The World's Greatest WWF No Mercy 2000 Preview

What up, what up.. as of my last bid, the ebay price of WCW as a whole had reached a staggering $25. Not too shabby, for a company that's burning several million a year. It seems like every month we've come out here for a Y2K WWF Preview, each of us has agreed that it has potential to be the PPV of the year. It's become something of an overused phrase by this point, but I can't help but echo John's sentiment once again. The WWF has lined up yet another slam-bang card, utelizing much of their roster to its fullest. We've got potential classics with Benoit / HHH and the Jericho / X-Pac blowoff, as well as Austin's big return to the ring and Kurt Angle's first shot at the gold. It's really too bad Eddy Guerrero's injury was so poorly timed, as he was really on his way to bigger and bigger things starting with this card. Alas; it could've been much, much worse and he could be counting his lucky stars that he's still able to walk after that scary bump on Raw this past week. There is, unfortunately, a bit of fat at the bottom of the card left untrimmed this go around (a slot which could have easily been filled with a light heavy match or two, as I mentioned in my latest Ringside Shadows..), but they'll likely be kept to a minimum so as to allow the big boys up top ample time to flex their in-ring muscles. Shameless plugs aside, though, with the exception of one or two matches I'm really looking forward to this one.

The Dudley Boyz vs. Bull Buchanan & Goodfather vs. Too Cool vs. Tazz & Raven vs. Lo Down
Tag Team Tables Invitational Match

Man, the WWF didn't waste any time in dropping the ball with Raven. I was almost more excited about his inevitable debut than I was for Chris Jericho's a year and a half ago, but he's been jobbed consistantly since that big run in last month. His promos are betraying the character thanks to their hurried nature, and he hasn't put together anything of a good match since his arrival. Raven's one of those guys that, when motivated, can become the strongest link in your chain.. but when his role is given a little slack, he falls to pieces. I'd really like to see him given that chance.. not rushed into a role that doesn't fit him in the first place. As for this little gang-warfare battle royal, I'll take Lo-Down. Vince seems to be high on them lately, and I suspect they'll continue their winning ways with a big victory in this one.
Winners: Lo Down

William Regal vs. Mideon
European Title Match

Words can't describe the incredible sense of joy I'm feeling at this very moment. Mideon has returned to action, and he's jumped right into a shot at the European title. Your favorite and mine, Mideon has recently landed the gimmick that's bound to take him all the way to the top. As "Naked Mideon", he's unearthed a personality that rivals even Ric Flair in his glory days. He'll make you forget about the '97 Hart Foundation. Mideon is about to become a household name. Unfortunately, he's likely suffering from a bit of ring rust.. and when he tries that patented shooting star press / 450 splash combo from a 30 foot ladder, I'm thinking Regal might just have time to get out of the way. This Sunday night, I'm expecting the unthinkable.. Mideon's taking a pin.
Winner: Steven Regal

Acolytes & Lita vs. T&A & Trish Stratus

I'm actually considering this one the sleeper of the night. While a superb match is expected out of HHH / Benoit or Angle / Rocky further up the card, to see one here would be a pleasant surprise. Just about everybody in the ring has a nice spot or two, and I wouldn't figure they'll have more than five minutes in which to utelize them. Despite the fact they're each slowing down, I still enjoy the Acolytes in moderation, and T&A could make something of themselves if they'd quit slacking off and get to it. Trish and Lita are both gorgeous, and each has a willingness to bump on top of that.. it's almost a "can't miss" formula. If I had to choose one match to surprise you this Sunday, this would be it. Keep your eye on it. As for a decision, I'm going with T&A.. pulling a surprise victory out in the end.
Winners: T&A

Chyna & Billy Gunn vs. Steven Richards & Val Venis

Man, it really is bad that Eddy went and got himself injured, isn't it..? Now instead of an assuredly hot IC title bout with Billy Gunn (in which we'd at least have Guerrero's effort to look forward to), we'll find ourselves 'treated' to this little waste. The RTC angle is really cooling down of late, and needs something big to get it back into the limelight again before it's all for naught. Unfortunately, I don't see anything like that coming out of this neat little tag match. Neither Gunn nor Chyna seem ready to turn, and nothing the current members can do will serve to really piss fans off enough to get them back where they need to be. This is a tidy little tag match that wasn't really necessary.
Winners: Chyna and Billy Gunn

Hardy Boyz w/Lita ? vs. Los Conquistadors
Tag Team Title Match

It's been a while since I've laughed like I did this past Monday night, during the Conquistadors' match on Raw. Though it likely wasn't really Edge and Christian under the masks Monday, the very idea of these two under the masks, slapping their chests and blatantly trying to appear as someone other than themselves is just hilarious to me. There's a sort of lighthearted fun to this whole feud, which is something I think the sport's been missing for some time now. It's great to see that aspect of the game back again. It's no secret that the feud that's enveloped these two teams over the last year and a half is the stuff of legends. Their matches are the kind that you only see once or twice in a generation.. like Flair and Steamboat or Austin and Hart, they just seem to click. You're guaranteed your money's worth when they step into the ring as opponents, and I wouldn't expect anything less Sunday night. The Hardys come out on top, but fail to unmask the golden boys.
Winners: The Hardy Boyz

