Welcome to The LAW's "No Mercy" report, the show is taking place from the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon.

8:00 PM
The opening video is really out there with a "Leave it Beaver" theme, which had zero connection to the theme but made me laugh so it worked.

8:02 PM
We are going to hear a lot of Metallica tonight. Todd Grisham opens the show - who we will not be hearing a lot from as Grisham and Striker have a grand total of 1 matches on their bout sheet tonight.

8:03 PM
Never mind - Matt Striker is not there tonight and Jerry Lawler will fill in tonight for the ECW match.

Matt Hardy Vs Mark Henry for the ECW Title is opening the show.

Grisham acknowledges that "Hardy is a big fan favorite tonight" - as opposed to his usual heel reactions? Lawler adds that Hardy has to believe in himself tonight.

8:06 PM
Lawler notes that he remembers being in Mark Henry's first match in the WWE (September 1996 Pay Per View), which is scary that Henry has been doing this for 12-years.

8:09 PM
Hardy is working over the right leg of Henry.

8:13 PM
Hardy hits a side effect and the crowd is really into the near falls by Hardy and Henry is doing a good job selling the right leg. They do a good finish with Henry attempting the World's Strongest Slam but Hardy punches the bad right leg and lands on his feet to his the Twist of Fate and gets the win. Good opener.

8:17 PM
Backstage Eve Torres is with Triple H (who is using his cell phone) and Jeff Hardy. Hunter says he just voted for himself to win on the WWE text messaging poll but he's rooting for Hardy tonight. Hunter says he's a fan of Hardy and he wants to beat him at his best. Hardy says he will take pride in taking Hunter's title - Jeff Hardy doesn't have to talk...ever.

8:18 PM
Beth Phoenix Vs Candice Michelle for the Women's Title is next

Michelle's new outfit themes to be a Mrs. Wrestling II inspired get up minus the mask.

8:21 PM
Phoenix works on the bad left collarbone of Michelle.

8:24 PM
Michelle pulled off a spinng heel kick and is selling the shoulder.

They do a spot where Santino Marella (at ringside) messes up a spot for Phoenix and then yanks Phoenix out of the ring to break the pinfall and she spills out onto the arena.

Michelle goes for the unprettier but Phoenix turns it into the Glam Slam and gets the win. Smart to book this short and this was fine with a few off spots in the opening minute.

8:27 PM
Promo by Kane in the boiler room. Kane says he can already hear the people cheering for Rey and their "empty faith". He says Rey and the fans will finally see what they really are tonight...monsters.

Rey Mysterio Vs Kane with Mysterio's mask on the line is next

8:29 PM
Rey comes out wearing a La Parka style mask and then gives that one to a fan. He should have come out with a Blue Demon Jr. mask as a jab at Villano IV.

I'm sure this theme music changed weeks ago but I only now noticed they've dropped the Finger 11 theme.

8:31 PM
Michael Cole informs us that Rey is wearing blue and gold, which represent the Aztec Warriors and their spirit. Mike Tenay this was not.

8:33 PM
Rey hits a springboard dropkick where he almost loses his balance on the top rope but connects with Kane, attempts a 619 but is clotheslined by Kane.

8:34 PM
WWE legal should be on stuff like this when you're trying to sell a Pay Per View based on its premise.

8:35 PM
Cole reminds that us that Kane is a "fungus in the marshes of people's psyches"

Lawler adds that Kane is not only inflicting pain on Rey but all the people watching this around the world - I'm actually fine.

8:39 PM
Rey hits a moonsault off the top rope and his right knee caught Kane's face.

8:40 PM
Rey avoids a chokeslam and jumps off the second rope to attempt a DDT which was one of those "seems simple enough on paper but not so much on execution" spots.

8:42 PM
Rey hits a 619 onto the leg of Kane on the apron - Kane goes to the floor. Rey jumps off the top rope to the outside and is hit with a chair on his landing by Kane and Kane is DQ'd. Guess how the crowd reacted?

Worse.

8:43 PM
They are doing an injury angle with Rey knocked out from the chair.

Metallica plays in the background as we get the information for the text message poll between HHH and Hardy winning.

8:44 PM
MVP is backstage and on the phone complaining about not being on the PPV. He tells his agent he's not sure if Vickie Guerrero is at the show - as he stands next to a door that says "SMACKDOWN GENERAL MANAGER". He knocks and Big Show answers and he won't let him talk to Vickie and she calls for Big Show. This guy is A-1 comedy nerd on this show nowadays.

8:47 PM
MVP comes out to the ring. He compares himself to LeBron James and Manny Ramirez (I wonder if they each gave shit to a doctor administering a urine test too?)

MVP is interrupted by Randy Orton. Orton says he doesn't believe they have met and then asks MVP if he knows why this happens to him every month? MVP says he doesn't recognize Orton without a sling and his MRI results and that he needs to be given the ball. Orton replies that MVP would drop the ball. MVP says he's not on "Raw" and won't be suspended if he attacks Orton. This brings out Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes and Manu making it 5 heels arguing instead of 2 and killing more time.

Fans are loudly chanting "Boring" and Rhodes acknowledges it. Rhodes says Orton is the type of guy who graduated High School but didn't get into college and just hangs out at his old school to act "cool".

