This match comes straight after WWE used one of Brock Lesnar's precious (and expensive) appearances to fly him to Japan and have him squash Kofi Kingston. I know, that sentence gets more strange as it goes. DEMON BALOR is here for this match, Finn has a very storied Japanese career from before he entered WWE. Just as a sidenote, he now has an LGBT acceptance gimmick. Listen to the reaction in his big matches as the Demon and tell me why that made sense. I have nothing against it but Demon Balor was very popular... Michael Cole and Byron Saxton are on commentary for this match, as Finn Balor enters the ring for some early streamers to come his way. Kevin Owens makes his way to the ring and they are both given a bunch of flowers, a Japanese custom for championship matches. Kevin Owens launches them out of the ring before the introductions can even start! Finn Balor has streamers rained down on him by the fans as he is introduced. Kevin Owens just gets booed heavily. They clean up the ring as Michael Cole compares their experiences in Japan, Balor was here for 8 years where Kevin Owens stayed for a couple of months and never wanted to return. NXT signee Hideo Itami is shown in the crowd, I'm sure he'd be on the card if he wasn't injured.
KEVIN OWENS © VS. FINN BALOR (NXT CHAMPIONSHIP)
WWE: The Beast in the East (4th July 2015)
Finn Balor sends Owens into the corner with a running dropkick to start this match. Balor climbs to the top rope but Owens goes out to the floor. Balor dives from the top turnbuckle to the floor on to Owens, sending him quickly back into the ring. Kevin Owens goes on offense for the first time as Balor gets back in the ring, Kevin Owens sends Balor across the ring but Balor ducks a clothesline then just runs into Owens. Kevin Owens hits Balor with his forearm but this time Balor scouts the irish whip as Cole even mentions Balor being called Prince Devitt over here in Japan. Kevin Owens grabs the top rope and bails quickly back out to the floor but Balor dropkicks him through the ropes. Balor sits on the apron then sends Owens running across the floor into the barricade. Kevin Owens is set on a chair where Balor hits him with another running dropkick! Right next to Curry Man fan! Finn Balor takes it back into the ring at the referee's count of 5. He needs to pin Owens, whereas Owens has the championship advantage.
Finn Balor got this opportunity by beating Tyler Breeze (reviewed here) back in May and NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable. He takes it to Owens, but the champion cuts him off with a boot to the midsection. Owens hits a forearm but eats a chop. Kevin Owens sends Balor across the ring but ducks too early. Balor chops his chest again and backs Owens into the ropes. Kevin Owens has a match with John Cena at Battleground in 2 weeks time, but that won't distract him from this match. Owens reverses an irish whip, catching Balor's crossbody attempt. Owens spins Balor around and slams him on the mat but can only get 2. Kevin Owens hits mounted punches on Balor and stomps him before forcing his boot into Balor's chest. Finn Balor backs into the corner for some breathing space. Kevin Owens chops Balor and beats him around the ring, audibly trash talking him. Finn Balor is sent into the corner as Michael Cole goes through his NJPW accolades. Finn Balor fights back as he gets to his feet but runs into a back elbow. Kevin Owens pauses to soak in the hate before covering, Finn Balor kicks out just after 2.
Kevin Owens tries to bore us all into submission as Michael Cole talks about Sumo Hall and tonight being WWE's first live broadcast from Japan. Balor gets to his feet and avoids getting sent into the corner, vaulting over to the apron. He rams his shoulder into Owens' ribs but Kevin Owens knocks him out of the air with a right hand. Kevin Owens brings Balor out to the floor sending him into the ring steps, then just leaves him there for the referee to count. Finn Balor rolls into the ring at the last second but is in perfect position for Owens to hit a back senton for a nearfall. Kevin Owens dumps Balor out of the ring again trying for another count out. Finn Balor beats the second count so Owens snapmares him down to a seated position. Kevin Owens picks up some speed but drops to the mat with a chinlock on Balor! Kevin Owens talks shit about Japan whilst they're on the mat and Balor tries to get to his feet. Owens slams him back down, forcing him to start again. Finn Balor gets to his feet on his second attempt and breaks free, but Owens knocks him back with a stiff forearm. Finn Balor reverses an irish whip, Owens tries a sunset flip but Balor rolls through and dropkicks Owens in the face.
