No Mercy
Promotional poster featuringKurt Angle
Promotion	World Wrestling Federation
Date	October 21, 2001
City	St. Louis, Missouri
Venue	Savvis Center
Attendance	15,647
Buy rate	325,000[1]
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Unforgiven Next → Rebellion
No Mercy chronology
← Previous 2000 Next → 2002

The 2001No Mercy was the fourthNo Mercyprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view (PPV)event produced by theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). The event took place on October 21, 2001, at theSavvis Center inSt. Louis, Missouri. It was the final No Mercy event held under the WWF name as the promotion was renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in May 2002. It was also the final No Mercy held before the introduction of thebrand extension in March 2002.

Themain event was aTriple ThreatNo Disqualification match—a match involving three competitors against each other and it would be decided only throughpinfall orsubmission. The match was contested for theWWF Championship.Stone Cold Steve Austin defended the title againstKurt Angle andRob Van Dam. Austinpinned Van Dam after aStone Cold Stunner to retain the title.

Theundercard featuredThe Rock versusChris Jericho for theWCW Championship,The Undertaker versusBooker T,Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley andD-Von Dudley) versusBig Show andTajiri for theWWF Tag Team Championship,Christian versusEdge in aLadder match for theWWF Intercontinental Championship,Torrie Wilson versusStacy Keibler in aLingerie match,Test versusKane andHardy Boyz (Matt Hardy andJeff Hardy) versusLance Storm andThe Hurricane for theWCW Tag Team Championship.

No Mercy was first held by theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) as a United Kingdom-exclusivepay-per-view (PPV) in May 1999.^[2] A secondNo Mercy was then held later that same year in October, but in the United States, which establishedNo Mercy as the annual October PPV for the promotion.^[3] The 2001 event was the fourth event under the No Mercy name and was held on October 21 at theSavvis Center inSt. Louis, Missouri.^[4][5][6][7]

No Mercy featuredprofessional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds,plots, andstorylines that were played out onRaw andSmackDown!—World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) television programs. Wrestlers portrayed avillain or ahero as they followed a series of events that built tension, and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.^[8]

The predominantrivalry heading into the event was betweenStone Cold Steve Austin,Kurt Angle andRob Van Dam. AtUnforgiven, Angle defeated Austin to win theWWF Championship.^[9] On the October 4 edition ofSmackDown!, Van Dam defeated Angle to earn Austin a WWF Championship match against Angle.^[10] On the October 8 edition ofRaw, Austin defeated Angle to win the WWF Championship, with the help of theWWF CommissionerWilliam Regal, whoturned on Angle and the WWF by helping Austin in winning the title.^[11] As a result, Regal joinedThe Alliance. On the October 11 edition ofSmackDown!, theWWF CEOLinda McMahon fired Regal from his position of WWF Commissioner and replaced him with a new Commissioner. Later that night, Van Dam lost a match toChris Jericho after interference by Austin. As a result, Van Dam confronted Austin. The new Commissioner was revealed to beMick Foley, who appeared at the spot and announced that Austin would defend the WWF Championship against Van Dam and Angle in aTriple Threat match at No Mercy.^[12] On the October 21 edition ofHeat, Foley announced that the Triple Threat match would be contested underno disqualification rules.^[7]

Another major rivalry heading into No Mercy was betweenThe Rock andChris Jericho over theWCW Championship. On the October 8 edition ofRaw,WCW OwnerShane McMahon announced that he would team with Rob Van Dam against Jericho and Rock in atag team match. Van Dam pinned Rock after Jericho accidentally nailed Rock with achair shot. After the match, Rock confronted Jericho in a backstage segment where Jericho attacked Rock.^[11] On the October 11 edition ofSmackDown!, Jericho defeated Van Dam to become the #1 contender for the WCW Championship at No Mercy.^[12]

