WWE NXT No Mercy 2023 returns for the first time since 2017. The event goes down on September 30, 2023, at the Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, California.
The event is a historic one as No Mercy is the first WWE PLE not owned and controlled by the McMahon family, following Endeavor’s purchase of the company. The multi-billion dollar deal was finalized on September 12th and saw WWE merge with UFC under a new entity called TKO Group Holdings.
The event also continues the trend of having several main roster talents returning to the brand to take on the Superstars of tomorrow. Most notably, Becky Lynch will perform on her first NXT PLE in her second defence of the Women’s Championship while Dominik Mysterio looks to continue his run as the North American Champion against Trick Williams and Baron Corbin continues his second stint on the brand with a thought outing against Bron Breakker.
The full NXT No Mercy 2023 card is as follows:
- Becky Lynch (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton – Extreme Rules Match for the Women’s Championship
- Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov – NXT Championship
- Bron Breakker vs. Baron Corbin
- Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Trick Williams – North American Championship
- Noam Dar (c) vs. Butch – Heritage Cup
- The Family (c) vs. OTM vs. The Creed Brothers vs. Los Lotharios – Fatal Four-way for the Tag Team Championships
- Kelani Jordan vs. Blair Davenport – Pre-Show
Let’s pick our winners…
Kelani Jordan vs. Blair Davenport
Kelani Jordan looks to give Blair Davenport a taste of her own medicine after the dastardly Brit gave Gigi Dolin a hiding. Following the attack Jordan challenged Davenport to a match at the PLE.
Prediction: As much as Jordan wants to make her mark before competing in the upcoming Women’s Breakout Tournament, Davenport is just too experienced and vicious for the youngster. Blair Davenport wins.
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton – Extreme Rules Match for the Women’s Championship
On September 12th Becky Lynch stepped inside the NXT ring for the first time in four years to defeat Tiffany Stratton for the Women’s Championship. The following week, Stratton got in Lynch’s face and demanded a rematch at the PLE. Lynch gladly accepted the challenge before teaming with Lyra Valkyria to take on and defeat Stratton and Kiana James in tag team action. After the match, Stratton struck both Lynch and Valkyria with a steel chair, prompting the champion to declare that their match at No Mercy would be an Extreme Rules Match.
Prediction: Despite losing the title, Stratton proved she can hang with the likes of Lynch in the ring and has since unleashed her violent side in a bid to get it back. The violent outburst may have backfired though as she now faces Lynch in a match guaranteed to feature tonnes of weapons. The match stipulation gives NXT the perfect opportunity for Stratton to beat Lynch but with The Man as champion NXT has seen a huge boost in viewership, so it seems only logical to keep the title on her. Becky Lynch retains and is confronted by Jade Cargill setting up a bigtime feud between the two.
The Family (c) vs. OTM vs. The Creed Brothers vs. Los Lotharios – Fatal Four-way for the Tag Team Championships
To choose worthy challengers to their tag team titles Tony D’Angelo and Stacks invited their enemies to a sit-down dinner. After a 6-course meal and all three teams putting their case forward, the Family decided that a Fatal 4-Way was the best and fairest option.
Predictions: Each team has a strong case for becoming the new champions. The Creed Brothers are former champions who are looking to reclaim the gold, while Garza and Carrillo are an experienced duo that have come to NXT for glory. Bronco Nima and Lucien Price are very new on the scene but they are big and mean. However, D’Angelo and Stacks have the skills and the cunning to survive. The Family retain.
Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Trick Williams – NXT North American Championship
This match was originally set to see Mustafa Ali challenge Mysterio for the title, but his surprise release from the company drastically changed plans. Expecting a night off at the PLE, Mysterio was dismayed to find out Shawn Michaels had scheduled a No. 1 Contenders Match between Tyler Bate, Axiom and Trick Williams. The Triple Threat match was won by Williams, who has been riding high since going out on his own and is definitely a threat to Mysterio’s reign.
Prediction: Although Williams is clearly the bigger and stronger competitor, Mysterio has shown time and time again that he is more than willing to do anything to get the win. But the addition of Dragon Lee as the Special Guest Referee spells trouble for the champ. Yet despite all these obstacles Mysterio always has the help of his Judgement Day crew. Mysterio retains.
Noam Darr (c) vs. Butch – Heritage Cup
Butch returned to NXT to compete in the global number-one contender’s tournament for the Heritage Cup. The member of the Brawling Brutes defeated Joe Coffey in the finals of the competition to face Dar at No Mercy while the three-time cup winner watched on with his Meta-Four crew.
Prediction: Dar is not only a great in-ring performer he is low-key one of the brand’s best acts and having him keep the cup and keep it relevant seems to be the best move. Noam Dar retains.
Bron Breakker vs. Baron Corbin
Since losing the NXT Championship, Bron Breakker has embarked on a path of destruction. His most recent act of demolition saw him take out Von Wagner by bashing his head in with the steel steps. Baron Corbin congratulated Breakker on the assault, which infuriated him and resulted in a heated exchange between the two. The two argued in the ring before brawling setting up the match at the PLE.
Prediction: These two aren’t messing around when it comes to beating each other up. This encounter isn’t going to be pretty and it’s going to be nasty. Bron Breakker wins.
Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov – NXT Championship
After pushing Carmelo Hayes to his limits at Great American Bash, Ilja Dragunov was determined to get another shot at the title. The Mad Dragon bested Wes Lee and Melo’s former hype man Trick Williams en route to contend for NXT’s top prize once more. During Dragunov’s chase to back into title contention Hayes lost his righthand man. This mutual separation means that the champion now enters the highly-anticipated rematch without his running buddy.
Prediction: If this match is anything like their bout at the previous PLE then we are in for another classic. Hayes and Dragunov put on an enthralling outing that just had to be repeated but this time with a different outcome. Ilja Dragunov wins new champion crowned.
You can watch NXT No Mercy streaming live at 8 ET/5 PT on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else.