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No Mercy (2001)
View on Wikipedia| No Mercy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Promotional poster featuring Kurt Angle | |||
| Promotion | World Wrestling Federation | ||
| Date | October 21, 2001 | ||
| City | St. Louis, Missouri | ||
| Venue | Savvis Center | ||
| Attendance | 15,647 | ||
| Buy rate | 325,000[1] | ||
| Pay-per-view chronology | |||
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| No Mercy chronology | |||
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The 2001 No Mercy was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It was the fourth No Mercy and took place on October 21, 2001, at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the final No Mercy event held under the WWF name as the promotion was renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in May 2002. It was also the final No Mercy held before the introduction of the brand extension in March 2002.
The main event was a Triple Threat No Disqualification match—a match involving three competitors against each other and it would be decided only through pinfall or submission. The match was contested for the WWF Championship. Stone Cold Steve Austin defended the title against Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam. Austin pinned Van Dam after a Stone Cold Stunner to retain the title.
The undercard featured The Rock versus Chris Jericho for the WCW Championship, The Undertaker versus Booker T, Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) versus Big Show and Tajiri for the WWF Tag Team Championship, Christian versus Edge in a Ladder match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, Torrie Wilson versus Stacy Keibler in a Lingerie match, Test versus Kane and Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) versus Lance Storm and The Hurricane for the WCW Tag Team Championship.
Production
[edit]Background
[edit]No Mercy was first held by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) as a United Kingdom-exclusive pay-per-view (PPV) in May 1999.[2] A second No Mercy was then held later that same year in October, but in the United States, which established No Mercy as the annual October PPV for the promotion.[3] The 2001 event was the fourth event under the No Mercy name and was held on October 21 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri.[4][5][6][7]
Storylines
[edit]No Mercy featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds, plots, and storylines that were played out on Raw and SmackDown!—World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) television programs. Wrestlers portrayed a villain or a hero as they followed a series of events that built tension, and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[8]
The predominant rivalry heading into the event was between Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam. At Unforgiven, Angle defeated Austin to win the WWF Championship.[9] On the October 4 edition of SmackDown!, Van Dam defeated Angle to earn Austin a WWF Championship match against Angle.[10] On the October 8 edition of Raw, Austin defeated Angle to win the WWF Championship, with the help of the WWF Commissioner William Regal, who turned on Angle and the WWF by helping Austin in winning the title.[11] As a result, Regal joined The Alliance. On the October 11 edition of SmackDown!, the WWF CEO Linda McMahon fired Regal from his position of WWF Commissioner and replaced him with a new Commissioner. Later that night, Van Dam lost a match to Chris Jericho after interference by Austin. As a result, Van Dam confronted Austin. The new Commissioner was revealed to be Mick Foley, who appeared at the spot and announced that Austin would defend the WWF Championship against Van Dam and Angle in a Triple Threat match at No Mercy.[12] On the October 21 edition of Heat, Foley announced that the Triple Threat match would be contested under no disqualification rules.[7]
Another major rivalry heading into No Mercy was between The Rock and Chris Jericho over the WCW Championship. On the October 8 edition of Raw, WCW Owner Shane McMahon announced that he would team with Rob Van Dam against Jericho and Rock in a tag team match. Van Dam pinned Rock after Jericho accidentally nailed Rock with a chair shot. After the match, Rock confronted Jericho in a backstage segment where Jericho attacked Rock.[11] On the October 11 edition of SmackDown!, Jericho defeated Van Dam to become the #1 contender for the WCW Championship at No Mercy.[12]
At Unforgiven, Christian defeated Edge to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Edge's eye was badly injured in the match. On the September 27 edition of SmackDown!, Edge tried to attack Christian during his Intercontinental Championship match against Bradshaw but Christian escaped.[13] On the October 1 edition of Raw, Edge interrupted Christian and X-Pac while they were insulting the fans and insulted both of them. This led to Christian and X-Factor (X-Pac and Albert) attacking Edge, until Acolytes Protection Agency (Faarooq and Bradshaw) rescued Edge from the attack.[14] On the October 4 edition of SmackDown!, Edge and the APA defeated Christian and X-Factor in a six-man tag team match.[10] On the October 8 edition of Raw, it was announced that Christian would defend the Intercontinental Championship against Edge in a Ladder match at No Mercy.[11] On the October 18 edition of SmackDown!, Alliance Commissioner William Regal added Christian as the newest member of The Alliance.[15]
On the September 27 edition of SmackDown!, Booker T and Test defeated The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane) to win the WCW Tag Team Championship.[13] On the October 4 edition of SmackDown!, Booker defeated Kane after interference by Test. Booker and Test assaulted Kane after the match until Undertaker rescued him from the double-team assault.[10] On the October 8 edition of Raw, Undertaker cost Booker and Test, the WCW Tag Team Championship against Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy). After the match, Booker challenged Undertaker to a match at No Mercy. During a match between Lita and Mighty Molly, it was announced that Undertaker accepted Booker's challenge to a match at No Mercy.[11] On the October 11 edition of SmackDown!, Booker and Test interfered in Kane's WWF European Championship match against The Hurricane and attacked him after the match, causing Undertaker to come out and rescue Kane from the attack. After the match, Test challenged Kane to a match at No Mercy.[12]
On the October 11 edition of SmackDown!, the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) defeated Big Show and Spike Dudley to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship. After the match, the Dudley Boyz attacked Big Show with the WWF Tag Team Championship belts and suplexed Spike on a table outside the ring.[12] On the October 15 edition of Raw, the Dudley Boyz defeated Big Show in a Handicap match. After the match, Tajiri rescued Big Show by attacking the Dudley Boyz.[16] On the October 18 edition of SmackDown!, Commissioner Mick Foley announced that the Dudley Boyz would defend the WWF Tag Team Championship against Big Show and Tajiri at No Mercy.[15]
On the September 24 edition of Raw is War, Alliance member Stacy Keibler confronted her partner, Torrie Wilson in a backstage segment asking her if she was involved with Tajiri, a WWF wrestler. Torrie told Stacy that no one needed to interfere in her personal matters. Later that night, Stacy and Torrie managed Tazz and Tajiri for their match respectively. Tazz won when Tajiri was distracted by a fight between Stacy and Torrie outside the ring.[17] On the October 1 edition of Raw is War, Tazz and Stacy defeated Tajiri and Torrie in a mixed tag team match.[14] On the October 4 edition of SmackDown!, Torrie defeated Stacy in a bikini contest. After the contest ended, Stacy attacked Torrie.[10] This led to a Lingerie match between the two at No Mercy.