At Unforgiven,Christian defeatedEdge to win theWWF Intercontinental Championship. Edge's eye was badly injured in the match. On the September 27 edition ofSmackDown!, Edge tried to attack Christian during his Intercontinental Championship match againstBradshaw but Christian escaped.^[13] On the October 1 edition ofRaw, Edge interrupted Christian andX-Pac while they were insulting the fans and insulted both of them. This led to Christian andX-Factor (X-Pac andAlbert) attacking Edge, untilAcolytes Protection Agency (Faarooq and Bradshaw) rescued Edge from the attack.^[14] On the October 4 edition ofSmackDown!, Edge and the APA defeated Christian and X-Factor in asix-man tag team match.^[10] On the October 8 edition ofRaw, it was announced that Christian would defend the Intercontinental Championship against Edge in aLadder match at No Mercy.^[11] On the October 18 edition ofSmackDown!, Alliance Commissioner William Regal added Christian as the newest member of The Alliance.^[15]

On the September 27 edition ofSmackDown!,Booker T andTest defeatedThe Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker andKane) to win theWCW Tag Team Championship.^[13] On the October 4 edition ofSmackDown!, Booker defeated Kane after interference by Test. Booker and Test assaulted Kane after the match until Undertaker rescued him from the double-team assault.^[10] On the October 8 edition ofRaw, Undertaker cost Booker and Test, the WCW Tag Team Championship againstHardy Boyz (Matt Hardy andJeff Hardy). After the match, Booker challenged Undertaker to a match at No Mercy. During a match betweenLita andMighty Molly, it was announced that Undertaker accepted Booker's challenge to a match at No Mercy.^[11] On the October 11 edition ofSmackDown!, Booker and Test interfered in Kane'sWWF European Championship match againstThe Hurricane and attacked him after the match, causing Undertaker to come out and rescue Kane from the attack. After the match, Test challenged Kane to a match at No Mercy.^[12]

On the October 11 edition ofSmackDown!, theDudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley andD-Von Dudley) defeatedBig Show andSpike Dudley to retain theWWF Tag Team Championship. After the match, the Dudley Boyz attacked Big Show with the WWF Tag Team Championship belts andsuplexed Spike on a table outside the ring.^[12] On the October 15 edition ofRaw, the Dudley Boyz defeated Big Show in aHandicap match. After the match,Tajiri rescued Big Show by attacking the Dudley Boyz.^[16] On the October 18 edition ofSmackDown!, Commissioner Mick Foley announced that the Dudley Boyz would defend the WWF Tag Team Championship against Big Show and Tajiri at No Mercy.^[15]

On the September 24 edition ofRaw is War,Alliance memberStacy Keibler confronted her partner,Torrie Wilson in a backstage segment asking her if she was involved with Tajiri, a WWF wrestler. Torrie told Stacy that no one needed to interfere in her personal matters. Later that night, Stacy and Torrie managed Tazz and Tajiri for their match respectively. Tazz won when Tajiri was distracted by a fight between Stacy and Torrie outside the ring.^[17] On the October 1 edition ofRaw is War, Tazz and Stacy defeated Tajiri and Torrie in amixed tag team match.^[14] On the October 4 edition ofSmackDown!, Torrie defeated Stacy in abikini contest. After the contest ended, Stacy attacked Torrie.^[10] This led to aLingerie match between the two at No Mercy.

Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, a pre-show ofSunday Night Heat was held.Acolytes Protection Agency (Faarooq andBradshaw) defeatedChris Kanyon andHugh Morrus in atag team match. Bradshaw pinned Kanyon after delivering him aClothesline from Hell. In the main event of Heat,Billy Kidman defended theWCW Cruiserweight Championship againstScotty 2 Hotty. Kidman pinned Scotty with abackslide and put his feet on the ropes for leverage to retain the Cruiserweight Championship.^[7]

AsSunday Night Heat concluded, theHardy Boyz (Matt Hardy andJeff Hardy) defended theWCW Tag Team Championship againstLance Storm andThe Hurricane. The Hardy Boyz were accompanied by Matt Hardy's girlfriendLita, while Storm and The Hurricane were accompanied byIvory and the Hurricane's kayfabe sidekickMighty Molly. The Hurricane and Storm double-teamed the Hardy Boyz for most of the match while the Hardy Boyz countered through their high-flying attacks. Near the end of the match, Lita battled Ivory and Mighty Molly. Jeff attacked Ivory but Storm attacked him from behind and applied aCanadian Maple Leaf. Lita performed aLita-canrana on Storm, giving the advantage to the Hardy Boyz. Matt delivered aTwist of Fate to The Hurricane and Jeff finished The Hurricane with aSwanton Bomb, allowing Matt to pin The Hurricane to retain the WCW Tag Team Championship.^[4][5][6][7]

