WWE 'Beast in the East' LIVE Coverage and Discussion - 4th Jul, 2015

[LionDen]

WWE 'Beast in the East' LIVE Coverage and Discussion
4th Jul, 2015


Card:
John Cena and Dolph Ziggler vs. Kane and King Barrett

Brock Lesnar vs. Kofi Kingston

NXT Championship
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Finn Balor

Neville vs. Chris Jericho

Divas Championship
Nikki Bella (c) vs. Paige vs. Tamina

Lucha Dragons vs. New Day's Big E and Xavier Woods

Cesaro vs. Los Matadores' Diego.

[LionDen]

WWE 'Beast in the East' LIVE Coverage.
Location: Sumida, Tokyo, Japan
Announcers: Michael Cole and Byron Saxton

The show opened with a video building Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens and Brock Lesnar returning to the ring.

Michael Cole and Byron Saxton are the announcing team, calling the show from the WWE HQ in Stamford, CT.


Chris Jericho vs. Neville

After the announcers (off-screen) welcomed everyone, Jericho's music hit and the crowd roared. The announcers thanked J Sports for helping them broadcast in Japan. Big "Y2J" chant. The announcers said Jericho spent time in FMW early in his career and adopted the "Lionheart" nickname.

They went back and forth early with Neville looking good. Jericho went to the floor to break his momentum, then returned to tie him up on the mat. Jericho used a modified bow and arrow to try and force a submission. Neville flipped over and scored a near fall.

They tied up again with Neville working over Jericho's arm. The announcers noted Neville started in Japan working for Dragon Gate. Neville used the ropes to flip over and escape an arm wringer. Jericho clotheslined him over the top to the floor. Neville returned but was sent over the top to the apron, where Jericho hit the springboard dropkick off the buckles to the apron.

Neville was sent to the floor, where Jericho followed and worked him over. Neville was tossed back in the ring. Jericho nailed a flying bodypress off the top but Neville kicked up at the two count. Jericho cinched in a side chinlock and worked over Neville.

The announcers played this up as the legendary Jericho vs. the young rising star Neville. Neville mounted a comeback but was slapped down by Jericho's chops. He drilled Neville with a high elbow. Jericho controlled Neville nand went back to the chinlock. Jericho unloaded with chops. Neville made a comeback but Jericho came off the top with an axehandle and followed up with a running bulldog.

Jericho went for the Walls of Jericho but Neville escaped and nailed Jericho with some offense. Jericho fought back but Neville drilled him with a kick and ascended to the top. Jericho took his legs out from under him and went for a superplex. They battled on the top but Neville tossed him off to the ring below.

Neville went for the Red Arrow but Jericho got out of the way and locked in the Walls of Jericho. Neville tried to fight to the ropes and made it, forcing a break. Jericho was sent to the floor and Neville nailed a big dive to the floor. Tokyo chanted, "This is awesome."

Neville tossed Jericho in and teased the Red Arrow but Jericho returned to his feet, so Neville instead nailed a missile dropkick and a standing shooting star press for a two count. Neville unloaded with kicks and chops to the chest. Jericho drilled him with a stiff forearm. Neville sent him into the ropes but Jericho held on and Neville hit nothing but air going for a dropkick. Jericho nailed the Lionsault for a two count.

Neville drilled Jericho and went to the top for a move and dove off, only to be caught with the Codebreaker in mid-air for a close two count. They exchanged moves but Neville caught him with a German suplex and a superkick. Neville nailed another and ascended for the Red Arrow. He went for it but Jericho pulled the knees up and locked Neville in the old-school Lion Tamer and Neville tapped.

Winner: Chris Jericho


They showed Brock Lesnar walking into the venue "earlier" alone.


WWE Divas Championship
Nikki Bella (c) vs Paige vs Tamina

All three battled at the bell. Tamina used her power to lay out the others. Paige caught her by the ropes and nailed a series of knee strikes She covered Tamina but Bella broke it up. They noted Bella was pushing to hit 300 days as champion to break AJ Lee's record. Art imitates real life in that situation as Bella has pushed for that behind the scenes as well.

Paige and Bella worked together for a second, nailing a double suplex on Tamina before going right after each other. Paige was caught with a modified spinebuster for a two count. Paige slipped out of the pinfall and drilled her with a series of knee strikes. Tamina returned to the apron but was kicked off back to the floor.

Bella slammed Paige into the buckles and placed her atop the ropes. Bella set her up for a superplex when Tamina slipped under and nailed a powerbomb at the same time. She covered Bella but the referee was checking on Paige. Tamina covered Paige and Bella, trying to score the pin but failing.