They both get up at around 5, Finn Balor strikes first with a boot to the face, then forearms Kevin Owens. Kevin Owens gets sent into the corner and Balor follows with a back elbow, Finn Balor hits a flying forearm from the top and gets a 2 count. They exchange strikes in the middle of the ring, but Owens ducks one and morphs into John Cena, sending Balor down with a running shoulder tackle, then another one. Kevin Owens hits the Protobomb and mocks both Balor and the crowd during the Five Knuckle Shuffle, Finn Balor avoids the Attitude Adjustment, tripping Owens and hitting a double-foot stomp on his chest. Balor sends Owens into the corner and follows with a running chop, then a second one across the ring. Kevin Owens reverses the third irish whip, Balor tries to float-over but Owens catches him. Balor elbows out of a second Attitude Adjustment attempt so Owens counters a Bloody Sunday. Owens hits another forearm but Balor's bicycle kick finds the mark! Finn Balor can't capitalize so the referee counts them both down, they're on their feet at 8 and Kevin Owens charges but gets low-bridged. Finn Balor follows him outside with a running no-hands somersault senton!
Finn Balor throws Kevin Owens back into the ring. He climbs to the top turnbuckle and hits the double stomp to the back of Owens' head, before hitting the Bloody Sunday! 1, 2, Owens still kicks out! Finn Balor goes back to the top turnbuckle, really feeling at home up there but Owens avoids a Coup de Grace! Kevin Owens sends Balor across the ring with a german suplex, leaving him slumped in the corner. Kevin Owens wastes no time hitting a cannonball and covering Balor, but he still barely kicks out! Kevin Owens gets yet another nearfall from a Package powerbomb, getting more pissed off that he can't put Balor away and get out of Japan. Kevin Owens sends Balor into the ropes but Balor holds on, catching Owens off guard with a Slingblade! Owens grabs Balor's ankle as he climbs to the top rope, bringing him down to the apron with a headbutt. Kevin Owens tells the fans how smart he is before walking into a kick by Balor to the head. Finn Balor hits the Coup de Grace for the closest nearfall yet! Kevin Owens is sent into the corner and Balor hits him with rights and lefts. Balor has to fight to get Owens up on the top rope, where the fight continues. Kevin Owens blocks a superplex and Balor blocks a fisherman's buster from the top rope, landing on his feet on the mat. Finn Balor kicks Owens in the head again, knocking him loopy in a precarious position. Finn Balor climbs back up but Owens has him on his shoulders Kevin Owens hits a rolling senton to the mat and covers for 2!
Kevin Owens climbs to the top rope in disbelief, he dives with a Swanton bomb but lands on Balor's knees. Finn Balor hits the hammerlock brainbuster and covers but Kevin Owens still kicks out! Finn Balor stalks to his feet but runs into a superkick. Kevin Owens sends Balor overhead in a sleeperhold for a nearfall. Kevin Owens desperately tells Balor he can't beat Owens, slapping him in the face. Balor slaps Owens back so Owens boots him in the face and sends him into the ropes, Balor leapfrogs a pop-up powerbomb attempt, LARIATO!! Finn Balor waits for Owens to get to his feet and dropkicks him into the corner, a second dropkick sets Owens up for the Coup de Grace again, Finn Balor hits it and wins the championship as the fans explode.
WINNER: FINN BALOR (NEW NXT CHAMPION)
WWE should have called an audible on this match, making it the main event. They hit each other with everything they had throughout the match and got the best from each other. It was a different style of match and Finn Balor got his crowning moment in a homecoming of sorts. Kevin Owens is a great dickhead heel added a lot to the moment, which is something a disappointing amount of people don't realize sometimes. What a way to represent NXT in Japan. – WORKRATE: 3.5/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3.75/5 OVERALL 7.25/10
As the referee tries to hand Finn Balor his new championship a streamer clocks him right in the head, which was pretty sweet, then 2015 WWE Hall of Famer Tatsumi Fujinami comes out to congratulate Balor and add to the moment. Balor bows to Fujinami and has his hand raised in victory by the legend. Finn Balor offers his hand to Owens but Kevin Owens declines and leaves the ring.
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