No Mercy 2003: Angle and Cena Give an Uneven SmackDown PPV Its Lasting Reason to Matter

Tajiri and Mysterio give No Mercy its first strong match by working at a pace that immediately separates them from the heavier bouts that follow. Mysterio creates the most explosive sequences through the 619 and West Coast Pop, while Tajiri slows him with kicks, counters and the threat that one clean strike can end the match. The interference from Ryan Sakoda and James Yun keeps the finish from being completely satisfying, but it also establishes the allies who would soon become Tajiri's on-screen support. Tajiri capitalizes with the Buzzsaw Kick and retains the championship. The match is compact, athletic and strong enough to start the pay-per-view on a clearly positive note.

Benoit and A-Train work a physical singles match that is better than the pairing looks on paper because Benoit gives the bout structure and A-Train supplies a credible size obstacle. The offense is methodical rather than exciting, with Benoit repeatedly attacking the leg and trying to create a submission opening instead of relying on a sudden high spot. A-Train's power prevents the match from becoming one-sided, but the crowd never fully treats him as a likely winner. Benoit's dragon screw creates the final opening for the Sharpshooter, producing a clean submission. It is solid mid-card wrestling and an example of Benoit raising an otherwise ordinary matchup.

Gowen and Hardy are given barely more than five minutes, yet the match works because the crowd understands Gowen's underdog appeal and Hardy has enough experience to make every comeback feel earned. Hardy controls most of the bout through size, positioning and opportunism, while Gowen relies on speed and the unusual movement that made him such a distinctive performer. The short runtime prevents the match from developing into something deeper, but it also keeps the action focused. Gowen's one-legged springboard moonsault provides a memorable and clean winning image. The result is a good compact match that overachieves relative to its placement on the card.

The Bashams and APA are asked to fill the traditional heavyweight tag slot, but the match never finds enough pace or character conflict to become more than functional. Bradshaw and Faarooq bring recognizable offense and crowd familiarity, while Doug and Danny Basham work around Shaniqua's presence and the possibility of interference. The teams trade control without building a strong escalation, leaving the finish to create most of the memorable story. Shaniqua strikes Bradshaw with a club and Doug scores the pin. The result protects the emerging heel team, but the match itself is one of the weaker wrestling portions of No Mercy.

Vince and Stephanie McMahon are working from a deeply personal authority story rather than a competitive wrestling premise, and the match is designed to be uncomfortable more than technically impressive. Vince's physical advantage is overwhelming, while Stephanie is allowed alternate routes to victory because the rules are changed so she can win by pinfall or submission even though Vince must make her quit. The involvement of Linda McMahon and Sable keeps the focus on family conflict instead of wrestling escalation. The finish comes when Linda throws in the towel after Stephanie loses consciousness in a choke using a lead pipe. The segment has storyline consequence, but the actual match is difficult to rate highly as wrestling.

Angle and Cena deliver the event's clear classic by turning Cena's emerging star power into a genuine eighteen-minute test against one of WWE's best wrestlers. Cena is already confident enough to carry extended control stretches, while Angle repeatedly forces him to prove that the character's swagger can survive against elite technical wrestling. The match escalates through the FU, Angle Slam and increasingly desperate counters instead of relying on outside interference or a gimmick. Cena survives the Angle Slam and nearly steals the match before Angle finally traps him in the Ankle Lock and forces the submission. It is an excellent match, a major step in Cena's development and the strongest reason to revisit No Mercy 2003.

Guerrero and Big Show work around an enormous size difference, and Eddie spends the match using every shortcut available to create openings that normal offense cannot provide. Exposed turnbuckles, a trash-can lid, brass knuckles and the championship belt all become part of the champion's effort to survive, which fits his character even when the match becomes cluttered. The near-fall after the Frog Splash gives Guerrero one believable chance to escape with the title before Big Show's power finally overwhelms him. A second Chokeslam produces the championship change. The match is more story-driven than technically strong, but the title switch and Eddie's desperation keep it watchable.

Lesnar and Undertaker close No Mercy with a violent, methodical Biker Chain match that has enough intensity to feel like a world-title main event but too much interference to become a classic. The chain creates a clear objective, and both wrestlers use the stipulation to justify the slower pace, ring-step offense and long stretches built around positioning rather than quick exchanges. Undertaker survives the F-5, lands a Last Ride and eventually retrieves the chain, seemingly creating the decisive opening. The Full Blooded Italians and then Vince McMahon intervene, allowing Lesnar to use the chain and retain. The match is good and physical, but the crowded finish keeps it below the event's best.