Orton tells the 3rd Generation guys to do half of what he's done and than he'll be impressed. MVP jokes that Orton will be back some time in the year 2012. MVP puts over Rhodes, DiBiase and Manu but DiBiase cuts him off and says MVP isn't in their class because his father was not a wrestler. MVP says he makes more money than all of them combined and DiBiase reminds him of who his father is. MVP says he will remember this conversation.

CM Punk and Kofi Kingston come out and this sets up a 6 man tag and the crowd is hot for the match being made. They go to the ring and MVP runs in the ring as Punk and Kingston watch him get beat and then Punk and Kingston attack DiBiase, Rhodes and Manu. MVP is being booked to be a total dolt right now.

8:58 PM
Metallica plug # 3.

8:59 PM
JBL Vs Batista in a # 1 Contender's Match is next

9:01 PM
Cole notes that JBL has had a lot of personal and professional problems with the state of the economy but can correct all of that with a win tonight. So that whole bail out bill could have been avoided with the Government getting a World Title shot at "Cyber Sunday"? I guess we have a legitimate figure for the worth of the Raw World Title - $700 BILLION DOLLARS. No wonder Jericho is so happy right now.

9:02 PM
This should be booked for a 60 second squash and put a ton of steam on Batista.

Lawler explains the "irony" of Batista being from Washington and JBL upset at Washington being to blame for the economy.

9:04 PM
Not doing my idea.

9:04 PM
Batista hits the spear but JBL rolls out of the ring.

"I thought this match would be over early" - Jerry Lawler
Me too Jerry. He's from Memphis - he knows what would draw.

9:05 PM
Cole doesn't go more than 60 seconds without reminding us that this is a #1 contender's match.

This match is all Batista offense.

Batista hits the Batista Bomb and gets the win. Pretty much a 6-minute squash.

9:10 PM
JBL is laid out in the ring and grabs a microphone. He says this has been the most unbelievable week of his life. He thought he would win and regain the World Title. He says he has to be honest with his fans that his heart was not in this match tonight. He then does an about face saying that he wants to thank Congress for passing a bill so that he can keep his money at the expense of the tax payers. He thanks Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi for passing the bill.

Cryme Tyme's music hits and they appear on the screen. They say they are going to take JBL's promo out on the town. All the Diva's come out and dance with Cryme Tyme and Sgt. Slaughter join them. Mickie James does the "Money, Money, Yeah, Yeah" deal - this was an atrocious segment. This PPV is screaming "time filler".

9:17 PM
Big Show Vs The Undertaker is next - I hope this one is short.

9:34 PM
'Taker is hustling in this match. 'Taker attempted a suplex but it turned into an Implant DDT type of move and Show landed almost square on his head - it looked terribly scary with all that weight he is beyond lucky to be okay.

9:35 PM
Show hits 'Taker with two big rights to get over his boxer gimmick. Charles Robinson stops the fight ruling that 'Taker was KO'd. Fans vehemently boo the finish - I'm guessing not a lot of crossover from the Sport Fight promotion for this show in Oregon.

9:45 PM
Triple H Vs Jeff Hardy for the WWE Title is next. The text message poll has 72% people rooting for Hardy and 28% for Triple H.

9:55 PM
Hardy attempts a somersault plancha over the top rope and Triple H steps out of the way and Hardy lands right on his back. It's bumps like that which will make Hardy cringe in 15 years.

10:07 PM
Crowd is going nuts for the finish with Hardy hitting a Whisper in the Wind, a Twist of Fate and Swanton. During the pin attempt after the Swanton, Hunter rolls up Hardy and gets the pin. Crowd was super hot for the title switch tease. No Vladimir Kozlov at all during this. Very good match.

10:15 PM
Chris Jericho Vs Shawn Michaels in a Ladder Match for the World Title closes the show and they have lots of time

10:17 PM
Long pause awaiting Michaels to come out - I was starting to think Seth Petruzelli was coming out

10:25 PM
Jericho took a ladder to the face and his mouth is bloody. Definitely hardway with the "no blood" policy in effect.

10:26 PM
Jericho had his knee wrapped in the ladder and Michaels dropped the ladder onto the canvas in a position that didn't look good for Jericho's leg.

10:31 PM
Jericho is sent to the floor and Michaels drops the ladder from the ring onto a prone Jericho on the floor.

Michaels sets up a larger ladder on the floor and begins to beat Jericho on the outside with another ladder. Michaels clears the "Smackdown" announce table to place Jericho on. Jericho recovers and fights Michaels on the ladder. Jericho and Michaels crash through the table but Michaels went face first and looked like he missed the majority of the table.  

10:38 PM
Jericho pins Michaels under the ladder and climbs but Michaels tips the ladder and Jericho takes a big fall to the outside landing feet first and got just as big a pop and looked just as good as a crazy back bump that would have taken years off his career. This allows Michaels to climb the ladder and touches the title but Jericho tips the ladder and Michaels crotches himself on the top rope.

10:40 PM
Jericho gets his leg caught in the ladder but Michaels can't get the title as Lance Cade interferes but is then superkicked by Michaels. Jericho and Michaels are both back on the ladder and they have a tug of war spot for the title and Jericho headbutts Michaels, who falls and Jericho grabs the title for the win. Great match!

Last two matches really made the show.