The Last Word on Pro Wrestling staff share their WWE No Mercy Predictions. The card features every Smackdown title being defended, with the added caveat that if Dolph Ziggler does not beat The Miz, he will be forced to retire. The World title match is quite intriguing as a triple threat match that has blurred the lines between story and reality, while the women’s division will prominently be displayed with two matches on a card that only features seven matches to begin with. As with the last Smackdown PPV, it seems that less is more when it comes to Smackdown events, allowing every match to have time to tell a great story in the ring.
Jack Swagger vs. Baron Corbin (Kickoff Match)
Winner: Ryan Smith, Rich Laconi, Jamie Greer: Baron Corbin
No Contest: Sean Garmer,Robby Hinson
Thoughts by Sean Garmer: These two have had a feud going since Jack Swagger appeared on Smackdown Live pretty much. I’ve been a huge Swagger fan for a long time, but their match on Smackdown was pretty bad. Swagger is pretty great, but I don’t know that he can carry Corbin to more than a decent match. I also don’t know that they just want Swagger to feel like nothing as soon as he gets to a new place. This feels like something they could wind up settling on Smackdown. So, I’m gonna go with a no contest for this one.
Nikki Bella vs. Carmella
Winner: Ryan Smith, Jamie Greer, Rich Laconi: Nikki Bella
Robby Hinson, Sean Garmer: Carmella
Thoughts by Ryan Smith: This match is a tough one to predict because WWE could go one of two ways. They could give Carmella the win, making her a much more legitimate star to the fans, or they could give Nikki Bella the win, giving her momentum towards the women’s championship. Sadly, it feels like the latter is far more likely, especially since this is Bella’s first feud since returning from injury.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss
Winners: Ryan Smith, Jamie Greer, Sean Garmer, Robby Hinson, Rich Laconi: Becky Lynch
Thoughts by Jamie Greer: Despite having a solid roster of wrestlers, most of the experience seems to be faces (Becky, Naomi, Nikki) while the heel side has Natalya, then Carmella, Bliss, and Eva Marie. Unlikely we get another Natalya feud so quickly, which may lead us to Becky vs Eva Marie as her next challenge.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. The Usos
Winners: Ryan Smith, Rich Laconi, Robby Hinson, Jamie Greer, Sean Garmer: The Usos
Thoughts by Ryan Smith: The WWE appear to be serious about giving the Usos a heel run, and at this point, they’re better off with the titles. The tag team of Rhyno and Slater was a good enough vehicle to get Slater signed to Smackdown, but the team doesn’t even have a name. Rhyno is a part-timer, he’s not even in WWE 2k17, and with Slater on SmackDown, this team isn’t necessary anymore.
Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler (If Ziggler loses, he must retire)
Winner: Sean Garmer, Jamie Greer, Ryan Smith:The Miz
Rich Laconi,Robby Hinson: Dolph Ziggler
Thoughts by Jamie Greer: Despite the rumours of Ziggler potentially moving on after the PPV (to further his stand-up career and possibly joining WWE backstage as a producer), many have come back from these types of matches. Miz continues to have one of the best heel runs in years and shutting Ziggler down – just as he’s arguably hitting his peak as a promo performer – is another huge heat draw for the best heel on the roster.
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt
Winners: Robby Hinson, Rich Laconi, Ryan Smith: Bray Wyatt
Sean Gamer, Jamie Greer:Randy Orton
Thoughts by Sean Garmer: I wish WWE would give us something to get behind Bray Wyatt. How can you believe in a man that never accomplishes anything or vanquishes any of his foes? I know I sure can’t. Most of the populous at large also thinks this way. Bray Wyatt should get the win here, but he won’t because he never does. WWE will worry that somehow a loss to Wyatt would hurt Randy Orton, which is utterly ridiculous. Orton gets the win, but somehow they will continue this feud for some reason.
WWE World Champion AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose vs. John Cena
Winner: Robby Hinson, Rich Laconi,Sean Garmer, Ryan Smith, Jamie Greer: AJ Styles
Thoughts by Robby Hinson: There are two things I am certain of here. AJ Styles is walking out as the champion and John Cena is taking the pin. Cena has talked for weeks now (out of nowhere) of his desire to become a 16 time champion. Cena will take the loss here and continue to get more and more frustrated that he can’t seal the deal and win the belt. AJ Styles needs to hold on to the WWE World Championship until at least the Royal Rumble. This could be the classic triple threat ending where Ambrose hits Cena with Dirty Deeds, Styles hits Ambrose with the Phenomenal Forearm causing Ambrose to fall out of the ring, and Styles pins Cena.
