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Highlights from this past Monday’s edition of RAW are shown to start the show, with Cena giving the FU to Lita and winning his match before taking a beating from King Booker, Finlay and William Regal. Thankfully, WWE’s video production people are awesome, and what was a poorly executed, drawn out segment on RAW was made to look a million dollars here.

There’s no opening credits, and John Cena’s music hits to start the show. The WWE champ comes out to a huge pop (and it’s obvious it’s not your normal dubbed in pop, and enough proof for me that this brand needs some more big names like Cena) as Tony Chimmel goes totally overboard on announcing Cena’s name. Cena grabs the mic and says that it’s good to be back on Smackdown!. He plugs his new movie, The Marine (you may have heard it mentioned on WWE programming recently), and talks about how everything is the same as the last time he was on the show. He rips on JBL, saying that the last time he saw him, he was beating his ass, then rips on Michael Cole, and gives him a set of balls, saying that Cole always used to ask him for some. We then get down to business, and Cena cuts a promo on Regal, Finlay and King Booker, saying that tonight the odds are even as he has Lashley and Batista with him.

Not a bad promo to start the show, The crowd totally ate up everything he said. With the Smackdown! brand attracting a younger crowd than RAW, I really think that WWE could do worse than to have Cena appear on both shows on a more regular basis. The show definitely would benefit from that, although I don’t see it happening.

We’re told that Rey Mysterio vs Sylvester Terkay is up next.

We return from commercials to learn that Mr Kennedy will be paying tribute to The Undertaker later before Rey Mysterio’s music hits, and our next match is on the way. Terkay follows, and comes out with Burke to zero reaction. They both get into the ring, then with no announcement, Burke gets ready to wrestle and Terkay steps out of the ring and watches from ringside.

Good pace to start the match and after punches from Mysterio, Burke counters a hurricanrana attempt and powerbombs Mysterio into the turnbuckles. Burke slows it down with a resthold but Mysterio powers out and works over Burke’s leg before hitting a springboard and getting a near fall. He then counters a sunset flip-int0-a-pin attempt by Burke and kicks him in the head for another near fall. Terkay tries to interfere but Mysterio hits him with a dropkick before hitting Burke with a 619 and a springboard legdrop to pick up a quick win.

Post-match, Terkay attacks Mysterio as Chavo and Vicki Guerrero are shown watching on from a monitor backstage. It’s announced that Mysterio vs Chavo at No Mercy a week on Sunday is actually now a ‘Falls Count Anywhere’ match.

This crowd are hot, and opening the show with arguably the two biggest babyfaces at their disposal in Cena and Mysterio is likely the reason behind that.

Ashley Massaro puts over Paul London and Brian Kendrick, which leads us into a video promo for the two. That’s right, a tag team on Smackdown! get a video package. And a very good one at that. Oh, and it used music that TNA have used in the past as well. That’ll teach you to sign a former main eventer!

The last WWE appearance of Kid Kash is up next, as The Pitbulls take on KC James & Idol Stevens. Kash and Idol start out, and JBL really puts over the now departed Pitbull. Noble gets tagged in, and quickly James and Stevens start to get the upper hand until Noble hits a sweet dive through the ropes to James on the outside as Kash gets a near fall on Stevens in the middle of the ring. They go back and forth before the referee gets distracted by Stevens and Noble as Kash has James pinned with a roll-up. Michelle McCool jumps into the ring and reverses the roll-up pin, and James pins Kash with the referee blissfully unaware of what just went on.

Not a bad match, but nothing spectacular. The crowd were silent throughout which didn’t help, especially after a hot opening 20 minutes to the show.

After another commercial break, we return for our weekly dose of hype for The Marine. John Cena’s in it, don’t ya know.

Matt Hardy’s music hits, and thankfully we’ve got some more wrestling. Hardy will face Gregory Helms for the Cruiserweight title at No Mercy, but tonight’s he’s facing Chavo Guerrero, who is escorted to the ring by Vicki. Pretty slow match to start out with neither in control. They go back and forth with punches and a few weak near falls as JBL talks about how Hardy’s “glass ceiling” could break at No Mercy should he beat Helms. Hardy goes to the second rope and hits a legdrop, but as Vicki Guerrero distracts the referee, Gregory Helms hit the ring. Hardy sees him off, but as the referee turns his attention to Helms, Vicki gives Matt a low blow, allowing Chavo to hit the frogsplash and pick up the win.

Post-match, Helms lays out Hardy with a Shining Wizard.

Another so-so match. There’s been nothing wrong in particular thus far tonight, but there’s been absolutely nothing that has really got me hooked into the show, and nothing making me want to go out and buy No Mercy on PPV. Obviously with us covering the PPV live here at WrestleMag a week on Sunday, I’ll be buying it anyway, but you get my point.

We get a replay of this week’s WWE 24/7 video package, featuring Gorilla Monsoon vs Andre The Giant in a boxing match. I always like these adverts for the 24/7 service, and this package was great as they gave it more airtime than usual.

Next up, Mr Kennedy made his way to the ring for his tribute to The Undertaker. The ring had a black canvas down, with wreaths in the background. As soon as Kennedy got the mic, the crowd were all over him. Last week, Jim Ross made comparisions between Kennedy and Steve Austin (from his excellent and often overlooked run as “Stunning” Steve Austin during his WCW days, if I remember correctly), and I have to say, I disagree with Ross’ assessment. Prior to his injury earlier this year, I saw a ton of potential in Kennedy to be a main eventer on Smackdown!, but since his return, I’ve just found his whole act pretty stale. Kennedy said he was looking forward to beating The Undertaker, but he didn’t want to be the guy that everybody hates for ending Undertaker’s career, and as a result, said he couldn’t wrestle him at No Mercy.

