WWE Live show results
January 18, 2015
Houston, Tex.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

About 10 minutes before showtime, Tony Chimel introduced the show and plugged a Fans's Choice Divas match of a one-on-one singles match or six-Divas tag match during the show. The vote was through Twitter and text. A running tally flashed on the giant video board above the ring showing a six-Divas match firmly in the lead, 86-14 percent.

A few minutes before showtime, Houston Rockets star Dwight Howard was introduced to the ring with local radio DJs. Howard cut a brief Ric Flair-inspired promo to fire up the crowd. He asked if they're ready for some "wrestling." Refreshing to hear that word at a WWE show. After the National Anthem was recognized, Chimel introduced the show.

Big reaction for the tag champs Usos out of the gate. On-stage, The Miz cut a promo heeling on the crowd, then called the Usos two "nincompoops" undeserving of the belts. Uso responded with some misleading info about their Tag Title victory over Miz and Damien Sandow being on WWE Network. Pretty sure recent Raws are not available. After a long stall for Miz to do an interaction bit with the audience, the bell sounded to begin the match.

(1) WWE tag champs The Usos beat The Miz & Damien Sandow at 11:10 to retain the Tag Titles. They did all of the Miz & Sandow comedy bits with Sandow intentionally throwing himself to the mat and floor to sell the effects on Miz. Back in the ring, Sandow finally tagged himself in and did Miz's reality check, but Miz tagged himself back in. Uso came back with the corner butt bomb, but completely missed Miz's head. Zero contact momentarily took the crowd out of the match. They re-built to a finish of Uso kicking out of a Skullcrushing Finale for a surprisingly close nearfall on a house show, then Uso hitting a Superfly Splash for the win. Lengthy opening match & promo segment that engages the family/kids-oriented crowd.

(2) Sin Cara beat Tyson Kidd at 10:36. Cold match, so they did the basic heel/face routine of Kidd acting disrespectful and Cara playing to the crowd to engage the audience. It worked to get heat on Kidd acting like a punk to take control of the match. Kidd was also pretty good working over Cara to build to the comeback. Northern Lights suplex got a two count, but Kidd responded with the springboard elbow and Sharpshooter. Cara made the bottom rope, though. Cara came back with a nice small package roll-through into a one-hand powerbomb. Top-rope Swanton ended it. Really impressive WWE-style house show match.

Lana delivered a message on behalf of U.S. champion Rusev to Roman Reigns on the video board.

Curtis Axel was out for the next match. Axel said he's arrived, did some random Rick Rude hip-swiveling, and followed with Miz's loser heel promo on the crowd. Jack Swagger's music interrupted to defend America. "We the People" was over on the way to the ring. No Zeb Colter.

(3) Jack Swagger beat Curtis Axel via submission at 5:59. Axel jumped Swagger before the bell, so ref Charles Robinson got separation before calling for the bell. Swagger landed a clothesline on the floor, but Swagger cut him off back in the ring. Axel tried to show some personality mocking Swagger's act, but Swagger locked him in the Patriot and got the tap out.

WWE ran the video package on Connor the Crusher. The video noted that over $200,000 has been raised for his pediatric research fund.

WWE Network video plug: vehicular damage through the years.

Next out was Adam Rose with a small contingent of Rosebuds. About 10 in total. Justin Gabriel cut off the party to begin the next match.

(4) Justin Gabriel beat Adam Rose at 3:20. Gabriel won with a springboard moonsault for the pin. Rose's act is not connecting with the crowd, as they're not sure what to make of Rose randomly yelling and pointing at his followers. Rose eventually just chucked two Buds into the ring apron to signal that he's a heel. After taking the loss, Rose was a poor sport yelling at the Buds before walking past the poor souls to the back.

The U.S. Title match is going on before intermission. Our first were Rusev and Lana to antagonize the crowd by dogging on Houston sports. D-Howard, who was on the front row watching all of the matches, stood up to challenge this assertion to a pop. Lana told him to sit down. She continues by plugging Rusev's Royal Rumble quest. This set up the big heat transfer to Roman Reigns, whose music got a superstar pop. Big-time reaction as he came through the center of the arena as opposed to a side entrance. Without the TV time restrictions, he could do the long intro, which included one lady getting a little frisky with him.

