Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of WWE Beast in the East from Tokyo, Japan.
Before we go any further, I want to give a BIG shout-out to my old friend Joe Mistretta, who is getting married this afternoon!
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.
Your winner, Chris Jericho!
Just a dynamite opener as they worked a very physical style. I thought this was the best Jericho bout in a long time. This was patterned specifically for the Japanese audience with a lot of counter-wrestling, big moves and near falls. Truly, absolutely enjoyable.
It should be noted that Saxton and Cole were calling the match specifically to call the match, as opposed to promoting 101,000 things at once and wow what a difference it made.
They showed Brock Lesnar walking into the venue "earlier" alone.
WWE Divas champion Nikki Bella 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.
Your winner and still Divas champion, Nikki Bella!
Solid match. Whoever laid this out knew to use Tamina sparingly and only in spots where she looked like a powerhouse. Paige and Bella had some nice exchanged.
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.
Your winner, Brock Lesnar!
It was exactly as you'd expect. Brock played the unstoppable monster. Kingston took a hell of a beating.
After the bout, 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.
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 the right show and place for it.
They aired a video feature on Finn Balor with the story being that he was returning home to Japan.
Coverage continues on Page 2!
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
