NXT Champion Kevin Owens defends against Finn Balor. Chris Jericho returns to action to take on Neville. John Cena and Dolph Ziggler team up against Wade Barrett and Kane in the main event.
World Wrestling Entertainment presents Beast In The East
Date: 7/4/2015
From: Japan
Opening Contest: Neville vs. Chris Jericho: Jericho starts by backing Neville into a corner but doesn’t do anything with the advantage. Neville dropkicks Jericho to the floor early on. Jericho takes Neville to the canvas upon reentering the ring and tries to get a submission on the canvas with a surfboard but isn’t able to get one. Jericho clotheslines Neville over the top to the floor but Neville comes back in and dropkicks Jericho to the floor. Jericho backdrops Neville to the apron and hits a springboard dropkick to knock Neville to the floor. Jericho heads to the top rope and hits a cross body for a near fall. Neville counters a knee lift with a rollup for a near fall but Jericho nails Neville with a kick to the head for a near fall. Jericho works over Neville in the corner with several chops. Jericho drops Neville with an elbow strike and gets a two count. Neville kicks Jericho several times but misses a running kick. Jericho heads to the top rope and hits a double axe handle. Jericho comes off the ropes to hit a running bulldog and attempts the Walls of Jericho but Neville powers out of it.
Neville works over Jericho in the corner with a series of kicks. Jericho elbows Neville in the corner but is stopped with a kick to the midsection. Jericho crotches Neville on the top turnbuckle and attempts a superplex but Neville hangs onto the ropes. Neville slams Jericho face first to the canvas and Neville attempts a shooting star press but Jericho moves out of the way. Jericho locks in the Walls of Jericho! Neville is able to reach the bottom rope to break the hold. Jericho misses a running attack and goes to the floor. Neville dives over the top to take Jericho out on the outside! Neville hits a springboard dropkick and a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Jericho avoids a dropkick and is able to hit the Lionsault for a near fall. Neville attempts a springboard but Jericho hits the Codebreaker in midair! Jericho has the cover but Neville manages to kick out at two. Neville hits a back suplex and follows up with a super kick.
Neville heads to the top rope looking for the Red Arrow but Jericho gets his knees up and locks in the Walls of Jericho to get the submission victory. (***1/2. A really good opener to this special, but at this point Jericho should really be putting over the new talent in the WWE. Neville getting a victory here would have been great for him since he doesn’t have much positive momentum going on at the moment.)
Second Contest: WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella vs. Tamina vs. Paige: Tamina knocks both opponents down early and sends Nikki to the floor. Paige knee strikes Tamina from the apron several times but is yanked into the ring by Tamina for a near fall. Nikki hits a springboard kick on Tamina for a near fall. Tamina hits a snap suplex on Nikki but Paige enters and along with Nikki they hit a double snap suplex and dropkick Tamina to the floor. Paige sends Nikki into the corner and ducks a clothesline for a near fall. Nikki attempts a double leg slam but Paige gets out of it and kicks Nikki in the face for a two count. Paige nails Nikki with a high knee and knocks Tamina off the apron. Paige and Nikki are on the middle rope trading strikes. Tamina comes over and we get a power bomb on Nikki who takes Paige over with a superplex. Tamina covers Nikki but the referee was out of position but gets a near fall on Paige.
Tamina misses a splash in the corner and is double teamed by the other two girls. Nikki drops Paige with a double leg slam for a near fall. Paige kicks Nikki in the midsection and hits an elevated DDT for a two count. Paige has the PTO locked in on Nikki but Tamina enters to super kick Paige to break the hold. Tamina plants Nikki with a Samoan Drop and heads to the top rope. Tamina misses a big splash off the top and Nikki drops Tamina with a forearm shot to win the match. (**1/2. That was a rather flat finish, but I thought the match was non-stop action and entertaining from the Divas.)
Third Contest: Brock Lesnar vs. Kofi Kingston: Kofi runs away but is caught by Lesnar who works over Kofi with knee lifts. Kingston dropkicks Lesnar but is picked up by Brock who ties Kofi over with a suplex, but Kingston lands on his feet. Kingston kicks Lesnar several times but Lesnar no sells them. Lesnar drops Kofi on his head with a German suplex. Lesnar hits a release German suplex. Lesnar hits the F5 and wins the match. (NR. It’s a squash match and what you’d want out of this.) After the match, Lesnar takes care of Big E and Xavier Woods because he can.
Hideo Itami is watching the next match in the front row.
Fourth Contest: NXT Champion Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor: Balor quickly dropkicks Owens into the corner and hits a cross body off the top to the floor after Owens bailed to the outside. Owens avoids a dropkick but Balor baseball slides Owens on the floor. Balor sends Owens into the railing and hits a running dropkick into the railing. Owens drives Finn down to the mat for a near fall. Owens controls Balor on the canvas with several stomps. Balor comes running off the ropes but is stopped by an elbow shot from Owens. Owens decks Balor on the apron to avoid a springboard and they go to the outside where Kevin sends Balor into the ring steps. Owens hits a senton splash for a two count. Balor is sent to the outside again and Owens taunts the fans. Balor dropkicks a seated Owens after getting out of a rollup. Balor hits a middle rope forearm strike for another two count. They begin to trade strikes until Owens hits a couple of shoulder blocks and a side slam. Owens is mocking John Cena as he signals for the Five Knuckle Shuffle, which he hits.
