WWE No Mercy 2017 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights

The greatness of WWE No Mercy 2017 came from an unexpected source.

Much of the hype leading up to Sunday's Raw-brand pay-per-view focused on Brock Lesnar's slugfest with fellow behemoth Braun Strowman and John Cena's potential passing-of-the-torch match against Roman Reigns. Those two bouts, though, didn't deliver as expected. It was the tag team division that was the heart of No Mercy. 

Cena vs. Reigns never stirred up the emotion it was capable of. Strowman's attempt to snatch the Universal Championship from Brock Lesnar wrapped up early, meaning the two monsters would destroy nearly as much as they could have. 

Instead, it was Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose's high-octane battle with Cesaro and Sheamus that stole the show. 

The tag team title match thrilled. Alexa Bliss' title defense was strong, as well. A number of the undercard bouts had the crowd buzzing.And so, strangely enough, a night built around two WrestleMania-worthy matches 

And so, strangely enough, a night built around two WrestleMania-worthy matches became more about the event's other contests, about Superstars not standing in the center of the spotlight making sure to be the talk of the PPV. 

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Apollo Crews vs. Elias (Pre-Show):

Elias sang to the Staples Center crowd before the match began. He trashed both the city and Apollo Crews in verse.

Once the bell rang, Crews took the early advantage, outwrestling his foe. Elias swept Crews off the ring apron to gain control. 

During one of Crews' flurries, Elias pounced with a clothesline and Drift Away.

Elias kicked his opponent after the match. Luckily for Crews, Titus O'Neil chased him away before he could do much damage.

        

Result

Elias wins via pinfall.

Grade

D

       

Analysis

The reactions for Elias are getting louder. So something is clearly working with the guitar-toting grappler.

The Miz vs. Jason Jordan (Intercontinental Championship):;

Jason Jordan jumped to an early advantage, leaving The Miz reeling. He chased the champion in and out of the ring until The Miztourage distracted him. The Miz then went to work punishing his opponent.

A gutsy Jordan battled back.

He stayed atop the champ, suplexing him all over the ring. A distraction from Dallas cost Jordan as The Miz landed a cheap shot that gave him the victory.

Result

The Miz wins via pinfall to retain the Intercontinental Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Jordan delivers a long delayed vertical suplex.
• The crowd chants "Who's your daddy?"

Grade

B-

Analysis

A solid performance from Jordan. He showed off good energy and emotion. The crowd pushed back against the babyface at first, but he seemed to win some of them over in the end.

Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt:;

Bray Wyatt ambushed Finn Balor before the bell rang. He slammed the babyface around the ringside area until officials attended to him.

Eventually, he was able to land the Coup De Grace to put Wyatt away.

Result

Balor wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Look what I just did to your mighty little hero."—Wyatt.

Grade

B+

Analysis

High-impact action made up for a narrative that never truly resonated. The story of Balor having to fight Wyatt as a mortal man rather than as his alter-ego The Demon felt forced.  

Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro and Sheamus (Raw Tag Team Championship)::

Cesaro and Sheamus clobbered Ambrose as the match first unfolded. They took turns wailing on the champ, keeping him in their corner as a concerned Rollins watched on.

Cesaro and Sheamus walloped Ambrose, as well. The challengers looked certain of victory until Sheamus accidentally kicked his own partner. The Lunatic Fringe took advantage, landed Dirty Deeds and secured the three-count.

Result

Ambrose and Rollins win via pinfall to retain the Raw Tag Team Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Cesaro swings Ambrose into the ring steps.
• An Ambrose slingshot leaves Cesaro missing several teeth.

Grade

A

Analysis

Cesaro's toughness is off the charts, first of all. He battled through much of this bleeding from the mouth and without some of his teeth.

Fatal 5-Way Match for the Raw Women's Championship':

Alexa Bliss vs. Emma vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax

The challengers ousted Bliss from the match to go at each other. Banks and Bayley worked together to clear the ring before locking up.

A fast-paced match saw all the competitors get within seconds of victory. Bliss survived all the chaos and knocked out Bayley with her signature DDT.

Result

Bliss wins via pinfall to retain the Raw Women's Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Jax counters a Bliss DDT with pure power and slams her to the mat.
• "You are nothing without me!"—Bliss.

Grade

B+

Analysis

In a short amount of time, Bliss and the women chasing her for the title packed an impressive amount of action into the bout

John Cena vs. Roman Reigns::

Getting pushed around early didn't phase Cena. Reigns overpowered him; Cena responded by goofing around. 

The Big Dog methodically went after his foe, tagging Cena with hard strikes and stomps.

Reigns dominated. He snuffed out Cena's flurries, countered his signature moves and owned him for much of the contest. Even when Cena twice fired off his finisher, Reigns wouldn't stay down.

Reigns fended off Cena, hit him with a spear and walked away with the win. Cena raised his foe's arm in victory as a sign of respect.

Result

Reigns wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Fans briefly chant "You both suck!"
• Cena slings Reigns into the steel steps. Reigns returns the favor moments later.

• Cena bowed before exiting the ring.

Grade

C+

Analysis

Cena's early silly antics hurt the big-fight feel. His over-the-top selling didn't help, either.

Neville vs. Enzo Amore (Cruiserweight Championship)::

Enzo Amore talked trash before stepping into the ring, telling Neville he was a hideous man.

A missed Phoenix Splash allowed Amore to floor The King of the Cruiserweights. Amore brought in the cruisierweight title and as the referee took it out of the ring, he nailed Neville with a low blow.

That was enough to get the win.

Result

Amore wins via pinfall to claim the Cruiserweight Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Amore dons black-and-white striped pants reminiscent of Virgil's gear.

Grade

D-

Analysis

Get ready for a sharp decline in quality of action at the top of the cruiserweight division.

Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman (Universal Championship)::

Strowman floored Lesnar to kick things off. He overpowered the champion, going for the running powerslam early.

The fight moved to the outside where Strowman continued his assault.

Lesnar locked in the Kimura and slowed the monster down. A series of German Suplexes allowed The Beast Incarnate to even things up. Lesnar was able to hoist his massive foe on his shoulder, hit the F-5 and take the match.

Result

Lesnar wins via pinfall to retain the Universal Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Heyman snatched the mic from JoJo Offerman and introduced his client.

Grade

B

Analysis

This felt like the first half of a classic match. It began with Strowman devouring Lesnar for all the world to see before The Beast Incarnate began to chip away at him.