Wikipedia

No Mercy (2003)

The 2003No Mercywas the sixthNo Mercyprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view(PPV)eventproduced byWorld Wrestling Entertainment(WWE). It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion'sSmackDown!brand division.The event took place on October 19, 2003, at the1st Mariner ArenainBaltimore, Maryland.

No Mercy
Promotional poster featuringBrock Lesnarpreparing theF5toThe RockatSummerSlam (2002)
PromotionWorld Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)SmackDown!
DateOctober 19, 2003
CityBaltimore, Maryland
Venue1st Mariner Arena
Attendance8,500[1]
Buy rate254,000
Pay-per-view chronology
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Unforgiven 		Next→
Survivor Series
No Mercychronology
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2004

Nineprofessional wrestling matcheswere scheduled on the event'scard.The main event sawWWE ChampionBrock LesnardefeatThe Undertakerto retain his championship in a match where a chain was hung from a pole and the first man to reach it could use it as a legal weapon in what was called aBiker Chain match.Two featured bouts were scheduled on theundercard.In astandard matchfor theWWE United States Championship,the Big ShowdefeatedEddie Guerreroto win the title. The other was also a standard match, in whichKurt AngledefeatedJohn Cena.

No Mercy had an attendance of approximately 8,500 and received about 254,000 pay-per-view buys, more than thefollowing year's event.This event helped WWE increase its pay-per-view revenue by$6.2 million from the previous year. When the event was released on DVD, it reached a peak position of seventh onBillboard'sDVD Sales Chart.

Production

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Background

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No Mercywas first held byWorld Wrestling Entertainment(WWE) as a United Kingdom-exclusivepay-per-view(PPV) in May 1999.[2]A secondNo Mercywas then held later that same year in October, but in the United States, which establishedNo Mercyas the annual October PPV for the promotion.[3]The 2003 event was the sixth event under theNo Mercychronology and was held on October 19 at the1st Mariner ArenainBaltimore, Maryland.While theprevious year's eventfeatured wrestlers from both theRawandSmackDown!brands,the 2003 event was held exclusively for SmackDown!.[1]

Storylines

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The event featured nineprofessional wrestling matcheswith outcomes predetermined by WWE script writers. The matches featured wrestlers portraying theircharactersin planned storylines that took place before, during and after the event. All wrestlers were from the SmackDown! brand, astoryline divisionin which WWE assigned its employees.

Brock Lesnar asWWE Champion

The main event at No Mercy was aBiker Chain matchfor the WWE Championship. In this match, a chain was hung on a pole above the ring, and when it was retrieved it could be used as a legal weapon. The match was between WWE ChampionBrock Lesnar,who defended againstThe Undertaker.The buildup to the match began on the August 28 episode ofSmackDown!,when The Undertaker defeated Lesnar andBig Showin a Triple Threat match, earning a title shot against then WWE ChampionKurt Angle.[4][5]On the September 4 episode ofSmackDown!,Angle defended the championship against The Undertaker, however, the match ended in ano contestafter Lesnar interfered and attacked them both with a steelfolding chair;Angle retained the championship as a result of Lesnar's interference.[6][7]On the September 18 episode ofSmackDown!,Angle defended the title against Lesnar in a 60-minuteIron Man match.Lesnar scored five falls, while Angle scored four, thus, Lesnar won the match and became the new WWE Champion.[8][9]On the September 25 episode ofSmackDown!,WWEChairmanVince McMahonheld a ceremony to introduce the new WWE Champion Lesnar, but was interrupted by The Undertaker and SmackDown!General managerStephanie McMahon,who announced that Lesnar would face The Undertaker at No Mercy for the WWE Championship.[10][11]On the October 9 episode ofSmackDown!,Lesnar defended the title againstPaul London.The match was interrupted by The Undertaker, who had a meeting with Stephanie earlier that night. He announced that his match with Lesnar at No Mercy would be a Biker Chain Match.[12][13]

