By Wade Keller, Torch editor

WWE No Mercy PPV
October 20, 2002
Little Rock, Ark. at Alltell Arena

Note: Current Torch Newsletter subscribers who have signed up for out new Torch VIP Email Express service (a new free service for subscribers), you will receive my full match-by-match analysis via e-mail after the show tonight (with match star ratings). You will shortly thereafter also receive the Torch Staff Roundtable reviews via e-mail of the PPV with all of our 1-10 scores. If you are a current subscriber and would like to sign up for the free service of if you're not a subscriber but would like info on becoming one (including our new everyday low rate of just $16 for an eight week subscription), click here.

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The show opened with Undertaker staring at the cast on his arm in the locker room. His old pal Kane sat down next to him. "So, how was your week?" Kane asked Taker in a dry tone. Funny moment.

Then a produced video feature aired previewing the top matches at the PPV.

(1) Chris Jericho & Christian (champs) beat Booker T & Goldust when Jericho pinned Goldust at 7:55 to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles. In the end, Jericho went for a middle rope moonsault, but the middle rope snapped. They went right to the finish. Booker brawled with Christian through the crowd as Jericho gave Goldust a bulldog on the tag title belt and then hit a moonsault for the pin. Okay opening tag, but nothing special.

-Funaki interviewed Torrie Wilson's father who stammered, then in Bill Clinton style said: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."

(2) Torrie Wilson pinned Dawn Marie at 4:57. What you'd expect from these two. Good T&A appeal, but otherwise short. Torrie showed good aggression in the match which fit the storyline.

Coach interviewed Rob Van Dam who mocked Ric Flair by doing a takeoff on his catchphrase, but inserting "chair-smashing, frog splashin, risk-taking Van Daminating dude" in place of Flair's "kiss-stealing..." wording.

(3) Ric Flair vs. Rob Van Dam at 8:05. On the good end of what you'd expect out of these two, although expectations aren't that high at this point. RVD dominated early, Flair came back and worked over RVD's legs and applied the figure four, and then RVD came back with the Five Star for the win.

Backstage Eric Bischoff caught Big Show talking to Steph. Show told Bischoff he was telling Steph he is upset with not being in main events or on PPVs. Bischoff told him not to take that tone with him. Big Show grabbed him and told him he'd snap him if doesn't put him in main events soon.

-The IC Title history video aired.

(4) Jamie Noble (w/Nidia) pinned Tajiri at 7:20 to retain the Cruiserweight Title. Good match with Tajiri getting in his signature kicks. In the end, Nidia tripped Tajiri as he went for a victory roll and Noble scored the pin. Afterward, Tajiri kicked Nidia. She liked it. Noble then kissed Nidia, but Tajiri kicked him in the back of the head and left.

Backstage Chris Benoit told Eddie Guerrero that Chavo was locked up in a closet. Eddie laughed and said he isn't that gullible. Chavo, meanwhile, screamed for Eddie's help. Eddie said he knows that the voice he heard is a little girl's voice, not Chavo's. Chavo then came crashing out of the closet writhing in pain. Kurt Angle walked out next and asked Eddie, "How are you doing?" Terry Taylor helped hold back Eddie as he spazzed and went after Benoit and Angle.

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler talked about the mind games Triple H has been playing with Kane.

(5) Triple H pinned Kane at 16:15 to retain the World Title. Good match overall, although it got off to a very shaky start with some poorly timed moves early on. The match picked up when Ric Flair came out half way into the match. He attempted to interfere with the sledge hammer. Kane chokeslammed Triple H through the Spanish announcing table. Hurricane attempted to offset Flair's interference, but Triple H gave him a Pedigree at ringside. In the end, the ref went down, Triple H used the sledge hammer as a weapon, and then finished off Kane with a Pedigree for the win. The second half saved the match.

Stephanie talked with the woman who accused Undertaker of cheating on his wife. She talked the woman into admitting she was lying about the timing off the affair. She said she doesn't care about the pregnant wife because she wanted Mark back and would say anything to get him back. Taker then walked up behind the woman. Steph said she's told her last lie and ordered her to leave.

(6) Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit defeated Rey Mysterio & Edge at 22:01 to capture the WWE Tag Team Titles when Edge tapped out to Angle's anklelock. This was the match of the year so far this year. This was perhaps the best tag team match I've seen. It had two false climaxes that appeared to be the finish of the match only to be followed by more incredible action and near falls. All four wrestlers were spectacular. Edge began the match, then hot-tagged Rey at 11:45. Rey got in some good offense, but ended up selling for much of the next several minutes. Rey hot-tagged Edge at 17:33. Then they went to four fantastic minutes of momentum changes, four-way action, reversals, and believable near falls. In the end, Angle had Edge in the Anklelock. Edge reversed it and applied the Anklelock himself. Angle then reversed it and reapplied the Anklelock for the tap out. Awesome match in every way possible.

A doctor tended to Undertaker' cast backstage, apparently numbing his hand so he could punch with it without feeling excruciating pain.

(7) Trish Stratus pinned Victoria at 5:30 ti retain the WWE Women's Title. Botched finish when Trish lost her footing before rolling up Victoria for the winning pin. Victoria had to stand awkwardly waiting for Trish to regain her footing and roll her up. Not quite as good as you'd expect out of these two, and expectations weren't especially high going in.

Cole and Tazz interviewed Rikishi from The World. Rikishi talked about how it feels to participate in a Hell in a Cell match. He then picked Undertaker to win.

(8) Brock Lesnar pinned Undertaker at 27:15 to retain the WWF Title. Taker bled about as heavily as anyone in PPV history. Brock and Paul Heyman also bled (Heyman also bled heavily at ringside outside the cage). No big bumps or any interference. Just a brutal brawl, methodical at times, but never boring. They brawled at ringside much of the match. Taker grabbed Heyman's tie through the cage and yanked him against the cage several times. Taker gave Brock his Last Ride, but Brock grabbed the bottom rope to break the count. Seconds later Brock gave Taker the F5 and scored the clean pin.

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Send to: PPVFeedback@pwtorch.com.

Note: Current Torch Newsletter subscribers who have signed up for out new Torch VIP Email Express service (a new free service for subscribers), you will receive my full match-by-match analysis via e-mail after the show tonight (with match star ratings). You will shortly thereafter also receive the Torch Staff Roundtable reviews via e-mail of the PPV with all of our 1-10 scores. If you are a current subscriber and would like to sign up for the free service of if you're not a subscriber but would like info on becoming one (including our new everyday low rate of just $16 for an eight week subscription), click here.

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