Bella was sent into the corner, as was Paige. Tamina charged for a splash but they each moved. Bella and Paige helped each other, then attacked each other. Paige nailed Bella with the Rampaige but Bella kicked up at the last second. Paige went for the PTO and locked Bella in the submission but Tamina returned and nailed a superkick. The crowd booed that. Tamina nailed a Samoan Drop on Bella and went for the Superfly Splash but Bella rolled out of the ring.

Bella nailed Tamina with a forearm and scored the pin.

Winner and still Divas champion: Nikki Bella


They showed some clips from Japan.

They aired a video feature on Brock Lesnar.


Brock Lesnar vs Kofi Kingston

Kofi came out alone and clapping, really happy for someone about to be massacred. Lesnar was alone - no Paul Heyman as we noted. They showed clips of the Authority beating down Brock several weeks ago on Raw and pushed the Seth Rollins vs. Lesnar WWE World Heavyweight championship bout at Battleground.

Kingston left the ring when Brock entered. The announcers noted Lesnar was a former IWGP champion. Kingston played Larry Zbysko early, stalling for time. Kingston tried to avoid Brock at the bell and Brock chased him down. Brock began destroying Kofi with knees. Kingston tried to come off the ropes but was caught every time. Lesnar went for a German suplex but Kofi landed on his feet.

Kofi began nailing a series of dropkicks and shots but they had no effect. Lesnar killed him with several German suplexes. He drilled Kingston with another. The crowd actually chanted for Kofi, which Lesnar laughed at and shook his head, as if to say, "Are you kidding?"

Lesnar nailed the F5 and the beating was complete.

Winner: Brock Lesnar

After the match:
Lesnar nailed another German suplex and an F5. The New Day hit the ring to try and save Kofi but Brock nailed them with F5s as well.


The announcers pushed that Brock was coming to Raw looking for Seth Rollins on Monday.

Backstage:
They showed NXT champion Kevin Owens preparing backstage for his title defense against Finn Balor. If there was going to be a title change, this is it.

They aired a video feature on Finn Balor with the story being that he was returning home to Japan.


NXT Championship
Kevin Owens (c) vs Finn Balor

Balor did his full fledged demon deal. The announcers pushed that whoever won would be champion going into Takeover: Brooklyn the night before Summerslam.

They showed Hideo Itami watching from ringside and noted that he was attacked in a parking lot at Full Sail University before an event and that "many believe" Owens was responsible.

TONS of streamers thrown for Finn Balor. I popped so huge for that. That may be the first time we've seen that in a WWE ring, so I'd be curious to see if it immigrates over to NXT shows here in the States. Obviously streamers have been seen here in ECW and Ring of Honor.

They had Japanese presentation of flowers before the match. Owens threw them into the crowd to show what a prick he is. I love it.

Balor hit a dropkick at the bell and went for the double stomp. Owens went to the floor to escape and Balor dove to the floor. They battled on the floor as the audience chanted "NXT." They returned to the ring and went back and forth. Owens was sent to the floor and Balor drilled him with a dropkick to the floor. This is great stuff early.

Balor nailed a dropkick in the corner as Owens was on the floor sitting in a chair. Balor brought him back into the ring and lit him up with chops and kicks. Owens caught him during a high cross bodyblock attempt and slammed him down for a two count. Owens nailed a series of rights and drilled his foot into Balor's chest. The crowd chanted, "Let's go Balor."

Balor fought back but was beaten down. Owens worked him over but Balor kicked out. Owens cinched in a chinlock as the crowd rallied Balor. Balor fought back with a shoulderblock but was beaten down. Balor was sent into the stairs on the floor. Owens continued to work over Balor.

Balor rolled through a pinfall attempt and finally nailed Owens with a dropkick. Balor nailed a top rope forearm smash for a two count. Owens cut off Balor and mocked John Cena by nailing the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Owens went for the AA but Balor escaped and drilled him. The announcers noted Cena would be in the main event later. Balor worked over Owens but Owens went for the AA. Balor escaped and nailed the Pele Kick.

Balor nailed an awesome dive over the top to the floor. He nailed a double stomp and caught him with an inverted DDT for a two count. Balor missed the double stomp. Owens suplexed him into the corner and nailed the cannonball. Owens went for the package piledriver variation and nailed it but Balor kicked up.

Owens told Balor he was "done" but was caught with Sling Bade. Balor went to the top but Owens recovered and nailed a headbutt to prevent him from coming off the top. Balor fought him off and nailed the top rope double stomp but Owens kicked out at the last second.

Balor sent Owens into the corner and nailed a series of strikes. Owens fought back but Balor got the best of the exchange. Balor placed him on the top rope. They battled with Balor trying for a superplex. Owens teased a Fisherman's Buster but Balor escaped. Owens finally nailed a rolling Samoan Drop off the ropes for a close near fall. The crowd chanted, "This is awesome."