Event
[edit]| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| English commentators | Jim Ross |
| Paul Heyman | |
| Spanish commentators | Carlos Cabrera |
| Hugo Savinovich | |
| Backstage interviewers | Lilian Garcia |
| Michael Cole | |
| Jonathan Coachman | |
| Ring announcer | Howard Finkel |
| Referees | Charles Robinson |
| Mike Chioda | |
| Nick Patrick | |
| Jim Korderas | |
| Earl Hebner | |
| Tim White | |
| Chad Patton | |
| Jack Doan |
Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, a pre-show of Sunday Night Heat was held. Acolytes Protection Agency (Faarooq and Bradshaw) defeated Chris Kanyon and Hugh Morrus in a tag team match. Bradshaw pinned Kanyon after delivering him a Clothesline from Hell. In the main event of Heat, Billy Kidman defended the WCW Cruiserweight Championship against Scotty 2 Hotty. Kidman pinned Scotty with a backslide and put his feet on the ropes for leverage to retain the Cruiserweight Championship.[7]
Preliminary matches
[edit]As Sunday Night Heat concluded, the Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) defended the WCW Tag Team Championship against Lance Storm and The Hurricane. The Hardy Boyz were accompanied by Matt Hardy's girlfriend Lita, while Storm and The Hurricane were accompanied by Ivory and the Hurricane's kayfabe sidekick Mighty Molly. The Hurricane and Storm double-teamed the Hardy Boyz for most of the match while the Hardy Boyz countered through their high-flying attacks. Near the end of the match, Lita battled Ivory and Mighty Molly. Jeff attacked Ivory but Storm attacked him from behind and applied a Canadian Maple Leaf. Lita performed a Lita-canrana on Storm, giving the advantage to the Hardy Boyz. Matt delivered a Twist of Fate to The Hurricane and Jeff finished The Hurricane with a Swanton Bomb, allowing Matt to pin The Hurricane to retain the WCW Tag Team Championship.[4][5][6][7]
The match that followed was between Test and Kane. Kane dominated Test in the early goings through an elbow drop, Corner clotheslines and a Powerslam. The action spilled out to the outside of the ring, where Test nailed Kane in the head with a ring bell in front of the referee Nick Patrick. Test began dominating Kane. He performed a Sidewalk Slam and attempted to perform a Diving Elbow Drop but missed it. Kane delivered a Neckbreaker to Test and regained momentum. However, Test quickly made a comeback into the match and attempted to hit a Pumphandle Slam on Kane but Kane countered it with a Sidewalk Slam. Kane clotheslined Test out of the ring. Test pushed Kane into the ring post followed by a Big Boot. Test started bleeding from the mouth. He attempted another Big Boot but Kane ducked the move and performed a Chokeslam for a near-fall. Kane attempted to hit a Flying Clothesline on Test but Test avoided the move and performed a Pumphandle Slam for a near-fall. Test followed with a Diving Elbow Drop to get another near-fall. Test brought a chair in the ring but Kane drop-kicked the chair in Test's face and tried to use it but Nick Patrick took it away. Kane tried to hit Patrick with a Chokeslam but Test prevented Kane from performing the move and delivered him a Big Boot to win the match. After the match, an enraged Kane chokeslammed Patrick twice and finished him with a Powerbomb.[4][5][6][7]
The third match was a Lingerie Match between Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler. Both Divas wrestled wearing lingerie.[18] The match became a catfight as both Divas viciously battled against each other. Torrie performed a Handspring Elbow on Stacy to pin her for the victory.