Balor gets out of the AA and double stomps Owens. Balor chops Owens in the corner but Owens catches Balor but isn’t able to do anything as Balor nails Owens with the Pele Kick. Balor takes Owens out with a somersault dive over the top to the floor. Balor hits a missile dropkick from the top and hits a lifting reverse DDT for a near fall. Balor heads to the top rope but Owens avoids the double stomp to hit a release German suplex and a somersault splash in the corner for a near fall. Owens hits a package slam but Balor kicks out at two. Balor hits the Swing Blade and goes to the top again. Balor is stopped by Owens hanging onto Finn’s legs. Balor kicks Owens from the apron and heads to the top rope hitting the double stomp! Balor covers and only gets a near fall! Balor hammers away on Owens in the corner. Balor places Owens on the top turnbuckle but Owens hooks Balor only Finn kicks Kevin on the turnbuckle. Owens hits a middle rope rolling fireman’s carry but Balor kicks out!
Kevin heads to the top rope but Balor gets his knees up on the swanton attempt. Balor plants Owens with a modified brain buster for a two count. Owens super kicks Balor and hits a sleeper hold suplex for a two count. Owens starts yelling at Balor that he can’t beat him. Balor nails Owens with a clothesline and dropkicks Owens into the corner. Balor hits another dropkick to a seated Owens. Balor goes to the top again and hits a double stomp to win the match and title. (***1/2. It’s a good match, but it wasn’t far off from the opener between Jericho and Neville, really. I was heavily interested in seeing this match and I’m not disappointed by any means. The match just wasn’t a classic match that many, including myself, were hoping for. It’s still a good moment and big victory for Balor winning the title to allow Owens to go to the main roster full-time.) After the match, Owens decides against shaking hands with Balor.
Main Event: Kane & King Barrett vs. WWE United States Champion John Cena & Dolph Ziggler: Barrett and Ziggler kick off the main event with Ziggler getting a near fall after taking Barrett down to the canvas. Ziggler dropkicks Barrett for another near fall in the opening minutes of the match. Kane enters but Cena quickly gets a tag from Ziggler as well. Kane shoves Cena down to the canvas and taunts John. Kane throat thrusts Cena to get the advantage and tags in Barrett. Barrett works over Cena in the corner with several stomps. Cena drives Barrett into the corner to get out of a sleeper hold but Kane enters to maintain the advantage. Cena attempts a scoop slam on Kane but isn’t able to hold him long enough. Kane easily scoop slams Cena and taunts the fans. Barrett tags back in and continues to work over Cena. Barrett blocks a head scissors out of the corner and kicks Cena in the chest!
Cena hits the AA on Barrett but can’t followup on the advantage. Kane enters and Cena can’t slam Kane still. Kane hits a top rope clothesline for a two count. Kane gets another near fall following a side slam. Barrett tags back in and comes off the middle rope hitting an elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler gets the hot tag and splashes Barrett in the corner followed by a neck breaker and an elbow drop for a two count. Barrett stops Ziggler with a big boot and Kane tags in. Ziggler is sent to the floor and Kane follows dropping Ziggler across the railing throat first. Kane hits a vertical suplex on Ziggler for a near fall. Barrett puts Ziggler on the top turnbuckle chest first and delivers a knee strike for a near fall. Ziggler nearly pins Barrett with a crucifix pin but is met with a quick clothesline.
Kane tags back in and clotheslines Ziggler in the corner for a near fall. Kane plants Ziggler with a power bomb for a two count. Barrett tags back into the match and chokes Ziggler over the middle rope. Barrett has Ziggler tied up in the ropes as he delivers a big boot to send Dolph to the floor. Barrett works over Ziggler with a chin lock back in the ring. Ziggler kicks Wade but is met with the Winds of Change for only a near fall. Kane is back in the ring working over Ziggler. Wade tries to keep Ziggler down with strikes but isn’t able to. Ziggler is caught in midair but Ziggler gets out of the choke slam by hitting a DDT. Cena gets the hot tag and he cleans house with shoulder blocks and a side slam on Barrett. Cena drops a fist on Wade but Kane tries to choke slam Cena. Ziggler super kicks Kane and Cena hits the AA. Ziggler super kicks Barrett and Cena gets the win with the AA. (*1/2. This being the main event is one of the worst decisions possible. This came across like your standard house show main event and the action wasn’t all that great, really. This should have not closed the show and it could have been cut a few minutes.)
Final Thoughts:
Jericho/Neville and Owens/Balor are two good matches and those matches alone make the two hour special worth watching. The Divas match isn’t all that bad and Lesnar had a semi-enjoyable squash match against Kofi Kingston. I don’t regret watching this show.
Thanks for reading.