Owens went for the swanton but Balor put his knees up. Balor scored a two count. The crowd chanted, "Let's go Balor." Balor charged but was caught wth a superkick for a two count. Owens slapped Balor and began screaming that Balor can't beat him. Balor slapped him back. Owens went for the Popup Powerbomb but Balor leapfrogged out of it and nailed a lariat.

Balor worked over Owens and ascended to the top. He nailed the double stomp and scored the pin.

Winner and new WWE NXT champion: Finn Balor

After the match:
They showed Hideo Itami clapping for Balor at ringside and the announcers teased they could face off for the belt down the line.

WWE Hall of Famer Tatsumi Fujinami came to the ring to raise Balor's arm and looked thrilled about it.

Owens returned to the ring and had a staredown with Balor. Balor offered his hand in a show of respect. Owens teased taking it, then walked out.

They pushed that while Raw and Smackdown have aired via tape delay from Japan, this was their first ever live broadcast.


King Barrett & Kane vs John Cena & Dolph Ziggler

This is the main event, so Cesaro vs. Diego and New Day vs. Lucha Dragons aren't airing on the WWE Network.

Barrett and Ziggler kicked things off. They had some nice exchanges early. Kane and Cena tagged in. The crowd into Cena big-time. Kane used his power to throw Cena down. Kane got the better of Cena and tagged out to Barrett.

Barrett drilled Cena with a knee and cinched in a side chinlock. Cena got off the mat and drilled Barrett backwards into the turnbuckles. Kane tagged in and laid out Cena before he had a chance to tag out to Ziggler. Cena tried to slam Kane but fell backwards. Kane continued to work over Cena.

Saxton and Cole began throwing out all sorts of history nuggets, even mentioning Wrestlefest and the Egg Dome Summit. Barrett tagged back in and continued working over Cena, scoring a two count. Cena made a comeback with a series of rights but was caught with a kick when he went up and over in the corner. Barrett nailed several knees in the back and cinched in a side chinlock.

Cena finally made a comeback with an AA. Kane tagged in before Cena could make a tag. He went for a chokeslam but Cena escaped and went for an AA, but fell as he was too beaten down. Kane scored a two count, then went to the top. He came off with a clubbing blow for a two count.

Kane locked in a chinlock but Cena powered out of it. Cena was caught in a sideslam for another two count. Barrett tagged in and continued the beating with an elbow off the ropes for another two count. Barrett went for another but this time it bit him in the rear as Cena moved and finally tagged Zigger in.

Ziggler hit the ring with a ton of offense and scored a two with an elbow. Ziggler nailed Kane on the apron but was cut off and held by Barrett. Kane tagged in and stomped Ziggler out of the ring to the floor. Kane followed and picked up Ziggler, dropping him across the barricade. Kane nailed a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Barrett tagged back in and worked over Ziggler, placing him across the buckles in the corner and drilling him with strikes.

Barrett locked on a modified surfboard as the crowd rallied for Ziggler. Ziggler made a comeback with a series of rights to the mid-section. Barrett went for the Winds of Change but Ziggler turned it into a crucifix for a two count. Barrett nailed a lariat coming out of that and tagged in Kane, who continued the carnage. Ziggler tried to nail a Famouser but was caught with a powerbomb.

Barrett worked over Ziggler with a series of knees and sent him to the floor. Kane nailed Ziggler with a cheap shot on the floor as Barrett distracted the referee. Barrett drilled Ziggler backwards into the apron and tossed him into the ring for a two count. Ziggler tried to mount a comeback but was caught with Wings of Change for a two count. Kane tagged in and continued to control Ziggler. They are telling a really good tag story here.

Barrett and Kane continued to work over Ziggler. Ziggler went to the ropes but was caught for a chokeslam jumping off. Ziggler escaped and nailed a DDT, then tagged in Cena, who hit all the big moves you'd expect. He went for the AA on Barrett but saw Kane coming and sent Kane into a Ziggler superkick. Cena nailed the AA on Barrett and scored the pin.

Winners: John Cena & Dolph Ziggler

After the match:
Cena and Ziggler celebrated with the fans.

[LionDen]

Good match for the DIVAs

[LionDen]

Is Kofi still alive? lol Hell of a beating.

[LionDen]

I thought that was a good tag match to end the show A good 2 hour show that seemed to go quickly.

[Slayer_X]

Is Kofi still alive? lol Hell of a beating.

Fuck Yea he took a beating . I hate seeing big E jobbed out like that . Ziggler teaming with Cena ? smdh

[LionDen]

Fuck Yea he took a beating . I hate seeing big E jobbed out like that . Ziggler teaming with Cena ? smdh

lol Yeah, some strange matches.

[LionDen]

Nice to see the Demon win, a very good match.

[LionDen]

Strong opening match