3/25 WWE at MSG – Second Detailed report on Owens vs. debuting Styles, The Coach guest role, Sasha Banks, more

WWE Live Show Results
March 25, 2016
New York City at Madison Square Garden
Report by J.A. D’Amato, PWTorch reader

A near capacity, live crowd as usual for MSG on the Road to WrestleMania.

(1) Dolph Ziggler beat The Miz. Ziggler pinned Miz after hitting a superkick as Miz came off the top rope. A solid 10-minute opener.

(2) U.S. champion Kalisto beat Rusev (w/Lana). Lana insulted New York and the Knicks before the match. Kalisto pinned Rusev after Rusev removed the middle turnbuckle and missed a dive in the corner. Ryback jumped Kalisto after the match and Sin Cara made the save. Ryback talked trash about little guys and challenged Sin Cara…

(3) Ryback beat Sin Cara. Ryback destroyed Sin Cara in about five minutes with the Shellshock.

The Dudley Boys gave a backstage promo vowing to become 10-time WWE tag champions tonight.

(4) Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch beat Team B.A.D. (Naomi & Tamina). Banks and Lynch won when Sasha put Naomi in the Bank Statement. An entertaining 10-minute battle. The MSG crowd was hot for Sasha.

(5) Big Show & Kane beat The Wyatts (Bray Wyatt & Erick Rowan w/Braun Strowman). No Luke Harper. Kane pinned Rowan with the chokeslam after Show knocked out Wyatt and Rowan with the KO Punch. Strowman attacked Kane afterward, but Show and Kane double chokeslammed him.

(6) Divas champion Charlotte (w/Ric Flair) beat Natalya to retain the Divas Title. Charlotte rolled up Nattie for the pin caused by some distraction from Ric.

Jonathan Coachman was introduced as guest ring announcer. Coach said that Shane McMahon asked him to come back and he agreed for one night only in MSG. He plugged his ESPN segment and introduced the Dudley Boys and asked them where are the tables. Bubba trashed him and the N.Y. fans for asking a stupid question as the Usos ran in followed by the New Day. Big E. spit some Tribe Called Quest lyrics as a tribute to Phife.

(7) WWE tag champions New Day (Xavier Woods & Big E.) beat The Dudleys and The Usos in a three-team match to retain the WWE Tag Titles. Xavier’s back took an early beating leading to some comedy spots. Xavier pinned Devon after a ton of chaos to retain the titles. New Day danced with Coach, who still has no rhythm.

(8) IC champion Kevin Owens beat A.J. Styles to retain the Intercontinental Title. Styles got a huge ovation for his MSG debut. Owens won with the pop-up powerbomb in the match of the night. Owens talked trash and tried to dish out more punishment after the match, but Styles hit a Pele kick and top-rope forearm to chase Owens away. A.J. thanked the crowd and called them phenomenal.

(9) Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose beat WWE World Hvt. champion Triple H & Sheamus in a tag team main event. Triple H got a huge pop – all cheers. Reigns got a mixed reaction – more boos as the match went forward, similar to an MSG crowd reaction for John Cena. Ambrose milked a super hot tag to Reigns, who hit Sheamus with a Superman Punch, knocking him off the apron. Hunter hit a Pedigree on Reigns, but Ambrose made the save. Reigns then pinned Sheamus after hitting a spear.

An entertaining card throughout the three-and-a-half-hour evening.