The fourth match was a Ladder match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship as Christian defended the title against Edge. Edge and Christian started fighting on the entrance rampway. Most of the early action occurred in the ringside until their fight reached the crowd. They returned to the ringside and started using ladder as a foreign object. Both Christian and Edge set up a ladder each and both of them started climbing their ladders at the same time. Edge and Christian started battling each other again as Edge kicked a chair into Christian's face. Edge set a third ladder in the ring. Edge propped up the ladder across two chairs and laid Christian on it. Edge performed a Diving Splash across the ladder on Christian. Edge climbed a ladder but Christian knocked him off through a ladder. Edge recovered and delivered Christian, a Diving Spear. Both men started climbing the ladder at the same time. The ladder fell and both men fell to the outside floor. Christian returned to the ring first and started climbing the ladder again. Edge low blowed Christian with a chair and climbed the top of the ladder to hit Christian with a One-man Con-chair-to on top of the ladder, causing Christian to fall down on the ring floor. Edge took advantage and retrieved the Intercontinental Championship belt to win the match and the championship.[4][5][6][7]
The fifth match featured the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) defending the WWF Tag Team Championship against Big Show and Tajiri. As the match started, Dudley Boyz dominated Tajiri until Tajiri got momentum by performing Kicks on Dudley Boyz. Bubba Ray eventually performed a Bubba Bomb on Tajiri. Dudley Boyz continued to dominate Tajiri. At one point, Big Show tagged in but the referee did not see it. Dudley Boyz continued to assault Tajiri until Show tagged in and started dominating the match. He attempted to perform a Chokeslam on Bubba Ray but D-Von low blowed Big Show. Tajiri applied a Tarantula, on D-Von but Bubba broke the hold. Tajiri delivered a Handspring Back Elbow to Dudley Boyz. He tried to blow Bubba Ray with a green Poison Mist but Bubba Ray avoided it and the referee was hit instead. Big Show chokeslammed D-Von and attempted a pinfall but there was no referee to count the pinfall. Rhyno took advantage of the situation and interfered in the match. He hit Big Show with a Gore and left. Tajiri hit D-Von with an Enzuigiri and finished him with a Buzzsaw Kick for a near-fall. Since Big Show was knocked out, Dudley Boyz double-teamed Tajiri and hit him with the 3D, allowing D-Von to pin Tajiri to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship.[4][5][6][7]
Main event matches
[edit]The sixth match was between Booker T and The Undertaker. As The Undertaker got off his motorcycle, Booker T started attacking him. The match started when both men rolled into the ring and exchanged blows and kicks. The Undertaker started attacking Booker T's left arm and hit him with Old School. Booker T regained advantage in the match and sent him into the ring steps outside the ring. The action spilled to the outside where Booker continued to attack The Undertaker before returning to the ring. Booker T started dominating The Undertaker with a Missile Dropkick, a Spinning Heel Kick, a Sidewalk Slam and a Knee Drop before being hit with a Big Boot by The Undertaker. Booker T regained advantage and performed a Neckbreaker for a nearfall. Booker T climbed the top rope and jumped on The Undertaker but The Undertaker countered by performing a Big Boot for a nearfall. Booker T performed a Spinning Wheel Kick for a nearfall. The Undertaker proceeded by performing a Running DDT for a nearfall. The Undertaker followed with a Corner Clothesline and a Legdrop for a nearfall. Booker T whipped The Undertaker into the corner and hit him a Spinning Wheel Kick, sending him out of the ring. Booker T followed by performing a Scissors Kick on The Undertaker for a nearfall. The Undertaker tried to hit Booker T with a Chokeslam but Booker T low blowed The Undertaker and started attacking him in the corner with Mounted Punches. The Undertaker caught Booker T and performed a Last Ride to win the match.[4][5][6][7]
The final match on the undercard featured The Rock defending the WCW Championship against Chris Jericho. As the match started, The Rock tried to perform a Rock Bottom on Jericho but Jericho countered it into the Walls of Jericho but The Rock caught the ropes. Jericho hit The Rock with a Springboard Dropkick through the ring apron. Jericho used several of his moves on The Rock and got several near-falls until The Rock made a comeback into the match by clotheslining Jericho. The Rock planted Jericho in the corner and delivered him a Superplex. The Rock performed a Snap Belly to Belly Suplex and a Samoan Drop for a near-fall. The Rock and Jericho continued to assault each other and the action even spilled to the outside on numerous occasions until Jericho started mocking The Rock by using his moves. Jericho hit The Rock with his own finisher Rock Bottom, followed by a Lionsault for a nearfall. Jericho hit The Rock with a One-handed Bulldog. Jericho attempted to hit The Rock's own finisher People's Elbow but The Rock avoided the move and applied a Sharpshooter on Jericho. Jericho reached the ropes and caught them. The Rock left the ring and removed the top of the Spanish announce table and removed the monitors. The Rock brought Jericho outside the ring and pulled him on the table and performed a Rock Bottom on the table. The action returned to the ring where The Rock hit Jericho with a Spinebuster and attempted to hit a People's Elbow, but Jericho countered it into the Walls of Jericho. Stephanie McMahon interfered in the match and came down to the ringside. She threw a chair in the ring. Jericho started chasing Stephanie. The Rock took advantage and hit Jericho with a Snap DDT. The Rock focused on Stephanie, pulled her into the ring and hit her with a Rock Bottom. Jericho took advantage and grabbed The Rock from behind and performed his new finisher, the Breakdown on The Rock on the chair to pin him for the WCW Championship. After the match, The Rock grabbed the chair in his hand but gave it to Jericho and left.[4][5][6][7]