Undertaker’s music hit, and Tulsa went crazy as ‘Taker made his entrance. ‘Taker took the mic from Kennedy and told him he will show no mercy, and that Kennedy will Rest in Peace. Kennedy tried to attack ‘Taker from behind with his microphone, but as he swung, the mic sparked and “blew up” in his hand.

Backstage, King Booker, Sharmell, Finlay and Regal discussed tonight’s main event. The King said Cena, Batista and Lashley will all bow down to him tonight. All Hail.
A promo for next week’s edition of RAW aired, promoting the John Cena-Edge Cage match, before we cut to commercials.

We return with Tatanka in the ring ready for his match with The Miz. Miz is undefeated at 4-0 going into this, and JBL again is on the money by saying “I hate him.” It’s matches like this one that just back up the argument for Smackdown! being the inferior brand to RAW. Miz is just awful in the ring, and his gimmick is so poor. Tatanka is always solid enough in the ring, but there’s no reason for anybody watching to care about him in the ring. There’s very little to even write about here, but Miz picks up the win with a sloppy looking roll through, and holds onto the trunks to get the pin and continue Tatanka’s run of losing to decisions that shouldn’t have been allowed to stand.

Jimmy Wang Yang is backstage, and he’s a redneck. He’s up next, after a promo for the upcoming UK tour (which we’ll have extensive live coverage of, details to be announced in a few weeks time).

Sylvan comes out to zero reaction, and to cover the crowd’s lack of enthusiam, Sylvan gets a video package to show brief highlights of his Hogan-esque pop from last week’s show in Montreal. Sylvan is taking on Jimmy Wang Yang, who comes out to some Dukes of Hazzard style music. JBL questions if Yang is Michael Hayes’ son, as he gets into the ring and starts line dancing. Yang gets the crowd behind him in a USA chant, and as I type this, I wonder if anybody is still believing what I’m typing. Yang dominates the match early on with a dropsault in the corner and a kick to the head that sends Sylvan to the outside. Yang dives over the top rope but Sylvan moves and Yang hits the mats on the outside, allowing Sylvan to get the upper hand. They go back into the ring as JBL and Cole argue over Yang, Dick Murdoch, John Cena and whether or not Cole is hardcore. The match goes back and forth before Yang regains the advantage with a series of clotheslines. Out of nowhere, Sylvan gets a pinfall by rolling up Yang, who looked shocked by his loss.

Backstage, Vito cut a short promo, wearing a dress.

The Miz, Jimmy Wang Yang and Vito in succession. Man. If it wasn’t for JBL on commentary (again), this show really would be in trouble.

Another advert for Cena-Edge this coming Monday airs before we cut to another commercial ahead of our main event, which is up next.

We return from commercial with Michael Cole getting overly excited about the signing of MVP to Smackdown!. Highlights from the WWE.com press conference air. MVP debuts at No Mercy.

As well as MVP debuting, No Mercy will feature the following announced matches to date:

- King Booker vs Lashley for the World Heavyweight Title
- Batista vs Finlay
- Undertaker vs Mr Kennedy
- Rey Mysterio vs Chavo Guerrero in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
- Gregory Helms vs Matt Hardy for the Cruiserweight Title
- Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs KC James & Idol Stevens for the World Tag Team Titles

It’s main event time, and both Lashley and Batista come out to big pops before the place goes crazy yet again for John Cena’s entrance. Highlights from Cena’s beatdown on last Monday’s RAW are shown again. As King Booker and his sidekicks make their way out towards the ring, Cena and co. charge at them, and we get into a 6-man brawl in the aisle and around the ring. We cut away for a promo for King Booker vs Lashley at No Mercy, before returning to see Batista taking it to Regal in the ring. Batista hits a backdrop and a spinebuster, and Regal tags out to King Booker.

Michael Cole reveals that tomorrow on WWE.com, Lashley’s opponent for next week’s show will be announced, as chosen by King Booker, and King Booker’s opponent will also be announced, as chosen by Lashley. Batista hits the King with a huge delayed vertical suplex. Lashley is tagged in, and he hits Booker with a shoulder tackle in the corner for a two count. JBL puts Lashley over big time as he catches Booker in midair and turns it into a powerslam. He then beats down the Champ in the corner with punches and kicks, but Booker pokes him in the eye and manages to tag out to Finlay, who walks straight into a military press. Lashley goes for a shoulder tackle but misses, but as Finlay tries to capitalise, Lashley makes the tag to Cena, who clears house. He locks the STFU on Finlay but Regal breaks it up. The Little Bastard pops up to help Finlay hit Cena as we cut to our final commercials of the night.

We return to see Finlay working over Cena’s arm that was injured last Monday on RAW. He tags in Regal, who continues the assault before tagging Finlay back in to continue working over the arm. King Booker is tagged in, and he continues to wear down Cena, who has the crowd firmly behind him. Booker hits a superkick as JBL calls this the biggest 6-man in Smackdown! history, making a point that the Smackdown! champion is “beating the hell” out of RAW’s top guy. Finlay is tagged back in and counters an FU attempt out of nowhere, levelling Cena with a right hand before tagging the King back in. Cena avoids a ax kick attempt, and manages to make the tag to Lashley, who clears house and hits a huge running powerslam on Booker.

It turns into a 6-man brawl yet again, with Batista and Booker left in the ring. Booker goes for a kick on Batista, but Lashley intercepts and hits a spear on Booker to pick up the win. Post-match, Cena is left alone in the ring. Edge appears out of nowhere and hits Cena with a spear of his own in the middle of the ring before escaping through the crowd to end the show.

Overall, another average show. The first 20 minutes and final 20 minutes were very good, but everything in between was pretty boring in all honesty.

Phil Lowe, Editor - WrestleMag.com