The match that followed was betweenTest andKane. Kane dominated Test in the early goings through anelbow drop,Corner clotheslines and aPowerslam. The action spilled out to the outside of the ring, where Test nailed Kane in the head with aring bell in front of the refereeNick Patrick. Test began dominating Kane. He performed aSidewalk Slam and attempted to perform aDiving Elbow Drop but missed it. Kane delivered aNeckbreaker to Test and regained momentum. However, Test quickly made a comeback into the match and attempted to hit aPumphandle Slam on Kane but Kane countered it with a Sidewalk Slam. Kaneclotheslined Test out of the ring. Test pushed Kane into the ring post followed by aBig Boot. Test started bleeding from the mouth. He attempted another Big Boot but Kane ducked the move and performed aChokeslam for a near-fall. Kane attempted to hit aFlying Clothesline on Test but Test avoided the move and performed a Pumphandle Slam for a near-fall. Test followed with a Diving Elbow Drop to get another near-fall. Test brought a chair in the ring but Kanedrop-kicked the chair in Test's face and tried to use it but Nick Patrick took it away. Kane tried to hit Patrick with a Chokeslam but Test prevented Kane from performing the move and delivered him a Big Boot to win the match. After the match, an enraged Kane chokeslammed Patrick twice and finished him with aPowerbomb.^[4][5][6][7]

The third match was aLingerie Match betweenTorrie Wilson andStacy Keibler. BothDivas wrestled wearinglingerie.^[18] The match became acatfight as both Divas viciously battled against each other. Torrie performed aHandspringElbow on Stacy to pin her for the victory.

The fourth match was aLadder match for theWWF Intercontinental Championship asChristian defended the title againstEdge. Edge and Christian started fighting on the entrance rampway. Most of the early action occurred in the ringside until their fight reached the crowd. They returned to the ringside and started using ladder as a foreign object. Both Christian and Edge set up a ladder each and both of them started climbing their ladders at the same time. Edge and Christian started battling each other again as Edge kicked a chair into Christian's face. Edge set a third ladder in the ring. Edge propped up the ladder across two chairs and laid Christian on it. Edge performed aDiving Splash across the ladder on Christian. Edge climbed a ladder but Christian knocked him off through a ladder. Edge recovered and delivered Christian, aDiving Spear. Both men started climbing the ladder at the same time. The ladder fell and both men fell to the outside floor. Christian returned to the ring first and started climbing the ladder again. Edgelow blowed Christian with a chair and climbed the top of the ladder to hit Christian with aOne-man Con-chair-to on top of the ladder, causing Christian to fall down on the ring floor. Edge took advantage and retrieved the Intercontinental Championship belt to win the match and the championship.^[4][5][6][7]

The fifth match featured theDudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley andD-Von Dudley) defending theWWF Tag Team Championship againstBig Show andTajiri. As the match started, Dudley Boyz dominated Tajiri until Tajiri got momentum by performingKicks on Dudley Boyz. Bubba Ray eventually performed aBubba Bomb on Tajiri. Dudley Boyz continued to dominate Tajiri. At one point, Big Show tagged in but the referee did not see it. Dudley Boyz continued to assault Tajiri until Show tagged in and started dominating the match. He attempted to perform a Chokeslam on Bubba Ray but D-Von low blowed Big Show. Tajiri applied aTarantula, on D-Von but Bubba broke the hold. Tajiri delivered a Handspring Back Elbow to Dudley Boyz. He tried to blow Bubba Ray with a greenPoison Mist but Bubba Ray avoided it and the referee was hit instead. Big Show chokeslammed D-Von and attempted a pinfall but there was no referee to count the pinfall.Rhyno took advantage of the situation and interfered in the match. He hit Big Show with aGore and left. Tajiri hit D-Von with anEnzuigiri and finished him with aBuzzsaw Kick for a near-fall. Since Big Show was knocked out, Dudley Boyz double-teamed Tajiri and hit him with the3D, allowing D-Von to pin Tajiri to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship.^[4][5][6][7]