The main event was a Triple Threat for the WWF Championship. Stone Cold Steve Austin defended the title against Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam. In the early goings of the match, Angle dominated Austin and Van Dam but he could not gain momentum for so long. Austin and Van Dam started double-teaming Angle and Austin attempted to hit a Stone Cold Stunner on Angle but Angle countered it into an Ankle Lock. Van Dam broke the hold until Austin and Van Dam began fighting with each other. Austin eventually began fighting with Angle and performed a Catapult on Angle into the steel steps outside the ring. Angle followed by throwing Austin into the crowd. Van Dam climbed the top rope and attempted to hit a Five-Star Frog Splash, but both men moved out of the way. Moments later, Austin hit a Stone Cold Stunner on Angle and attempted a pinfall but Van Dam broke up the pin. Van Dam set Austin up in the corner, and hit a Corkscrew Moonsault for a near-fall. Angle hit an Angle Slam on Van Dam and attempted a pinfall but Austin broke up the pin. Austin knocked Angle from the ring, and then went outside the ring after him. Austin and Angle duked it out on the outside, and Austin removed the top of the other announce table. He attempted to perform a Piledriver on Angle but Angle backdropped him onto the announce table, which did not break. Van Dam then scored with a leap to the outside on Angle, as all three men laid on the outside. Suddenly, Vince McMahon came down to ringside. Van Dam and Angle were the first two men up, and they slugged it out inside the ring, where Van Dam hit Angle with a Spinning Wheel Kick. Van Dam climbed up the top rope, but Angle caught him with a Super Belly-to-Belly Suplex. Austin finally got back into the ring, and hit another Stone Cold Stunner on Angle, but Angle fell outside the ring, so Austin turned his attention to Van Dam. McMahon got in the ring and nailed Austin in the back with a steel chair. Van Dam climbed up the top rope and performed a Five-Star Frog Splash on Austin, but Van Dam was injured, so he did not go for the pinfall. When he finally attempted the pinfall, Angle broke it up. Angle hit Van Dam with four consecutive Belly-to-Back Suplexes and an Angle Slam, but as he attempted the pinfall, Shane McMahon interfered in the match and threw Angle to the outside and into the ringpost. Shane and Vince then started going at it. Back in the ring, Austin hit a Stone Cold Stunner on Van Dam and pinned him to retain the WWF Championship.[4][19][5][6][7]
Aftermath
[edit]Team WWF and The Alliance continued their battle after No Mercy and The Alliance started sinking as a team. On the October 22 edition of Raw, The Alliance lost four championships to WWF wrestlers – Rhyno lost the WCW United States Championship to Kurt Angle, Billy Kidman lost the WCW Cruiserweight Championship to Tajiri, The Hurricane lost the WWF European Championship to Bradshaw and the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) lost the WWF Tag Team Championship to Chris Jericho and The Rock.[20] On the October 25 episode of SmackDown, Kidman, Rhyno, Hurricane and the Dudley Boyz were attacked and fired by The Alliance for losing their respective titles.[21] On the October 29 edition of Raw is War, Vince McMahon announced his team of WWF representatives to take on The Alliance at Survivor Series. The team consisted of Chris Jericho, The Rock, Kurt Angle and The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane). However, later that night, Team WWF's leading wrestler Kurt Angle turned on the WWF by helping WCW Owner Shane McMahon defeat his father Vince in a Street Fight. As a result, Angle joined The Alliance.[22] On the November 1 edition of SmackDown, Vince announced that Shane's team of Alliance representatives consisted of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam and himself. Following this, Vince announced himself as Angle's replacement on Team WWF.[23] Big Show would later replace Vince on Team WWF after Vince suffered a legitimate injury. On the November 5 edition of Raw, Jericho and Rock would have a rematch for the WCW Championship after losing the WWF Tag Team titles to Booker T and Test, with The Rock regaining the title via inside cradle. At Survivor Series, Team WWF defeated The Alliance in a Winner Takes All match when Angle turned on The Alliance and realigned himself with Team WWF. As a result, The Alliance was forced to disband.[24]
The 2001 No Mercy was the final No Mercy held under the WWF name as the promotion was renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in May 2002.[25] It was also the final No Mercy to be held before the introduction of the brand extension in March 2002, in which the promotion divided its roster between the Raw and SmackDown! brands where wrestlers were exclusively assigned to perform.[26]
Results
[edit]| No. | Results[4][5][7] | Stipulations | Times[7] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1H | The APA (Faarooq and Bradshaw) (WWF) defeated Chris Kanyon and Hugh Morrus (Alliance) | Tag team match | 3:25 | ||||
| 2H | Billy Kidman (c) (Alliance) defeated Scotty 2 Hotty (WWF) | Singles match for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship | 2:03 | ||||
| 3 | The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) (c) (with Lita) (WWF) defeated Lance Storm and The Hurricane (with Ivory and Mighty Molly) (Alliance) | Tag team match for the WCW Tag Team Championship | 7:41 | ||||
| 4 | Test (Alliance) defeated Kane (WWF) | Singles match | 10:05 | ||||
| 5 | Torrie Wilson (WWF) defeated Stacy Keibler (Alliance) | Lingerie match | 3:06 | ||||
| 6 | Edge (WWF) defeated Christian (c) (Alliance) | Ladder match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship | 22:16 | ||||
| 7 | The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) (c) (Alliance) defeated Big Show and Tajiri (WWF) | Tag team match for the WWF Tag Team Championship | 9:19 | ||||
| 8 | The Undertaker (WWF) defeated Booker T (Alliance) | Singles match | 12:13 | ||||
| 9 | Chris Jericho (WWF) defeated The Rock (c) (WWF) | Singles match for the WCW Championship | 23:44 | ||||
| 10 | Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) (Alliance) defeated Kurt Angle (WWF) and Rob Van Dam (Alliance) | Triple threat match for the WWF Championship | 15:14 | ||||
| |||||||
References
[edit]- ^ "WWE Pay-Per-View Buys (1993-2015)". Wrestlenomics. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ "WWF No Mercy". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ "No Mercy 1999: Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "No Mercy 2001 official results". World Wrestling Entertainment. October 21, 2001. Archived from the original on February 24, 2008. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "No Mercy 2001 Report". Gerweck.net. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "No Mercy 2001 Review". PWWEW.net. October 21, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "No Mercy 2001 results". Online World of Wrestling. October 21, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ^ "Live & Televised Entertainment of World Wrestling Entertainment". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 22, 2013. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
