WWE.com
Winner: Heath Slater
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about how Heath Slater’s character was beginning to fall flat. After winning the SmackDown tag titles and his contract, there was nothing more to showcase for Slater. Every match had turned into the same story of Slater taking a beating, and Rhyno saving the day.
However, in their first PPV title defense, Slater showed the world he was more than the beauty in peril. The One Man Band did more than to just hang in there and take a beating. Of course, The Usos made it almost seem like they were going back with the title. However, Slater put in one of his best performances in the ring in recent times.
That and the fact that Slater and Rhyno still have their tag titles intact makes them absolute winners. A lot of people expected them to drop the belts to Jimmy and Jey, but creative has entrusted the former Nexus member to carry his charisma to the ring along with those tag titles.
At No Mercy, Slater evolved into a fighting champion and a winner.