The sixth match was betweenBooker T andThe Undertaker. As The Undertaker got off his motorcycle, Booker T started attacking him. The match started when both men rolled into the ring and exchangedblows and kicks. The Undertaker started attacking Booker T's left arm and hit him withOld School. Booker T regained advantage in the match and sent him into the ring steps outside the ring. The action spilled to the outside where Booker continued to attack The Undertaker before returning to the ring. Booker T started dominating The Undertaker with aMissile Dropkick, aSpinning Heel Kick, a Sidewalk Slam and aKnee Drop before being hit with a Big Boot by The Undertaker. Booker T regained advantage and performed a Neckbreaker for a nearfall. Booker T climbed the top rope and jumped on The Undertaker but The Undertaker countered by performing a Big Boot for a nearfall. Booker T performed a Spinning Wheel Kick for a nearfall. The Undertaker proceeded by performing aRunning DDT for a nearfall. The Undertaker followed with a Corner Clothesline and aLegdrop for a nearfall. Booker Twhipped The Undertaker into the corner and hit him a Spinning Wheel Kick, sending him out of the ring. Booker T followed by performing aScissors Kick on The Undertaker for a nearfall. The Undertaker tried to hit Booker T with a Chokeslam but Booker T low blowed The Undertaker and started attacking him in the corner withMounted Punches. The Undertaker caught Booker T and performed aLast Ride to win the match.^[4][5][6][7]

The final match on theundercard featuredThe Rock defending theWCW Championship againstChris Jericho. As the match started, The Rock tried to perform aRock Bottom on Jericho but Jericho countered it into theWalls of Jericho but The Rock caught the ropes. Jericho hit The Rock with aSpringboard Dropkick through the ring apron. Jericho used several ofhis moves on The Rock and got several near-falls until The Rock made a comeback into the match by clotheslining Jericho. The Rock planted Jericho in the corner and delivered him aSuperplex. The Rock performed aSnapBelly to Belly Suplex and aSamoan Drop for a near-fall. The Rock and Jericho continued to assault each other and the action even spilled to the outside on numerous occasions until Jericho started mocking The Rock by using his moves. Jericho hit The Rock with his own finisher Rock Bottom, followed by aLionsault for a nearfall. Jericho hit The Rock with aOne-handed Bulldog. Jericho attempted to hit The Rock's own finisherPeople's Elbow but The Rock avoided the move and applied aSharpshooter on Jericho. Jericho reached the ropes and caught them. The Rock left the ring and removed the top of the Spanish announce table and removed the monitors. The Rock brought Jericho outside the ring and pulled him on the table and performed a Rock Bottom on the table. The action returned to the ring where The Rock hit Jericho with aSpinebuster and attempted to hit aPeople's Elbow, but Jericho countered it into the Walls of Jericho.Stephanie McMahon interfered in the match and came down to the ringside. She threw a chair in the ring. Jericho started chasing Stephanie. The Rock took advantage and hit Jericho with aSnap DDT. The Rock focused on Stephanie, pulled her into the ring and hit her with aRock Bottom. Jericho took advantage and grabbed The Rock from behind and performed his new finisher, theBreakdown on The Rock on the chair to pin him for the WCW Championship. After the match, The Rock grabbed the chair in his hand but gave it to Jericho and left.^[4][5][6][7]