- ^ "Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment. September 23, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
- ^ a b c d "WWF SmackDown Report". PWWEW.net. October 4, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
- ^ a b c d "WWF Raw is War Report". PWWEW.net. October 8, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
- ^ a b c d "WWF SmackDown Report". PWWEW.net. October 11, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
- ^ a b "WWF SmackDown Report". PWWEW.net. September 27, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
- ^ a b "WWF Raw is War Report". PWWEW.net. October 1, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
- ^ a b "WWF SmackDown Report". PWWEW.net. October 18, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
- ^ "WWF Raw is War Report". PWWEW.net. October 15, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
- ^ "WWF Raw is War Report". PWWEW.net. September 24, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ^ Powell, John (2001-10-22). "McMahons ruin No Mercy". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
- ^ "Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle vs. Rob Van Dam in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment. October 21, 2001. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
- ^ "WWF Raw is War Report". PWWEW.net. October 22, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
- ^ "WWF SmackDown Report". PWWEW.net. October 25, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
- ^ "WWF Raw is War Report". PWWEW.net. October 29, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
- ^ "WWF SmackDown Report". PWWEW.net. November 1, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
- ^ "The Rock, Chris Jericho, Big Show, Kane & Undertaker def. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Shane McMahon, Booker T & Rob Van Dam". World Wrestling Entertainment. November 18, 2001. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
- ^ "World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Drops The "F" To Emphasize the "E" for Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on January 19, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
- ^ "WWE Entertainment To Make RAW and SMACKDOWN Distinct Television Brands" (Press release). WWE. March 27, 2002. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
External links
[edit]No Mercy (2001)
View on GrokipediaProduction
Background
No Mercy originated as a pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), first held as a United Kingdom-exclusive show on May 16, 1999, at the Manchester Evening News Arena.[7] It transitioned to an annual United States-based event starting with the October 17, 1999, edition in Cleveland, Ohio, marking the beginning of its integration into the WWF's primary PPV calendar.[7] The 2001 No Mercy represented the fourth installment overall and the third in the U.S. series.[7] The 2001 event took place on October 21, 2001, at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] Promoted under the WWF banner, it served as the promotion's final pay-per-view before the rebranding to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on May 6, 2002, and the implementation of the brand extension draft on March 25, 2002.[8] The show was broadcast on pay-per-view and drew an attendance of 15,647.[9] It featured the ongoing integration of talent from World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) through the Invasion storyline.[10] Positioned as a key October event in the WWF's annual schedule, No Mercy built momentum toward the Survivor Series pay-per-view held later that month on November 18, 2001.[11]Storylines
The Invasion storyline, which began in July 2001 following the WWF's acquisition of WCW and the formation of The Alliance by Shane McMahon and Paul Heyman representing WCW and ECW remnants respectively, dominated WWE programming leading into No Mercy.[12] This inter-promotional war pitted loyal WWF superstars against the invading Alliance forces, with escalating tensions building toward a climactic resolution at Survivor Series later that year. No Mercy served as a critical battleground event, featuring multiple title defenses across unified championships to heighten the stakes of the ongoing conflict.[4] The WWF Championship feud centered on champion Stone Cold Steve Austin, who had aligned with The Alliance and regained the title from Kurt Angle at Unforgiven in September 2001, now defending against Angle and rising Alliance star Rob Van Dam in a triple threat no disqualification match. This matchup stemmed from Austin's betrayal of the WWF and his distrust of RVD's loyalties within The Alliance, while Angle sought revenge for the title loss and to reaffirm WWF dominance.[12] Vince McMahon's involvement in recruiting RVD to challenge Austin further intertwined personal grudges with the broader Invasion narrative.[4] For the WCW Championship, The Rock defended against Chris Jericho, an Alliance member who earned his shot by defeating RVD on the October 11, 2001, episode of SmackDown. The rivalry built on Jericho's longstanding claims of surpassing The Rock in popularity and skill, clashing with The Rock's Hollywood persona and leading to heated exchanges and temporary alliances against other Alliance threats in the weeks prior.[4] The Intercontinental Championship storyline highlighted the personal betrayal between Edge and his former tag team partner Christian, with Christian joining The Alliance and attacking Edge with a steel briefcase on the October 15, 2001, episode of Raw to escalate their sibling rivalry rooted in their shared history as E&C. This led to a ladder match stipulation, symbolizing their high-flying past while underscoring the Invasion's divisive impact on alliances.[4] Additional feuds reinforced the Invasion theme, including The Undertaker representing the WWF against Booker T of The Alliance in a non-title bout, ignited by The Undertaker's intervention during an attack on Kane by Booker T and Test on the October 4, 2001, SmackDown. The Dudley Boyz, Alliance members holding the WWF Tag Team Championships, faced Big Show and Tajiri amid mixed loyalties, tied to internal Alliance drama involving Spike Dudley. Meanwhile, the Hardy Boyz, aligned with the WWF, challenged Lance Storm and The Hurricane for the WCW Tag Team Championships after winning the belts from Booker T and Test earlier in October.[4] Non-wrestling angles added lighter elements to the faction tensions, such as the lingerie match between Torrie Wilson, who had aligned with the WWF and Tajiri, and Stacy Keibler, aligned with the Dudley Boyz in The Alliance, stemming from their split loyalties post-Invasion formation. Separately, Test's grudge against Kane, fueled by Test's Alliance affiliation and attacks on WWF stars, marked a personal vendetta independent of title implications.[4]Event