During formal ring intros, it was 80 percent big cheers for Reigns with some trailing vocal males booing.

(5) Roman Reigns beat U.S. champion Rusev (w/Lana) via DQ at 17:15; Rusev retained the U.S. Title. Reigns got in his signature secondary offense early on, then Rusev cut him off and went to work as Lana jawed with Howard and ringside fans. In the ring, Rusev controlled the pace and fan interaction quite well, drawing boos and "USA" chants. Big roller-coaster of nearfalls, false finishes, and Rusev teasing walking away led to Rusev nailing the belt shot for the DQ. Afterward, Reigns finally got a spear he teased twice earlier in the match to get his music on the way out. Rusev was really good leading the match. Very impressive. Reigns was solid and he looked more
comfortable in the ring in the house show format.

[Intermission. Chimel tossed t-shirts into the crowd after plugging merchandise. At ringside, Dwight Howard was very fan-friendly posing for pics with fans during the whole break. Audio soundtrack was provided by Fozzy and Taylor Swift. Video packages followed on Randy Savage, WrestleMania Reading Challenge, WWE Network, and the WWE World Title tied to the Royal Rumble. On the other side of the break is the six-Divas tag, Chris Jericho, and Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt.]

The return date to Houston is Tuesday, June 2 for a Smackdown taping.

Video promo: Bray Wyatt warned Dean Ambrose to run.

(6) Naomi & Paige & Emma beat Alicia Fox & Cameron & Summer Rae at 7:03 in a six-Divas tag match. Summer took a swipe at Howard on the way to the ring, establishing her team as the heel trio. The heels isolated Paige, then Naomi took the hot tag. Chaos broke out, the ref got rolled over, the ref posed in the corner, the heels got upset, and Naomi hit Rear View on Fox for the win.

Chris Jericho was out next for the Highlight Reel (sans props). Big pop for Jericho's trademark theme music calling back to an era of big stars. Jericho talked up his history in Houston, ran down The Authority, noted he cannot call Stephanie a h- anymore, and wondered aloud if he should run WWE. Cesaro interrupted to say that's ridiculous, as no one wants to see Jericho in charge. A fight broke out and the match was on.

(7) Chris Jericho beat Cesaro at 9:17. Solid singles match that Jericho won with the Codebreaker. Interestingly, Cesaro teasing and later executing the Big Swing drew boos. Either respect/concern for Jericho about to take the move or a play-along crowd booing the heel trying to use a cool move. Jericho posed for the crowd on the way out.

(8) Dean Ambrose beat Bray Wyatt at 14:08 in a Street Fight. Basic exchanges early on as the crowd waited for weapon-based action. Six minutes in, Bray and Dean introduced standard fare weapons. The ringside doctor sold concern, playing a role in the match story trying to enhance the drama. Bray, in control, sat down in a chair opposite Dean also sitting down in a chair. Bray taunted him, then poled Dean with the kendo stick to the face in the corner. Fans knew a move with that kind of supposed impact to the face should have been it, but Dean kicked out of a pin and the match continued. It's why it's not worth doing the move. Dean then answered the fans's call for a table, sliding the weapon into the ring as Bray sold on the mat. But, Bray put Dean through the table with a uranage. It was also only good for a two count. Bray slid his own table into the ring, but Dean cut him off and nailed a top-rope elbow through the table. Dean followed with Dirty Deeds for the pin and the win. Standard street fight they've had for a few months with the crowd more into wanting to see weapons than Bray get any sort of comeuppance since he doesn't really play a heel anymore. He's just Bray Wyatt.

Overall, strong house show. Mostly good matches and everyone worked hard to put on a show without the restrictions of TV limitations and mid-match commercial breaks. You can see why Jericho wanted to come back just to work house shows in a fan-friendly environment where he's a big deal.

Attendance was about 5,000 for a Sunday evening show. The lower bowl was full and the upper levels were tarped off. The show went three hours in length with intermission. A number of fans started to leave after Jericho's match, which felt like the natural conclusion to the show.

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