One of the featured bouts on the undercard saw theWWE United States ChampionEddie Guerrerodefending the championship against Big Show. The events leading up to this match began on the October 9 episode ofSmackDown!,when it was announced that Guerrero would face Big Show at No Mercy for the title. Later in the night,Chavo Guerrerobrought Big Show out to the ring, followed by Eddie bringing asewagetruck into the arena and spraying Big Show with raw sewage.[12][13]On the October 16 episode ofSmackDown!,Guerrero defeatedRhynoin a non-title match. Afterwards, Big Show attacked Guerrero by using his signaturelowrideras a weapon.[14][15]

Kurt Angle, who faced John Cena at No Mercy

Another featured bout on the undercard pitted Kurt Angle againstJohn Cena.On the September 18 episode ofSmackDown!,Angle lost an Iron Man match to Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. The match marked the third time that Angle defended the title against Lesnar with the first beingWrestleMania XIXwhere Lesnar won the title and the second beingSummerSlamwhich Angle retained.[8][9]On the September 25 episode ofSmackDown!,Angle tried to call Lesnar out to the ring, demanding a rematch, but instead Cena came to the ring and attacked Angle.[10][16]On the October 2 episode ofSmackDown!,Lesnar and Cena faced the team of Angle and The Undertaker, which Cena and Lesnar won after Cena struck Angle with a chain.[17][18]On the October 9 episode ofSmackDown!,arapbattle took place between Cena and Angle, in which both men performed raps insulting each other. The battle ended with Angle attacking Cena and the two proceeding to fight in the ring.[12][13]

Another prominent match on the card was an"I Quit" matchbetween Vince McMahon and his daughter, Stephanie McMahon. At No Mercy, however, Vince announced that Stephanie could score apinfallorsubmissionto win the match.[19]The match build up began on the September 25 episode ofSmackDown!,when Stephanie interrupted her father's ceremony honoring the new WWE Champion Brock Lesnar to announce that the Undertaker would face Lesnar at No Mercy for the championship. Vince, angered by this, demanded that she retract the decision. When Stephanie did not, Vince announced that the two of them would face each other in an "I Quit" match at No Mercy.[10][11]On the October 2 episode ofSmackDown!,Vince offered Stephanie another chance to rescind the title match, which she refused and as a result Vince added the stipulation that if she lost, she would be forced to resign as the general manager of SmackDown!.[17]On the October 9 episode ofSmackDown!,Linda McMahonmade Vince agree that if he lost the match, he would resign as WWE chairman.[12]

Event

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Other on-screen personnel[20]
Role: Name:
Englishcommentators Michael Cole
Tazz
Spanish commentators Carlos Cabrera
Hugo Savinovich
Interviewer Josh Mathews
Ring announcer Tony Chimel
Referees Nick Patrick
Brian Hebner
Jim Korderas
Mike Sparks

Sunday Night Heat

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Before No Mercy airedliveon pay-per-view,Billy KidmanfacedShannon MooreonSunday Night Heat,one of WWE's secondary TV programs. Kidman won via pinfall after aspinebusteron Moore.[21]

Preliminary matches

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Rey Mysterio faced Tajiri for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

As No Mercy beganRey MysteriofacedTajirifor theWWE Cruiserweight Championship.Throughout the match, both men performed many offensive maneuvers but Mysterio gained the upper hand when he performed a619andWest Coast Pop.Before Mysterio couldpinTajiri, two "fans" (later revealed to beRyan SakodaandJames Yun) interfered and distracted Mysterio. Following the distraction, Tajiri performed aBuzzsaw kickon Mysterio to retain the title.[19][22]

In the next match,Chris BenoitfacedA-Train.Both men wrestled inconclusively in the early stages of the match, until Benoit performed adragon screw legwhipon A-Train and forced A-Train tosubmitto the Sharpshooter to win.[19][22]

The third contest hadZach GowenfacingMatt Hardy.Both men performed a variety of moves on one another until Gowen performed aspringboard moonsaultwith one leg on Hardy for the win.[22][23]