Themain event was aTriple Threat for theWWF Championship.Stone Cold Steve Austin defended the title againstKurt Angle andRob Van Dam. In the early goings of the match, Angle dominated Austin and Van Dam but he could not gain momentum for so long. Austin and Van Dam started double-teaming Angle and Austin attempted to hit aStone Cold Stunner on Angle but Angle countered it into anAnkle Lock. Van Dam broke the hold until Austin and Van Dam began fighting with each other. Austin eventually began fighting with Angle and performed aCatapult on Angle into the steel steps outside the ring. Angle followed by throwing Austin into the crowd. Van Dam climbed the top rope and attempted to hit aFive-Star Frog Splash, but both men moved out of the way. Moments later, Austin hit a Stone Cold Stunner on Angle and attempted a pinfall but Van Dam broke up the pin. Van Dam set Austin up in the corner, and hit aCorkscrew Moonsault for a near-fall. Angle hit anAngle Slam on Van Dam and attempted a pinfall but Austin broke up the pin. Austin knocked Angle from the ring, and then went outside the ring after him. Austin and Angle duked it out on the outside, and Austin removed the top of the other announce table. He attempted to perform aPiledriver on Angle but Anglebackdropped him onto the announce table, which did not break. Van Dam then scored with a leap to the outside on Angle, as all three men laid on the outside. Suddenly,Vince McMahon came down to ringside. Van Dam and Angle were the first two men up, and they slugged it out inside the ring, where Van Dam hit Angle with a Spinning Wheel Kick. Van Dam climbed up the top rope, but Angle caught him with aSuper Belly-to-Belly Suplex. Austin finally got back into the ring, and hit another Stone Cold Stunner on Angle, but Angle fell outside the ring, so Austin turned his attention to Van Dam. McMahon got in the ring and nailed Austin in the back with a steel chair. Van Dam climbed up the top rope and performed a Five-Star Frog Splash on Austin, but Van Dam was injured, so he did not go for the pinfall. When he finally attempted the pinfall, Angle broke it up. Angle hit Van Dam with four consecutive Belly-to-Back Suplexes and an Angle Slam, but as he attempted the pinfall,Shane McMahon interfered in the match and threw Angle to the outside and into the ringpost. Shane and Vince then started going at it. Back in the ring, Austin hit a Stone Cold Stunner on Van Dam and pinned him to retain the WWF Championship.^{[4][19][5][6][7]}

Team WWF andThe Alliance continued their battle after No Mercy and The Alliance started sinking as a team. On the October 22 edition ofRaw, The Alliance lost four championships to WWF wrestlers –Rhyno lost theWCW United States Championship toKurt Angle,Billy Kidman lost theWCW Cruiserweight Championship toTajiri,The Hurricane lost theWWF European Championship toBradshaw and theDudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley andD-Von Dudley) lost theWWF Tag Team Championship toChris Jericho andThe Rock.^[20] On the October 25 episode ofSmackDown, Kidman, Rhyno, Hurricane and the Dudley Boyz were attacked and fired by The Alliance for losing their respective titles.^[21] On the October 29 edition ofRaw is War,Vince McMahon announced his team of WWF representatives to take on The Alliance atSurvivor Series. The team consisted of Chris Jericho, The Rock, Kurt Angle andThe Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker andKane). However, later that night, Team WWF's leading wrestler Kurt Angleturned on the WWF by helpingWCW OwnerShane McMahon defeat his father Vince in aStreet Fight. As a result, Angle joined The Alliance.^[22] On the November 1 edition ofSmackDown, Vince announced that Shane's team of Alliance representatives consisted ofStone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle,Booker T,Rob Van Dam and himself. Following this, Vince announced himself as Angle's replacement on Team WWF.^[23]Big Show would later replace Vince on Team WWF after Vince suffered a legitimate injury. On the November 5 edition of Raw, Jericho and Rock would have a rematch for the WCW Championship after losing the WWF Tag Team titles to Booker T and Test, with The Rock regaining the title via inside cradle. At Survivor Series, Team WWF defeated The Alliance in a Winner Takes All match when Angle turned on The Alliance and realigned himself with Team WWF. As a result, The Alliance was forced to disband.^[24]

The 2001 No Mercy was the final No Mercy held under the WWF name as the promotion was renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in May 2002.^[25] It was also the final No Mercy to be held before the introduction of thebrand extension in March 2002, in which the promotion divided its roster between theRaw andSmackDown! brands where wrestlers were exclusively assigned to perform.^[26]

• No Mercy 2001 official website

• October 2001 in the United States
• WWE No Mercy
• 2001 in St. Louis
• Professional wrestling shows in St. Louis
• 2001 WWF pay-per-view events

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