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SHOW RESULTS - 8/16 WWE in Fargo, N.D.: Reigns vs. Wyatt caps the weekend, Big Show steals the show, NXT star in strong women's match, thin roster exposed on the undercard

Aug 16, 2015 - 11:59:45 PM
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WWE Live show results
August 16, 2015
Fargo, N.D. at the Fargodome
Report by Ryan Shol, PWTorch reader


We got a bit of a raw deal with a very weak card tonight, though I still enjoyed myself. The crowd was sold out on the floor, but only 50 percent full on the elevated stands. I'd say 60-65 percent full. The crowd was a bit lethargic and only really got into things here and there.

(1) R-Truth beat "King" Wade Barrett via pinfall. Pretty much what you've seen on TV. Truth warmed up the crowd to start things off with his freestyle intro. The crowd did give Barrett the reactions he was looking for and booed him often. I don't remember much of this match as it was largely forgettable. The crowd was solidly behind Truth and loved booing Barrett. That's about it.

(2) Naomi (w/Sasha Banks and Tamina) beat Bayley via pinfall after the Rearview. My favorite match, as I was interested to see the crowd's reaction to the mostly unknown Bayley. A solid match with nothing the level of the NXT Women's work, but there were no botches and Naomi and Bayley had good chemistry despite not working together before live. Naomi hit all her moves while Bayley also hit all her spots except the Belly-to-Bayley. The crowd was more engaged for this bell-to-bell than most of the matches on the card. The story of match was Team B.A.D. having no respect for Bayley and laughing in her face at the beginning, then using outside interference to maintain an advantage. The team ultimately secured the win after Sasha distracted the ref, who missed a three count for Bayley rolling up Naomi. This led to Bayley knocking Sasha off the apron but turning around into the Rearview.

Overall, the crowd easily got behind Bayley and cheered when they were supposed to even when Bayley and Naomi weren't working for a reaction. A lot of this card dragged because the guys worked hard for reactions, but the crowd just didn't care at all with there being little star power. It's hard to say the level of star Bayley will be in WWE because it's way too early, but I will say the way the crowd rallied behind her with little prodding, it will take minimal effort to get her over as a face and someone the fans really care about once she gets called up.

(3) Jack Swagger beat Adam Rose via submission with the Patriotlock. Solid Red State North Dakota loved them some Jack Swagger. Rose worked hard to get the crowd to boo him, but they were indifferent for most part. Blah.

(4) IC champion Ryback beat Big Show and The Miz to retain the Intercontinental Title. Ryback hit Shell-Shock on Miz for the win. Ryback was really popular as the first real star of the evening and the crowd booed Miz when he invited them to, which was often. Show got good face heat for the match and there were not any "Please Retire" chants, which was nice because no one worked harder at being original in their crowd work than Show tonight. The match started with Show and Ryback battling it out while Miz hid outside the ring, content to let them weaken one another in the opening minutes. After a while Miz sneaked back into the ring and attacked Ryback from behind and controlled the action with some basic offense. Things just stayed the same with two of the three men fighting each other while the other nursed a injury on apron or outside until the ending.

Outside of a Bayley vs. Naomi match I'll remember because I'd never see it before, the most memorable thing about tonight was the way Big Show interacted with the crowd. He loudly ordered Ryback to "stop with the 'Feed me More' s--- (he said this in character)." He taunted one guy for wearing an N.W.O. shirt to an event in 2015. He gave Miz a chest slap and when the crowd chanted "one more time" he obliged backing Miz into the corner, hushing the crowd, and then sent Miz crumpling to the floor. This sums up the card perfectly as it was one of the most unique things that happened all night.

[15-minute Intermission]

(5) Jimmy Uso beat Heath Slater via pinfall after a top-rope splash. This "match" was mostly filler to kill time while people returned from intermission. The match ended when Slater challenged Uso to a dance contest, which he then proceeded to ham it up for "I'm too sexy." Slater tried to get a reaction, but the crowd basically no-sold it. Uso got the crowd back into by doing a pretty good Michael Jackson impersonation while dancing to "Billie Jean." Slater got mad at Uso winning, so he attacked Jimmy from behind but quickly got a superkick and top-rope splash to end this time-killer.

(6) Lucha Dragons (Kalisto & Sin Cara) beat The Ascension (Konnor & Viktor) when Sin Cara hit a Swanton on Viktor (I think). Basic match with the heels beating down Sin Cara for most the match and finally the good guys won. Ascension were in the same boat Rose and Slater were in that they worked they butts off to engage the crowd, but the crowd just didn't care about them whatsoever.

Next was Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt in the main event. The crowd was instantly on-fire for this match and showed they were ready to have fun tonight if they had been given a decent card with some stars on it. Surprisingly the crowd was overwhelming for Roman. I thought it would be more even, but it was about 75-80 percent for Roman.

(7) Roman Reigns beat Bray Wyatt via pinfall with a spear in a Fargo Street Fight. The crowd impatiently wanted tables right away. Real good work from both men as they brawled for a while before starting the street fight with a chair. Bray played to the crowd a bit, hitting Roman repeatedly with a chair, but then teasing one final whack of the chair and when people asked for it just tossing the chair aside and walking away laughing at them. Surprisingly later they did a spot where Roman was crawling out the ring and Bray just threw the chair at his head like RVD used to do in ECW. It didn't seem Roman fully blocked it and the chair at least partially hit him in the head. It would be nice to see that spot never done again. Bray grabbed the top part of the ring steps and placed it upright in the aisle to the ring. Bray remarked to my section what "a work of art" it was, but Roman reversed his Irish Whip attempt and avoided being introduced to Wyatt's masterpiece.

Roman threw Wyatt back into the ring and proceeded to bring out a table from under the ring. Roman ended up getting chokeslammed through it, though. The next weapon, a kendo stick, Bray enjoyed working Roman over with for a while before Roman wrestled it away from him and snapped it in half. They brawled some more making their way back towards the upright ring steps and Bray went right through it in a twist of his ill wishes.

More brawling and another table was introduced, this time by Wyatt. And, like Roman, he ended up going through it after Reigns negated his superplex attempt and powerbombed him though it. This led to Luke Harper running in to break up a pin attempt and cause people to excitedly clamor for Dean Ambrose to run in, ignoring all logic behind why that wasn't going to happen. Fortunately, Reigns was in Samoan Hulk mode tonight and fought off both men before hitting his spear on Wyatt to win a very fun match. Reigns posed every place he could to make sure anyone who wanted a picture got one to send the crowd home happy.

Overall, a weak and very uneven card because of WWE using way too many people that are not on TV or are in irrelevant storylines and people do not have an emotional investment in them. That being said everyone put in a honest, hard night's work. I don't want to bash anyone; it was what it was, and the crowd just couldn't build any sustained momentum. Off to Raw on Sunday for what will be a much better time I'm sure.

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]


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