In the next match, theBasham Brothers(Doug BashamandDanny Basham) faced theAcolytes Protection Agency(BradshawandFaarooq). After both teams performed a number of offensive maneuvers on each other,Shaniqua,the Basham Brothers' valet, struck Bradshaw with a club. Doug then covered pinned Bradshaw.[19][22]

Main event matches

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The fifth contest was an"I Quit" match,where in order to win one competitor must force the other to say "I Quit", between WWE ChairmanVince McMahon,escorted bySable,andSmackDownGeneral managerStephanie McMahon,his daughter. Stephanie was accompanied to the ring by her mother,Linda McMahon.Vince had altered the rules of the match, including the stipulation that Stephanie could defeat him by pinfall or submission, but he had to force her to quit. Furthermore, the loser of the match had to surrender their position in the company (Chairman or general manager for Vince and Stephanie, respectively). The match ended when Vince choked Stephanie with a lead pipe, and Linda quit the match for Stephanie. As a result, Stephanie was removed from the position of general manager of SmackDown.[19][23]

Eddie Guerrero defended theUnited States Championshipagainst the Big Show

The first featured bout was a standard match betweenKurt AngleandJohn Cena.Angle began bleeding internally after Cena performed aDDTon the ring apron on him. Later in the match, Cena attempted aFUbut Angle reversed it into an unsuccessful cover attempt. Following that, Angle attempted anAngle Slambut Cena countered the maneuver. Cena later gave Angle an FU for a near fall and Angle gave Cena an Angle Slam for a near fall. Angle then countered Cena and applied anankle lock,which led to Cena submitting.[19][22]

The second featured bout on the undercard was a standard match for theWWE United States ChampionshipbetweenEddie Guerrero,andBig Show.Guerrero used a variety of tactics including forcing Big Show's head into an exposed turnbuckle, striking him with a trash can lid, punching him withbrass knucklesand striking him with the title belt. After hitting Big Show with the belt, Guerrero performed afrog splashfor a near-fall. Big Show then performed achokeslambut Guerrero placed his foot on the rope. Big Show then performed another chokeslam on Guerrero to win the title.[19][22]

The Undertaker, who faced Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship

The main event was aBiker Chain matchfor theWWE ChampionshipbetweenBrock LesnarandThe Undertaker.During the match, a chain washung on a pole above the ring,and once it was retrieved it could be used as a legal weapon. After enduring a series of punches from Lesnar, The Undertaker attempted to take the chain down, but the lights in the arena went out and he climbed back down to the ring. The Undertaker then executed apiledriveron Lesnar onto the ring steps. The Undertaker put Lesnar in adragon sleeper.After getting out of the hold, Lesnar executed aF-5to The Undertaker. Lesnar made an attempt to go for the chain, but The Undertaker performed achokeslamoff the top rope.Following this,The Full Blooded Italiansinterfered in the match, trying to attack The Undertaker. The Undertaker threw them out of the ring and did asuicidedive onto them after performing a Last Ride on Lesnar. He then retrieved the chain off the pole and wrapped it around it his fist, planning to strike Lesnar with it. Vince McMahon interfered and pushed The Undertaker off the top rope. Lesnar then hit The Undertaker with the biker chain and pinned The Undertaker to retain the title.[22][24]

Reception

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The1st Mariner Arenausually can accommodate 14,000, but the capacity was reduced for No Mercy.[25]This event had an approximate attendance of 8,500 and received 254,000 pay-per-view buys. The promotion's pay-per-view revenue was $24.7 million.[26]The professional wrestling section of theCanadian Online Explorerwebsite rated the entire event a 4 out of 10 stars.[22]The rating was lower than the2004 event'srating of 5 out of 10 stars.[27]The encounter between Kurt Angle and John Cena was given the highest rating of any match on the card with a 7.5 out of 10 stars, while the United States Championship match was rated a 3 out of 10 stars.[22]The main event match for the WWE Championship was rated a 7 out of 10 stars.[22]

The event was released on DVD on November 18, 2003[28]bySony Music Entertainment.The DVD reached seventh onBillboard'sDVD Sales Chart for recreational sports during the week of December 13, 2003, although falling thereafter.[29]It remained on the chart until the week of December 20, ranking twelfth.[30]