Chris Jericho vs. X-Pac
Steel Cage Match

Probably the most surprising story of the year has been the de-emphasis of Chris Jericho in the WWF. While the rewards have been great for the industry as a whole in the continued aftermath of the Radicals' jump to McMahon's arms, Y2J seems to have collected the sole notable downside. With so many extremely talented workers suddenly flooding the main event, there doesn't seem to be room for Jericho any longer.. and that's a terrible, terrible loss. Chris needs something to get him started on his way back to the top, and it all starts with a big victory against X-Pac right here.
Winner: Chris Jericho

Triple H vs. Chris Benoit

This card, in a way, marks a sort of anniversary for HHH. As I'm sure we all remember, it was at the 1999 No Mercy PPV that 'The Game' successfully defended his newly-earned WWF title from the threat of Stone Cold Steve Austin, silencing naysayers and proving he really was here for the long haul. For nearly every PPV since, Hunter's put forward an outstanding effort.. often closing the curtains of the card with the match of the night. Though the point is arguable, if I had to narrow it down to one night, No Mercy is where I'd say HHH's ongoing run of stellar performances started.

Now Hunter finds himself not in the role he played at last year's card, a new arrival looking for one last rub, but in the position Austin held at their clash in '99.. the mainstay, elevating a future main eventer that isn't quite there yet. It's a shame his feud with Kurt Angle is on pause for the moment, but HHH has found himself yet another perfect match of an opponent in Chris Benoit. None of the intensity of his feud with the olympic champion is missing here, making it just as good a contrast and every bit as exciting. As far as the matchup goes, I'll go with Benoit through underhanded means. Either Stephanie's turning or Angle will play a part, but I'd be surprised to see this one end with anything other than a crossface.
Winner: Chris Benoit

Steve Austin vs. Rikishi
No Holds Barred Match

I'm surprised Austin's made his active return so quickly, and though he won't be near the worker he was before (not right away, anyway), that's to be expected after an absense of over a year. One factor I was keeping a sharp eye out for as of his return last month was any sort of variation in the way Austin approached things. He wasn't the same man during his run-in at Backlash, and if it was more of the same last month, I'd have questioned his and the WWF's motives in bringing him back if he couldn't do the job. Instead, we saw the attitude that sent him to the top alongside very little, if any, of the cautious movements that stuck out at his last appearance. He's truly come a long way in those months, and if the same holds true in the ring, we shouldn't have anything to worry about. He'll no doubt be taking it easy for a couple months, and I question sending him in there against someone like Rikishi, who won't do him many favors as far as looking better than he's performing. They're giving him quite a challenge, asking the man to carry his opponent during his first match back from an extended absence, but I think Stone Cold's up to it. Austin takes the 'v' and Phatu's goofy ass tries to sell the stunner convincingly.
Winner: Steve Austin

The Rock vs. Kurt Angle
WWF Championship Match

Rumor has it we'll be seeing a bit of controversy surrounding the finish of this one, as Monday's directv preview opens with the quote "Who is the WWF champion?" heading hour one. Bearing that in mind, I'm still looking for Rocky to retain here. Why? It's pretty obvious that, with this fifth World Title run, the WWF is trying desperately to establish Rocky as a champion worth mentioning in the history books. While his technical prowess may not add up to his peers, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit and HHH, his tremendous popularity outshines them all. By giving him an extended title reign in a day of quick changes, they're helping him stand out from the masses. I wouldn't be surprised to see the gold around Rocky's waist all the way to Wrestlemania, though I suspect he'll have dropped it once along the way. On the other side of the coin, Angle gets a big chance this Sunday, as he collects his first World Title shot. Along with the prestige of the WWF gold, Angle will have a chance to fully arrive in the main event scene by actually carrying the reigning champion to a strong match. I'd imagine Kurt will have the match all but won cleanly on at least one occasion, while the ref's absence will prevent the Rock from dropping the belt. In the end, Angle gives us plenty of food for thought, but doesn't have enough to take the gold home with him.
Winner: The Rock

In Closing...

Looking at the bottom of the card, it's nothing special.. it's those top five, as John mentioned before, that really make No Mercy shine. If HHH can keep up his string of performances here and Chris Benoit just shows up, we'll get a classic with that one as well as a worthwhile performance from Kurt Angle and the Rock. There's plenty of intrigue going in, but I can't help but wonder how much better things would have looked with the white hot Eddy Guerrero factored in. Perhaps some things are best when waited for...take it easy, and enjoy the PPV this Sunday night.

until next time, i remain
drq