3 Things I'm glad I was wrong about on No Mercy

Dolph wins!
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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In my predictions blog for No Mercy, I made a few mistakes. I've said it before I like being wrong on my prediction posts. Here are three things I miscalculated and am happier as a result.

1) Dolph Ziggler won the Intercontinental Championship from the Miz. As I mentioned in the original blog, I was torn on this one. Between the online rumors and my own preferences for the storyline to proceed, I figured Ziggler would lose and move into a producer role backstage, eventually making his in-ring return. However, Dolph won and I couldn't be happier. I'm hoping Miz and Maryse continue working together and the characters for each develops. They're two of the hottest heels on the SmackDown Live brand.

Welcome back Luke Harper
Courtesy: WWE

2) Bray Wyatt beat Randy Orton. I had a feeling Luke Harper would be returning at this event. But I still picked Orton just because I usually never bet against the Viper. Wyatt needed the win and the return of Harper now that Erick Rowan is out with an injury for months to come. Now if only we can get an actual Sister Abigal to appear, the family will be almost complete.

Rhyno-Slater retain
Courtesy: WWE

3) The Usos did not win the tag team titles. I like the combo of Heath Slater and Rhyno, but I never expected them to carry the belts for any extended period of time. Slater has worked hard for years and I'm glad to see that has paid off. Plus Rhyno is a deserving talent who probably never had a chance to shine during his original run in WWE.

I picked the winners in the other contests, expect for the Women's Championship match. When I wrote the post, Becky Lynch was still scheduled to defend the title. Can't wait to see what happens next with the stories as we head into Survivor Series (assuming SmackDown Live will be a part of the show).

I was wrong about AJ's victory

AJ wins the gold
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Last week I wrote about AJ Styles NOT winning the WWE World Championship over the weekend at Backlash. Of course he did the exact opposite and beat Dean Ambrose for the championship. Good for AJ, years of hard work around the world has paid off with the ultimate prize in the wrestling business.

In my post last week I stated AJ would win the belt before the end of the year, I just didn't think Sunday night was the right time for it. My reasonings may have been weak, including the crownings of first time tag team and women's champions. My fear was an AJ title win would get lost in the shuffle. Plus I wanted Ambrose to have a little more time on the top of the mountain. 

AJ in motion
Courtesy: WWE

But clearly I was wrong and I'm cool with that. AJ's victory, although not "clean", was well-deserved. Up until SummerSlam I wondered if Styles would be one of the Superstars added to the list of guys who never won "the big one" while in WWE. I'm glad that is no longer the case.

Becky Lynch wins!
Courtesy: WWE

While my pick was wrong in the main event, I did nail the tag team title match with Rhyno and Heath Slater winning and I wavered between Becky Lynch and Natalya winning the new women's title. I'm satisfied that a deserving Becky is champ. I'm not going to lie, I worry about the future for Bray Wyatt. While Kane is no chump, Bray needed a win Sunday night more than the Big Red Machine. The Miz continues to shine and is quickly moving onto my shortlist of Wrestler of the Year for the Centy Awards. Yeah, I said it...

The future looks bright for the SmackDown Live brand. I'm excited to see what happens next with AJ, Becky, The Miz, Rhyno & Slater all holding the belts.

Forget about Al, there's a different gore entering politics

Terrance "Rhyno" Gerin
Courtesy: @Rhyno313 on Twitter

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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This has nothing to do with former Vice President Al Gore or anyone in his family. Instead it's about a wrestler who's finishing maneuver is called the Gore. Of course I'm talking about Rhyno.

Rhyno on NXT
Courtesy: WWE

The WWE Superstar and former ECW champion has recently been brought back to the main roster and is on SmackDown Live. Next week he'll face Heath Slater. But in November he may have a bigger challenge on his hands. Rhyno, real name Terrance Gerin, won the Republican primary in Michigan for the 15th House District Seat. It's unlikely Rhyno gored his opponents, Paul Sophiea and Richard Johnson, but he did win the race with 38% of the vote.

He'll go on to the general election in November and face democrat Abdullah Hammoud. Gerin said, "I understand some people might be hesitant thinking it's a gimmick, but my friends and family know my love for this country, my passion for politics and my love for helping people out. If elected, that becomes my number one priority." 

Courtesy: WWE

Rhyno was actually at SmackDown Live in Nashville, Tennessee while people in his community were casting their ballots. He was in a brief segment with Slater and Daniel Bryan, taking out the loud mouthed Slater with a gore. The CBS affiliate in Detroit has more on Gerin's plans for the statehouse here.

I recently wrote another blog about Wrestling with politics looking at WWE Hall of Famer (celebrity wing) Donald Trump's bid for President of the United States and other wrestlers who have attempted to or have successfully entered the world of politics.