No Mercy (2007) — WWE pay-per-view event

Main storyline and title developments

The night is remembered particularly for dramatic shifts involving the WWE Championship. At the start of the broadcast a new champion was declared when Randy Orton was announced as the titleholder vacated by the previous occupant, John Cena. Orton later lost the championship to Triple H, and by the end of the evening Orton reclaimed the title in a high-stakes Last Man Standing match. These rapid changes were a central talking point for fans and commentators following the show.

Key matches and stipulations

The card combined championship defenses with unusual match types. Highlights included:

• Punjabi Prison match for the World Heavyweight Championship: champion Batista faced challenger The Great Khali in one of WWE's uncommon enclosed-structure matches, which emphasizes confinement and escape rather than pinfall or submission.
• WWE Women's Championship: Candice Michelle defended against Beth Phoenix, a bout that showcased the division's athletic and character contrasts and the ongoing efforts to elevate women's matches on the pay-per-view card.
• ECW Championship: CM Punk battled Big Daddy V for the ECW title, representing the brand extension format then in use by WWE and offering a different stylistic presentation from the main roster.

Background and booking context

No Mercy (2007) sat within WWE's mid‑season schedule and served to conclude several short-term story arcs while setting up future angles. The decision to have multiple WWE Championship reigns in a single night—culminating in a Last Man Standing confrontation—was part of a deliberate creative choice to generate shock value and to reposition key performers. Specialty matches such as the Punjabi Prison were used to underline the size and physical contrast between competitors and to provide a spectacle distinct from standard singles matches.

Reception and legacy

The event attracted attention for its booking choices and the spectacle of its stipulation matches. Critics and fans debated the merits of rapid title changes and the use of elaborate match types, with some praising the dramatic shifts and others questioning their long‑term narrative payoff. In terms of legacy, No Mercy (2007) remains notable among WWE pay-per-views of that period for the number of championship transitions and for staging a high-profile Punjabi Prison match in a major arena.

For further details about the series and related WWE programming, see the No Mercy event history and articles on the individual championships and performers linked here: No Mercy series, WWE Women's Championship, and additional performer profiles and match type summaries available through WWE archival resources and fan & media coverage that documented the 2007 season.