fight through the crowd. With Mysterio due to take time of for knee surgery, this would have been a great opportunity for Chavo to put out Rey and further himself as a top heel. Another wasted opportunity by WWE.
Another disappointment of the night was the long awaited, cough cough, debut of MVP. Montel Vontavious Porter instead done a number on some jobber by the name of Marty Garner. I know this was only an angle rather than a match but come on WWE; we paid to see the guy wrestle a match. And what is that ring attire like? He looks like a cross between Flash Funk and a Power Ranger.
One thing that didn't disappoint was the return of Chris Benoit. It is not very often a bonus match is any good in WWE but Benoit's surprise match with Sir William Regal was fantastic. A very brutal, old school affair. Did you hear that head butt that busted Regal open? Ouch! And those chops to the forehead? Excellent, excellent, excellent. Benoit picked up the submission victory with the cross face. Welcome back Benoit.
The opening two matches of the night saw Matt Hardy finally pick up a pay per view win over Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms in a non-title match. This was a great opener. Also WWE Tag Team Champions, Brian Kendrick and Paul London successfully defended the gold against K.C James and Idol Stevens in another fine match involving the Champions.
So the eighth instalment of No Mercy was an average affair. An event that will be forgotten about in months to come. Sure the action was good on many levels but it feels like the event itself produced nothing and did not further any story lines or really end any feuds. Added with the story lines of The Miz's birthday celebration and William Regal running around having a bad night, this felt simply like a decent episode of Smackdown!