Preliminary matches
The preliminary matches at No Mercy 2001 served as the opening portion of the main card, setting the tone for the ongoing Invasion storyline by pitting WWF loyalists against Alliance members from WCW and ECW, while highlighting midcard rivalries and title defenses that underscored WWF's emerging dominance without delving into the event's headline attractions. These bouts, televised live on pay-per-view, featured a mix of tag team championships and singles encounters, incorporating high-flying action, interference, and faction-based tensions to build momentum for the night's larger narrative arcs.[5] The event opened with a WCW Tag Team Championship match between the Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt Hardy, representing WWF) and the Alliance team of Lance Storm and The Hurricane. The Hardys, already established as high-flyers in the WWF tag division, won the titles in a fast-paced contest lasting approximately 7:42, emphasizing WWF's control over the Invasion's tag team landscape. The match concluded with Matt Hardy pinning Hurricane following a coordinated sequence where Matt executed a Twist of Fate on the challenger, followed by Jeff's signature Swanton Bomb for the decisive pinfall, showcasing the Hardys' aerial prowess against the technical style of their opponents. This victory reinforced the storyline of WWF stars systematically dismantling Alliance titleholders, with minor interferences from ringside figures like Lita and Ivory adding to the chaotic Invasion atmosphere.[5][9] Next, Test faced Kane in a singles match rooted in Kane's recent unmasking storyline and Test's opportunistic role within the Alliance. The 10:09 encounter highlighted Kane's monstrous power early on with moves like a press slam, but Test capitalized on controversial referee decisions and external factors to secure the win by pinfall via his Big Boot finisher. This outcome stemmed from ongoing tensions where Test, aligned with Booker T, targeted prominent WWF figures like Kane to assert Alliance aggression, though the victory was marred by perceived bias from referee Nick Patrick, further fueling Invasion distrust between factions. The match underscored midcard power struggles without resolving broader arcs, allowing Kane's character development to continue post-event.[5][9] A lighter, more gimmick-oriented bout followed with Torrie Wilson taking on Stacy Keibler in a lingerie match, focusing on personal loyalties amid the Alliance-WCW divide. Lasting just 3:08, the contest pitted Wilson (aligned with WWF through her association with Tajiri) against Keibler (tied to the Dudleys and the Alliance), emphasizing catfight tropes over technical wrestling. Wilson emerged victorious via pinfall after a schoolgirl roll-up, preceded by a handspring elbow that caught Keibler off-guard, symbolizing a small win for WWF's side in the battle for allegiance. This short match advanced the Invasion by highlighting the women's division's role in faction warfare, with undertones of betrayal from prior weeks where Keibler had targeted Wilson aggressively.[5][9] One of the night's standout undercard matches was the ladder match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship between Edge and champion Christian, whose rivalry had intensified due to Christian's defection to the Alliance and fabricated personal betrayals. Over 22:16, the bout delivered iconic high-risk moments, including Christian's attempted climbs thwarted by Edge's spears and a devastating Con-Chair-To variation using the ladder. Edge reclaimed the title by first spearing Christian through the ladder structure, then climbing to dislodge and retrieve the belt, in a finish that celebrated their long-standing brotherly feud while tying into Invasion themes of betrayal. This match, with its emphasis on daring spots like mid-air chair shots, elevated the midcard and demonstrated how personal stories intertwined with the larger faction conflict.[5][9] Closing the preliminary segment was a WWF Tag Team Championship defense by the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) against the unlikely Alliance pairing of Big Show and Tajiri. The 9:19 match incorporated the Dudleys' hardcore style with table teases and Tajiri's mist-spitting offense, including a Tarantula hold on D-Von. Interference from Rhyno, who gores Big Show outside the ring, allowed the champions to retain via pinfall on Tajiri after their signature 3D double-team maneuver. This result maintained WWF's grip on the tag titles amid the Invasion, with Big Show's involvement stemming from his quest for revenge against the Dudleys over issues involving Spike Dudley, adding layers to the factional tag division dynamics without overshadowing the event's climactic bouts.[5][9]Main event matches
The main event matches at No Mercy 2001 encapsulated the heightened tensions of the WWF versus Alliance Invasion storyline, with world title implications underscoring the rivalry between the factions.[2] These contests highlighted the unification efforts by pitting established WWF stars against Alliance representatives in high-stakes bouts designed to advance the narrative toward a climactic resolution.[13] The evening's semi-main event featured The Undertaker against Booker T in a singles match, reflecting the personal animosity built from prior Invasion clashes. The fight quickly escalated into a brawl that spilled outside the ring and into the crowd, with Booker T landing a missile dropkick, scissors kick, and his signature spineroonie taunt. The Undertaker responded with a big boot, DDT, and targeted attacks on Booker's arm, though Booker landed an undetected low blow late in the bout. Despite the physical intensity and inclusion of chokeslams, the match drew criticism for pacing issues that slowed its momentum. The Undertaker secured the victory by pinfall following the Last Ride powerbomb at 12:10.