Aftermath

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As a result of losing her match against her father, Stephanie McMahon was forced to resign as SmackDown! General Manager. On theSmackDown!following No Mercy, Vince McMahon announcedPaul Heymanas the new general manager. Heyman booked aHandicap match,in which the Undertaker faced Brock Lesnar and the Big Show. Heyman stated that should Undertaker win, he could face anyone he wished atSurvivor Series.During the match, there were several opportunities in which the Undertaker would have won the match, but Heyman restarted the contest three times. The Undertaker did, however, win the contest, and announced he wanted aBuried Alive matchagainst Vince McMahon.[31][32]McMahon would go on to win the match with the aid of the Undertaker's half-brotherKane.[33]

The feud between Kurt Angle and Cena ended shortly after No Mercy. On the November 6 episode ofSmackDown!,John Cena was offered an opportunity to become the final member of Team Lesnar for the traditionalfive-on-five elimination tag matchat Survivor Series. Cena rejected the offer, however, causing A-Train to turn on him and reveal he was the final member of Team Lesnar. The members of Team Angle fought alongside Cena, and the following week on SmackDown, Cena turned into afan favoriteand joined Kurt Angle's Survivor Series team.[34][35]The feud between the Big Show and Eddie Guerrero ended after No Mercy, with Guerrero going on to compete for theWWE Tag Team Championshipwith Chavo Guerrero. Guerrero went on to win a tag team title shot by defeating the Basham Brothers in a Handicap match, but he did not win the title.[34]

Results

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No.Results[22]StipulationsTimes[20]
1HBilly KidmandefeatedShannon MooreSingles match5:12
2Tajiri(c) defeatedRey MysterioSingles match for theWWE Cruiserweight Championship11:40
3Chris BenoitdefeatedA-TrainbysubmissionSingles match12:24
4Zach GowendefeatedMatt HardySingles match5:33
5The Basham Brothers(DougandDanny) defeatedThe APA(FaarooqandBradshaw)Tag team match8:55
6Mr. McMahon(withSable) defeatedStephanie McMahonby forfeit[a](withLinda McMahon)"I Quit"Loser Gets Fired matchStephanie could also win by Pinfall or Submission9:24
7Kurt AngledefeatedJohn Cenaby submissionSingles match18:28
8Big ShowdefeatedEddie Guerrero(c)Singles match for theWWE United States Championship11:27
9Brock Lesnar(c) defeatedThe UndertakerBiker Chain matchfor theWWE Championship24:14
(c)– the champion(s) heading into the match
H– the match was broadcast prior to the pay-per-view onSunday Night Heat

Notes

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  1. ^Linda McMahon quit on Stephanie's behalf by throwing in a towel.

