3/5 WWE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Ambrose vs. Owens main event, Big E. returns home, Charlotte back in action, A.J. Styles

WWE Live show results
March 5, 2016
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Report by Luke Hames, PWTorch reader

Good sized crowd. There were 3,000 at most. Eden Stiles was ring announcer.

(1) A.J. Styles beat The Miz. Miz came out to heat and trashed the people of Cedar Rapids. A.J. then came out to a huge pop. A.J. tried the flying forearm, but Miz kicked out. A.J. then kicked out of the Skullcrushing Finale before winning with the flying forearm. Great match.

(2) Darren Young & Jack Swagger beat Social Outcasts (Adam Rose & Curtis Axel). Lukewarm reaction for the Outcasts and D-Young, pop for Swagger. There were “USA” chants throughout since Swagger was in the match. The faces won with Swagger submitting Rose to the Patriot lock. Decent tag match.

(3) U.S. champion Kalisto beat King Barrett to retain the U.S. Title. Kalisto got a pop. “Let’s Go Barrett / Barrett Sucks” chants during this match. Kalisto won with Salida del Sol. Great match with many big spots.

“Ohh Cedar Rapids!” WWE tag champs New Day came out saying the fans should cheer for “your boy Big E.,” who played college football at Iowa. He said he’s the only good thing to come out of Iowa. They sung “We Are the Champions,” something that the Hawkeyes are not, bringing up their tough loss in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s, which drew big heat. The Usos then came out to a huge pop, followed by The Dudleys, who received a mixed reaction.

(4) WWE tag champions New Day beat The Dudleys and The Usos in a three-team match to retain the WWE Tag Titles. Comical spots with Xavier Woods getting slapped on the back by everyone, trying to leave, and being brought back. Xavier sold his slapped back the whole match, but he got the last laugh scoring the pin by scurrying back into the ring after the Dudleys hit a 3D on an Uso. Great match. All three teams were great with the crowd. The Dudleys teased the tables, but beat down the Usos instead. Also, Devon ripped up an Uso sign on the ramp.

[Intermission]

(5) Divas champion Charlotte beat Becky Lynch to retain the Divas Title. Charlotte was back in action one night after their match was stopped due to facial injury to Charlotte. Becky came out to a pop and Charlotte came out to a mixed reaction, with some “Wooos.” Eden did the formal ring introductions before the match. Charlotte tried to leave during the match, but Becky brought her back in. There were attempts to do the Figure-Four leglock by both. Charlotte eventually won with a roll-up hooking the tights.

(6) Neville beat Sheamus. Neville came out to a pop and Sheamus drew some heat. Neville did a big springboard back flip spot on the outside. He also went for Red Arrow twice, but failed. Sheamus retaliated with White Noise from the second rope. Sheamus then won with the Brogue Kick. Long match and the crowd was partially tired. Decent match.

Next was the main event. IC champion Kevin Owens came out to a mixed reaction, with cheers from the males. Dean Ambrose came out to a huge pop and Owens attacked him on the ring apron during his ring entrance.

(7) Dean Ambrose beat IC champion Kevin Owens via DQ; Owens retained the Intercontinental Title. Owens tried to leave during the match, but Ambrose brought him back. Owens tried using a chair, but it was taken away by the ref. Ambrose eventually won via DQ when he was hung up in the Tree of Woe and Owens did not break the ref’s five count.

Owens beat down Ambrose after the match, but Ambrose came back to send the crowd home happy.

Great show. Solid even without big stars like John Cena, Randy Orton, and Roman Reigns. No return date was announced.