[13][2] Next, Chris Jericho challenged The Rock for the WCW Championship in a singles match, a pivotal encounter amid the Invasion's title unification push. The bout showcased a competitive exchange of signature maneuvers, including The Rock's Rock Bottom that sent Jericho through the announce table and Jericho's Walls of Jericho submission hold along with a Lionsault attempt. Alliance interference played a decisive role, as Stephanie McMahon distracted the referee and introduced a steel chair into the ring. Jericho capitalized on the chaos, reversing a Rock Bottom attempt and hitting a DDT onto the chair for the pinfall victory at 23:44, marking his first world championship reign in WWE history.[13][2][14] The card culminated in a triple threat no disqualification match for the WWF Championship, pitting champion Stone Cold Steve Austin—whose controversial turn to the Alliance earlier that year had intensified the factional divide—against Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam. The no-holds-barred stipulations allowed for chaotic action, including brawling outside the ring, table spots, and high-flying sequences like Van Dam's Five-Star Frog Splash. Angle applied multiple Angle Locks, while Austin delivered Stunners to both opponents; run-ins further escalated the drama, with Vince McMahon striking Austin with a chair and Shane McMahon slamming Angle into the ringpost. Austin retained the title by pinfall after stunning Angle following the interference sequence, ending the match at 15:16.[13][2]Aftermath
Immediate developments
Following No Mercy, the October 22 episode of Raw saw significant title shifts that further eroded the Alliance's hold on championships, as multiple belts changed hands from Alliance members to WWF loyalists. Tajiri defeated Billy Kidman to capture the WCW Cruiserweight Championship in a quick upset via the Buzzsaw Kick. Kurt Angle overpowered Rhyno to win the WCW United States Championship with an Ankle Lock submission. Bradshaw claimed the WWF European Championship from The Hurricane after a Clothesline from Hell. Additionally, The Rock and Chris Jericho dethroned the Dudley Boyz for the WWF Tag Team Championships when Jericho hit a Lionsault on D-Von Dudley. These rapid losses compounded the Alliance's setbacks from the prior night's event, where Edge had already secured the WWF Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match against Christian.[15][1] The outcomes at No Mercy contributed to shifting faction dynamics, with Steve Austin's retention of the WWF Championship in the main event triple threat against Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam underscoring WWF's resilience despite internal tensions. Jericho's controversial victory over The Rock for the WCW Championship—by deliberately smashing The Rock's face into a steel chair—provided a fleeting sense of accomplishment amid the Alliance's broader struggles, though it ultimately placed the title under WWF control. Angle had a strong performance in the triple threat match, but Austin retained the WWF Championship by pinning RVD with a Stone Cold Stunner, underscoring WWF's resilience. Meanwhile, Edge's high-flying ladder match triumph symbolized emerging WWF momentum against Alliance figures like Christian.[1][16] Vince McMahon opened Raw by challenging Shane McMahon to a winner-take-all elimination match at Survivor Series, pitting five representatives from each faction with all championships at stake; Shane accepted, escalating the stakes for the Invasion storyline. Backstage, Rob Van Dam expressed frustration when Vince offered him a WWF contract, affirming his loyalty to the Alliance instead, though he later retained the WWF Hardcore Championship against Big Show via Five-Star Frog Splash. Test, fresh off his victory over Kane at No Mercy, faced immediate backlash in a tag match where he and Booker T lost to Kane and The Undertaker, stalling his push within the weakening Alliance.[15][16]Long-term consequences
No Mercy 2001 served as a critical juncture in the Invasion storyline, intensifying tensions between the WWF and the Alliance that culminated at Survivor Series on November 18, 2001.[17] In the Survivor Series main event, Team WWF—consisting of The Rock, Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, Kane, and The Big Show—defeated Team Alliance, resulting in the disbanding of the WCW-ECW faction and marking the official end of the Invasion angle.[18] Kurt Angle, who had defected to the Alliance earlier in the year, betrayed his teammates by attacking Stone Cold Steve Austin, enabling The Rock to secure the victory and effectively rejoining the WWF roster.[19] This turn positioned Angle for renewed prominence, contributing to his subsequent WWF Championship pursuits in early 2002. The event's outcomes had lasting effects on the roster and championship landscape. Chris Jericho's performance in the WCW Championship match against The Rock foreshadowed his historic achievement at Vengeance on December 9, 2001, where he defeated both The Rock (WWF Champion) and Steve Austin (WCW Champion) to become the first Undisputed WWF Champion, unifying the titles amid the post-Invasion integration.[20] Edge's victory over Christian in a Ladder Match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship represented a pivotal step in his transition from tag team specialist to singles competitor, elevating his status and leading to main event opportunities in the years ahead.[21] These developments, combined with the absorption of Alliance talent, prompted WWE to announce the brand extension on March 18, 2002, splitting the roster between Raw and SmackDown to better manage the expanded talent pool and revitalize storylines.[22] Historically, No Mercy 2001 symbolized a turning point in WWE's assimilation of WCW and ECW talent, shifting focus from faction-based conflicts to individual star development that defined the emerging Ruthless Aggression era.[17] The event's tag title outcomes, with the Hardy Boyz capturing the WCW Tag Team Championship, underscored the dissolution of rival promotions and WWE's dominance, paving the way for a new emphasis on athleticism and personal rivalries announced as the Ruthless Aggression era in June 2002.[22] Behind the scenes, the event highlighted WWE's full creative control following its acquisition of WCW, which had been plagued by financial decline with losses exceeding $80 million in the year leading up to the March 2001 sale.[23] No major controversies arose from No Mercy itself, allowing WWE to streamline cross-promotional elements without the internal strife that had doomed WCW.[23]Reception