References

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  1. ^ab"No Mercy 2003 at Pro Wrestling History".Pro Wrestling History.Retrieved2008-11-03.
  2. ^"WWF No Mercy".The Internet Wrestling Database.RetrievedJanuary 26,2021.
  3. ^"No Mercy 1999: Venue".World Wrestling Entertainment.Retrieved2008-12-22.
  4. ^Martin, Adam (2003-09-28)."Full WWE SmackDown results - 8/28/03 (Undertaker becomes #1 contender)".WrestleView.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  5. ^Burgen, Derek (2003-09-28)."8/28 Smackdown review: Burgan's express v2.1 (Hr.2)".PW Torch.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  6. ^Martin, Adam (2003-09-04)."Full WWE SmackDown results - 9/4/03 ('Taker/Angle for WWE Title, more)".WrestleView.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  7. ^Burgen, Derek (2003-09-04)."9/4 Smackdown review: Burgan's Express v2.1 (Hr.2)".PW Torch.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  8. ^abSiciliano, Mike (2003-09-18)."Full WWE SmackDown results - 9/18/03 - Raleigh, NC (new WWE champion)".WrestleView.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  9. ^abBurgen, Derek (2003-09-18)."9/18 Smackdown review: Burgan's express v2.1 (Hr.2)".PW Torch.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  10. ^abcNemer, Paul (2003-09-25)."Full WWE SmackDown results - 9/25/03 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania".WrestleView.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  11. ^abBurgen, Derek (2003-09-25)."9/25 SmackDown review: Burgan's express v2.1 (Hr.2)".PW Torch.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  12. ^abcdSiciliano, Mike (2003-10-09)."Full WWE SmackDown results - 10/09/03 - Hartford, Connecticut".WrestleView.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  13. ^abcBurgen, Derek (2003-10-09)."10/9 Smackdown review: Burgan's Express v2.1 (Hr.2)".PW Torch.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  14. ^Siciliano, Mike (2003-10-09)."Full WWE SmackDown results - 10/16/03 - Cincinnati, Ohio (No Mercy hype)".WrestleView.Retrieved2008-10-12.
  15. ^Lipinski, Keith (2003-10-16)."10/16 Smackdown review: Burgan's Lipinski's express v2.1 Review (Hr.2)".PW Torch.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  16. ^Burgen, Derek (2003-09-25)."9/25 SmackDown review: Burgan's express v2.1 (Hr.1)".PW Torch.Retrieved2008-10-12.
  17. ^abSiciliano, Mike (2003-10-02)."Full WWE SmackDown results - 10/02/03 - Milwaukee, WI ('Taker/Angle)".WrestleView.Retrieved2008-10-12.
  18. ^Lipinski, Keith (2003-10-02)."10/2 Smackdown review: Burgan's Lipinski's express v2.1 Review (Hr.2)".PW Torch.Retrieved2008-10-12.
  19. ^abcdefgMartin, Adam (2003-10-19)."Full WWE No Mercy (SmackDown) PPV Results - 10/19/03 - Baltimore, MD".WrestleView.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  20. ^ab"No Mercy (2003) Information".Hoff Co, Inc.: CompleteWWE. Archived fromthe originalon 2018-12-16.Retrieved2008-10-11.
  21. ^Maes, Jeremy (2003-10-19)."10/19 WWE Heat review".PW Torch.Retrieved2008-10-10.
  22. ^abcdefghijkPowell, John (20 October 2003)."No Mercy for WWE fans".Canoe: Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012.Retrieved11 October2008.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. ^abKeller, Wade (2003-10-19)."10/19 WWE No Mercy PPV: Keller's ongoing" virtual time "results of PPV".PW Torch.Retrieved2008-10-11.
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  26. ^"World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Reports Q2 Results"(PDF).World Wrestling EntertainmentCorporate. 2004-11-23. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on May 16, 2008.Retrieved2008-07-20.
  27. ^Clevett, Jason (2004-10-04)."Fans won't remember No Mercy".Canadian Online Explorer.Archived from the original on June 30, 2012.Retrieved2008-07-20.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  28. ^"WWE No Mercy DVD at F.Y.E".For Your Entertainment.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-09-28.Retrieved2008-10-12.
  29. ^"No Mercy 2003 DVD Sales".Billboard.Retrieved2008-10-12.[dead link‍]
  30. ^"No Mercy 2003 DVD Sales".Billboard.Retrieved2008-10-12.[dead link‍]
  31. ^Siciliano, Mike (2003-10-23)."Full WWE SmackDown Results - 10/23/03 - Albany, NY (New GM + more)".WrestleView.Retrieved2008-10-13.
  32. ^Burgen, Derek (2003-10-23)."10/26 Smackdown review: Burgan's Express v2.1 (Hr.2)".PW Torch.Retrieved2008-10-13.
  33. ^Powell, John (2003-11-17)."Goldberg survives, Austin doesn't".SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012.Retrieved2008-01-21.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  34. ^abAllen, Ryan (2003-11-06)."Full WWE SmackDown Results - 11/6/03 - Buffalo, New York".WrestleView.Retrieved2008-10-13.
  35. ^Siciliano, Mike (2003-11-13)."Full WWE SmackDown Results - 11/12/03 - East Ruthorford, New Jersey".WrestleView.Retrieved2008-10-13.
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