🟥
A rematch from the previous week. A brief video plays before the match. What isn’t known at the time was the fatal four-way would be the last active onscreen appearance of Paige as the Kabuki Warriors’ manager before her “firing” months later. Paige explains she needed emergency neck surgery and wouldn’t be by the Kabuki Warriors’ side in this match (and as it turns out several more of their onscreen appearances and matches).
Corey Graves highlights Asuka not being as dominate as she was on commentary, a reoccurring commentary motif (for her and Kairi) until the Kabuki Warriors win the tag titles.
Alexa is able to dump Asuka outside the ring. Nikki's able to catch Kairi, put her in a swinging neck breaker, and place Kairi in a position to be pinned after Alexa hits Twisted Bliss on Kairi.
Feb 29, 2024
Related Recs
There is a recap of the WrestleMania match.
The opening commentary is how Alexa and Nikki's WrestleMania win was "defining" while the Kabuki Warriors losing was not as defining.
At the start of the match the Kabuki Warriors charge at Alexa to start and knock Nikki off the apron. The match becomes so hectic Asuka does about ten seconds off commentary until she's knocked off the commentary desk by Nikki and Alexa.
The match ends when Alexa makes a tag Kairi doesn't see. Alexa is able to distract Kairi enough for Nikki to hit a swinging neckbreaker.
Mar 27, 2024
(Pretty much the match minus entrances.)
Michael Cole says Alexa and Nikki wonder what the Kabuki Warriors have done to earn a shot. He also says the Kabuki Warriors haven't shown 100% of themselves. The WWE Draft is soon (despite a Superstar Shakeup months ago that formed the Kabuki Warriors). The Draft brings out the best in people, it's said. There are mentions of the Kabuki Warriors being less respectful to Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross on commentary. (But aren't the Kabuki Warriors justified in regard to how Bliss & Cross defeated them for the titles in the first place?) After Kairi fails to pull Alexa off the apron, Alexa does a cannonball on Kairi. Somewhere on the floor off camera, Kairi says Asuka's name. Asuka spits poison mist on Nikki and gets the pin. The Kabuki Warriors win the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.
Mar 2, 2024
This is the opening match of WrestleMania, following an introduction by Stephanie McMahon, a compilation of various singers singing “America the Beautiful,” and the show’s pirate-themed opening.
The Kabuki Warriors mock Alexa and Nikki at the start of the match. It’s pointed out by announcer JBL that they’re both in no hurry to actually pin and retain their titles. Michael Cole points out the tag chemistry the Kabuki Warriors have as opposed to the mismatched personalities (who have been tagging together for several months at this point) of Alexa and Nikki.
Despite their tag chemistry the Kabuki Warriors lose their titles when a miscommunication between them eventually sends Asuka hurtling in a post. Nikki is able to grab Kairi and put her in a spinning neckbreaker. Alexa gets the pin after hitting Twisted Bliss. This tag reign is recognized as 180 days by WWE, still the longest reign in the history of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
This clip from WrestleMania 36 shows Asuka knocking down Alexa with a kick before Nikki bulldogging Kairi and hitting her with a crossbody.
Mar 26, 2024
Top Recs from @roseplantqueen
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