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I’ll tell you this upfront: I’m not a fan of the IIconics‘ commentary here. They mispronounce Kairi’s name intentionally. Don’t know if it’s creative directing them to do this or not, but I don’t find it funny at all. Baffled but not surprised that the reference I’m using to track all these Kabuki Warriors appearances actually finds the IIconics’ name calling endearing and not limiting. Aside from being cowardly heels the only other weapon they had was name-calling. Disappointing.
That said, this match is a local talent match. The Kabuki Warriors win before the IIconics scream at them. Nothing more, nothing less. But this match is notable for featuring Queen Aminata, an African-born wrestler who is now signed to All Elite Wrestling.
Feb 23, 2024
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(A note: Some of these matches are ‘in full’ on YouTube, but I’m not trying to get those uploads wiped from YouTube. Search for them there instead if you wish. I’m only using official WWE clips.)
The first official outing of the Kabuki Warriors, an eight woman tag team match to showcase the newer members of SmackDown (after the 2019 Superstar Shakeup, which swapped wrestlers between WWE’s three brands). Wild here to see Bayley, Kairi, and Asuka faces here as later on (first Bayley against the Kabuki Warriors in 2020 and later when the Kabuki Warriors joined Damage CTRL) you don't see these three appear onscreen as faces.
Feb 22, 2024
Today had to be the day YouTube is slow and weird when I want to share YouTube clips. FML. Anyway.
On commentary, the IIconics deny the teams in the ring title opportunities. Once again the IIconics try to generate heel heat by attempting to say "kabuki" wrong. (This has been mercifully removed from this YouTube edit of the match.)
While we’re here: Ironically the response by smarky types at the time trying to "improve" the Kabuki Warriors’ name with a substitute Japanese word at best and being all-out racist and fetishizing at worst while claiming Vince McMahon would come up with these names was, in my opinion, on the same level as the "kabuki" mispronunciation. (The rec I'm posting after this explains the Kabuki Warriors name and the ignorance of smarks mocking the name. No I’m not sharing these racist “improvements/alternatives“ and you can find that bullshit on blogs doing bad recaps of SmackDown in 2019 and Reddit if you wish.)
Asuka pins Mandy Rose and establishes the reputation of the Kabuki Warriors in the tag division.
Feb 26, 2024
After Bayley and Sasha talk to Sarah Schreiber--with an allusion to "strength in numbers"--Asuka is asked how she'll handle Bayley and Sasha. "Who says I am all alone?" Asuka says. She dances off.
Bayley and Sasha complain about their Extreme Rules challengers. For Bayley, it's Nikki Cross. She won the opportunity to face Bayley for the SmackDown Women's Championship in a triple threat match. Meanwhile Sasha says Asuka won't be the Raw Women's Champion after Extreme Rules. Both are interrupted by Asuka, who laughs at the idea of 2 Beltz Banks. Asuka says the two aren't great at math and (of course) aren't ready for Asuka. Bayley interjects for Sasha (those interjections would undo her relationships with Sasha and later IYO SKY in kayfabe, by the way) and says Sasha will humiliate Asuka at Extreme Rules. Bayley adds that Sasha is ready for anything. This opens up Sasha to...a fight with the returning Kairi Sane.
The commentators question Bayley and Sasha's relationship after Bayley's earlier stunt. For the moment Bayley stays loyal to Sasha; she says to Asuka when she's close enough to her "Your partner [Kairi] sucks" and ends up on the wrong side of Kairi's baseball slide as the show heads to break.
Towards the end of the match, Kairi puts Sasha in her Ikari crab submission. Bayley breaks the submission up with her running knee. Asuka fights Bayley and Sasha, swarming her. Kairi is able to wipe Bayley and Sasha out with an InSane Elbow. The way this elbow is performed resembles the Kaubki Warriors's finisher in their current run.
Kairi and Sasha—then known as KAIRI and Mercedes Moné, respectively—would face off again years later at New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s 2022 Battle in the Valley event.
Apr 13, 2024
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Writers questioned Asuka's poison mist gimmick after it appeared in WWE at Hell in a Cell. A writer from Wrestleview called the gimmick "stereotypical." The Ringer blamed the mist gimmick on...Paul Heyman. But here is a video from a WrestleMania weekend where Asuka talks about her admiration for The Great Muta and her desire to do a poison mist gimmick in WWE about a year and a half before she started doing it.
Mar 2, 2024
Since all of this is not on YouTube.
On this episode of SmackDown the Tokyo tour dates are recapped, complete with footage of the Kabuki Warriors winning against the IIconics in Tokyo.
A backstage segment (linked here) follows where Paige and the Kabuki Warriors confront the IIconics for the title shot they were promised. The IIconics delay the title match. The segment ends with face manager Paige slapping Billie Kay.
Feb 27, 2024
IIconics (champions) vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. Kabuki Warriors.
* Mandy Rose rolls up Billie Kay for a pin, eliminating the IIconics.
* Asuka submits Rose with the Asuka Lock, eliminating Rose and Deville.
* Nikki pushes Kairi off the turnbuckle, leaving her susceptible to a punch (forearm?) by Bliss as Paige watches. Bliss hits Twisted Bliss, win titles.
Feb 28, 2024