Rasslin’ Roundtable for WWE No Mercy 2017 PPV

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Here is the Pulse Wrestling crew’s match by match preview and predictions!

WWE Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Braun Strowman

Spain: For the first time in a long time, Brock is being booked as an underdog. That alone adds a great dimension to this already-awesome match. I’m not quite sure whether the powers that be will put the belt on Strowman this early, but it may well be time. Lesnar’s going to be off TV for a while, and it might do the show some good to have a champ who’s around a lot. Besides, Braun is a perfect replacement for Brock as champion: the guy is just as (if not more) monstrous and there will still be a seemingly-impossible peak for any challenger to scale. If they’re going to put the belt on Strowman, I doubt that there’s a better time than this Sunday.
Winner (and new WWE Universal Champion): BRAAAAAAUUUUUUUUN!!!

Michael: This seems like the perfect opportunity to take the belt away from Lesnar for a bit. He’ll be off TV for a little while and Strowman is the hot hand right now.
Winner: Braun Strowman (new champion)

Widro: I think it will be a huge match but I expect Brock to walk away as champ.
Winner: Lesnar

John Cena vs. Roman Reigns

Spain: John Cena has reached the point where he can take any loss. He is at that level. Roman Reigns is nowhere near that stage and, with Cena’s movements beyond this PPV being unknown, it seems like the best course of action is to give Roman the win. He can build off this, whether as a face or a heel, and it will serve the Universal Championship scene well in time.
Winner: Roman Reigns

Michael: Honestly, I do not think either guy gains anything from a victory here. Also, it sounds like Cena is going to be absent for a while afterwards as well. In my Fantasy Book column, I had this match ending with a weak double count-out and I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens.
Winner: Reigns, I guess. Bonus prediction – The WWE decides to finally try to turn one of these guys full-tilt heel, but that person winds up getting cheered like crazy because they are beating on the other person the crowd hates.

Widro: This has been my least favorite program on WWE TV in years, I hate both characters so much.
Winner: Reigns

WWE Raw Tag Team Championship
Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins (c) vs. Cesaro and Sheamus

Spain: This title storyline has been really good for both Ambrose and Rollins, and it seems a little too early to swap the belts around again. Whilst I’m confident that Sheamus and Cesaro will be champs again before the year’s out, I see the current title holders retaining on Sunday.
Winners (and still WWE RAW Tag Team Champions): Ambrose and Rollins

Michael: As much as I would like Cesaro and Sheamus to regain the belts, I don’t see it happening. The crowd reactions to the 2/3 Shield is too good at the moment.
Winner: Ambrose and Rollins

Widro: Not time to switch the titles again
Winner: Ambrose & Rollins

Finn Bálor vs. Bray Wyatt

Spain: It’s become painfully apparent that Bray Wyatt is incapable of doing anything with a victory. Win or lose, his stock never changes and he accomplishes nothing. Finn, at least, can benefit from getting a win over Wyatt.
Winner: Finn Bálor.

Michael: I am not quite sure why this match is even happening. It seemed that Balor beat Wyatt pretty handily at the last PPV. I’m bored with this program though, so let’s just let this be the end of it. And why did they have to drag Goldust into this thing?
Winner: Balor

Widro: Bray Wyatt is not good.
Winner: Balor

WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Neville (c) vs. Enzo Amore

Spain: There’s genuinely not a world in which I can see Amore as the champion, and damn sure not one in which he does so by beating such a powerful figure as Neville. Expect this one to go a couple of minutes if we’re lucky.
Winner (and still WWE Cruiserweight Champion): Neville

Michael: And the punishment tour for Enzo Amore continues. It sure seems like the WWE is trying to squeeze whatever they can out of this dude before releasing him. Should be nothing more than a squash for Neville.
Winner: Neville

Widro: Would be shocked to see a title change here
Winner: Neville

Fatal 5-Way match for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley vs. Nia Jax vs. Emma

Spain: This match seems geared towards Bliss retaining, as the format favours a quick pin and a surprise winner. And sure, by that logic they could put the belt on Emma this Sunday, but let’s keep ourselves in the realms of sanity here. Look to see Bliss pick her spot, take advantage of the perfect situation and have her stock rise even more.
Winner (and still WWE RAW Women’s Champion): Alexa Bliss

Michael: I know I’ve missed a few segments on Raw the past few weeks, but how did this thing turn into a 5-way match? Let’s see… Banks and Bayley will cancel each other out (with a possible turn from one of them)… Bliss and Jax will cancel each other out… Until Jax crushes Bliss and Emma steals the pin to shake up the division a bit. Give Emma a chance, indeed.
Winner: Emma (new champion)

Widro: These are usually excuses to have the champ win anyway.
Winner: Bliss

WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Miz (c) (with Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas) vs. Jason Jordan

Spain: I quite like Jason Jordan, but right now the Miz is one of the best things about RAW. And, sure, he doesn’t need the Intercontinental Championship for that, but it absolutely completes the picture. Plus, with the Miztourage there you have all the excuse you need for Jordan to take the loss. Maybe Jordan will win it down the road, but not at No Mercy.
Winner (and still WWE Intercontinental Champion): The Miz

Michael: I believe Jordan gets booed heartily here, making Miz the de facto face. Let’s say Miz wins and the seeds for the Jason Jordan versus Daddy Angle program begins.
Winner: The Miz

Widro: Jordan is headed for a heel turn sooner than later.
Winner: Miz

Jonathan Widro is the owner and founder of Inside Pulse. Over a decade ago he burst onto the scene with a pro-WCW reporting style that earned him the nickname WCWidro. Check him out on Twitter for mostly inane non sequiturs