WWE No Mercy 2016: How to Book PPV’s Main Event

A.J Styles is set to face John Cena and Dean Ambrose in a triple threat match at No Mercy. What are the best booking options with long-term effects?

After the events that unveiled in the first SmackDown following Backlash, we have AJ Styles facing John Cena and Dean Ambrose in a Triple Threat match for the WWE World Championship at No Mercy.

Despite facing two of the fiercest competitors on the SmackDown roster, Styles needs to go over. His title reign has to be built on the momentum he gains from No Mercy. The Phenomenal One won the belt from Ambrose after a stellar match during Backlash PPV. The former ROH and IWGP champion have had a brilliant first year in the company. He deserves to cap it off with a long world title reign spanning to the next year. Losing the title in his first attempt at retaining it will be poor booking.

Cena will likely be on another hiatus by mid-October, as he’ll be off to shoot the second season of American Grit. Thus it is only logical to state The Face That Runs the Place shouldn’t win the title at No Mercy. How can a title as prestigious as the WWE title not be showcased every week on SmackDown?

More than anything else, if Cena wins the title, he will tie Flair’s 16 world title reigns. That would be a tremendous achievement and an unexplained absence would not be a proper way to celebrate that.

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For some reason, Ambrose’s world title reign wasn’t as red-hot as many would have expected. However, last night on SmackDown, when Dean was once again in chase mode, there was a fire in his eyes. This was the Lunatic Fringe the WWE universe was familiar with. There was a sense of unpredictability about him and his intentions. Dean topped it off by taking out Cena at the end of the show.

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Ambrose’s mad antics were on full display during the match as well. He was adamant on tagging in his partner despite taking heavy punishment. This is the Dean Ambrose that haunted Seth Rollins for months. This is the Dean Ambrose SmackDown needs. Ambrose needs to remain as Styles’ number one contender even after No Mercy.

As for Cena, considering he’ll be gone for quite a while, it is best to play that up as a storyline injury at the hands of Ambrose. The animosity between the two is clear and visible. It would be wise to have Cena take the pin as this would still enable Ambrose to be in the chase for gold. Not to mention, Ambrose is still guaranteed a one on one rematch for the title. He needs to stay unpinned to retain credibility after No Mercy.

Ambrose should nail Cena with Dirty Deeds or a flying elbow on the announce table, putting him out of action. Following this, a recovered Styles can take advantage of the situation, take out Ambrose and throw him out of the ring. Styles can then take his time with Cena and eventually pin Cena once more.

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An ending like this will give a logical explanation to Cena’s absence and another opportunity for Dean, who was so close this time. Creative can even play up the angle of Cena still not being able to outsmart Styles. Styles can then go on an intense rivalry with Dean and any other future challengers riding on the momentum he gains from this match.