Critical response
No Mercy (2001) received generally positive critical reception, with reviewers praising its high-energy matches and the payoff to the Invasion storyline through key title changes. Contemporary assessments, such as The SmarK Rant's thumbs-up verdict, highlighted the event's strong effort and lack of outright poor undercard bouts, while retrospective analyses often rated it around 8/10, emphasizing its role as a solid PPV during WWE's peak attendance era.[24][25] Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter assigned high star ratings to the main events, contributing to an overall perception of the card as entertaining and well-executed.[9] Standout matches were frequently lauded for their athleticism and narrative depth. The ladder match between Edge and Christian for the WWF Intercontinental Championship was commended for its drama and innovative spots, earning ***¾ stars from Meltzer and ***½ from The SmarK Rant, with reviewers noting the callbacks to their prior rivalries that heightened the intensity.[9][24] Chris Jericho's victory over The Rock for the WCW Championship was hailed as a historic moment in the Invasion angle, praised for its storytelling and in-ring quality, receiving ****½ stars from Meltzer and ****¼ from a 2016 411Mania review, which called it the show's standout for blending athletic sequences with emotional stakes.[9][6] The triple-threat main event for the WWF Championship, featuring Steve Austin defending against Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam, was appreciated for its fast-paced action and entertainment value despite interference spots, garnering ****½ stars from Meltzer and ***¾ from both contemporary and later critiques.[9][24][6] Criticisms focused on pacing issues and booking decisions that diluted the event's potential. The Undertaker versus Booker T match was widely seen as underwhelming due to its slow tempo and failure to capitalize on the feud's heat, rated ***¼ by Meltzer and just *¾ in the 2016 411Mania review, which faulted the underutilization of WCW talent like Booker in the broader Invasion narrative.[9][6] The lingerie match between Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler drew ire as mere filler with minimal wrestling content, receiving no star rating from Meltzer and a lowly * from 411Mania, underscoring complaints about exploitative segments overshadowing athletic showcases.[9][6] Excessive McMahon family run-ins in the title matches were also noted as detracting from the in-ring focus, though they added to the storyline's chaotic entertainment.[6] In retrospective views, the event is regarded as a strong bridge in the post-Attitude Era transition, with its 2002 DVD release and inclusion in later anthologies reinforcing its enduring appeal through high-quality main events. A 2012 rewatch on Wrestling DVD Network awarded it 8.5/10, calling it "unbelievable" for the athletic highs and Invasion climax, while KB's Wrestling Reviews labeled it an "outstanding show" for maintaining momentum amid booking flaws.[25][26] These analyses highlight No Mercy as emblematic of 2001's competitive landscape, balancing spectacle with substantive wrestling despite imperfections in the undercard and Alliance portrayal.[6]Commercial performance
No Mercy 2001 drew approximately 325,000 pay-per-view buys, equivalent to a 0.80 buy rate among available households.[27][28] This performance was solid for a mid-tier pay-per-view in 2001, particularly in the context of the post-9/11 economic recovery and the heightened interest from the ongoing Invasion storyline, though it fell below the 1,040,000 buys of WrestleMania X-Seven earlier that year and the 445,000 buys of King of the Ring 2001.[27] The event attracted 15,647 attendees to the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri, approaching the venue's capacity of around 19,000 and generating a live gate of $762,255, along with $123,486 in merchandise sales.[29] Compared to the prior year's No Mercy, which achieved 550,000 buys, the 2001 edition underperformed in pay-per-view sales but benefited from strong domestic promotion on Raw and SmackDown, as well as residual interest from the event's origins as a UK-exclusive pay-per-view series prior to its expansion to the United States.[27]Results
Pre-show matches
The pre-show for No Mercy 2001 featured two matches broadcast on WWF Sunday Night Heat, serving to generate excitement for the pay-per-view while highlighting the ongoing Invasion storyline between the WWF and the Alliance.[30] In the opening tag team match, the Acolytes Protection Agency (APA)—Faarooq and Bradshaw—defeated Alliance members Chris Kanyon and Hugh Morrus. Bradshaw secured the pinfall victory on Kanyon with the Clothesline from Hell, providing a straightforward showcase of the APA's brawling style and reinforcing the inter-promotional tensions without significant plot progression.[30][13] The second Heat match was a singles contest for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship, where champion Billy Kidman defended against Scotty 2 Hotty. Kidman retained the title by pinning Scotty 2 Hotty via backslide while placing his feet on the ropes for leverage, emphasizing the high-flying cruiserweight division's athleticism amid the brand unification narrative.[30][13]Main card matches
The main card of No Mercy 2001 featured eight matches, with the following results:- WCW World Tag Team Championship match: The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy) defeated The Hurricane and Lance Storm via pinfall to win the titles.[9]
- Singles match: Test defeated Kane via pinfall.[9]
- Lingerie match: Torrie Wilson defeated Stacy Keibler via pinfall.[9]
- WWF Intercontinental Championship ladder match: Edge defeated Christian (c) by retrieving the title belt to win the championship.[9]
- WWF World Tag Team Championship match: The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) (c) defeated The Big Show and Tajiri via pinfall to retain the titles.[9]
- Singles match: The Undertaker defeated Booker T via pinfall.[9]
- WCW World Heavyweight Championship match: Chris Jericho defeated The Rock (c) via pinfall to win the championship.[9]
- No Disqualification WWF Championship triple threat match: Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) defeated Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam via pinfall to retain the championship.[9]