🟥
Natalya was asked to pick a tag partner earlier, someone she respected after fighting her (most recently at the time after a street fight), hence Lacey.
The match rejoins in media res after commercial. There is a mention of the Kabuki Warriors' new attitude on commentary. Once again there is a mention of the titles to be defended on both (rather than three, with NXT) brands. Another commercial break.
A hip attack and an octopus stretch starts the third segment of this match. At one point the Kabuki Warriors could have gone for the pin on Natalya but they chose not to. After Kairi is hit by Lacey's Women's Right, Asuka rolls in for the pin (Kairi is knocked out momentarily).
Mar 4, 2024
Related Recs
The week before Charlotte and Natalya formed a tag team to defeat the IIconics.
The Kabuki Warriors are already in the ring when this segment starts. Charlotte walks to the ring. Crown Jewel 2019 (and the mishaps following that show) aired on October 31; a video package plays hyping the importance of the first professional women's wrestling match in Saudi Arabia, Natalya vs. Lacey Evans. No one on commentary asks why the Kabuki Warriors turned on Paige. Commentary does mention Paige needing to see an eye specialist after getting misted the week earlier. During the match Charlotte takes out Asuka after she gets Kairi's foot on the ropes. Charlotte goes to a corner of the ring to perform a double moonsault, but Asuka breaks up the pin. Asuka chokes Charlotte on ropes.
Later Charlotte spears Kairi to prevent Kairi from interfering with the match. Natalya wins by putting Asuka in a sharpshooter. It's not formally announced, but this gives Charlotte and Natalya a shot at the tag titles. Things would change between this match and the tag title chance...
Mar 6, 2024
As the Kabuki Warriors come out, commentary says Asuka isn't 100% after Elimination Chamber.
In the ring the Kabuki Warriors laugh, introduce themselves, then laugh again. Asuka speaks in Japanese and mocks "what" chants. Kairi, in English, asks how Asuka is doing. Then, in Japanese, she laments Asuka's wrist and Asuka's misfortune at Elimination Chamber. In response to Alexa Bliss calling out the two on SmackDown the two mimic chicken gestures. Asuka says, in English, now she wants to beat up someone. They both say Alexa and call her a "mean girl" and a “dumb girl” in English.
Their opponents for the night are Natalya and Liv. Midway through the match, Ruby Riott stops the action by walking down the entrance ramp. After the commercial break Asuka distracts the ref to target Natalya injured arm which both members continue to do thereafter. Sarah Logan comes out. Ruby and Sarah fight outside. Liv dives into both of them, abandoning the tag match to continue her feud with the rest of the Riott Squad. Natalya puts Kairi in a sharpshooter to set herself up to be knocked out by an Asuka kick.
Mar 23, 2024
Vic Joseph announces the Kabuki Warriors will face Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair for the tag team titles because Natalya had family obligations. Becky tells the audience about Natalya in her promo before talking about the Raw Women's Championship (which she holds) and Survivor Series while listing the Kabuki Warriors as two of her foes. Charlotte and then the Kabuki Warriors come out for their match.
Midway through the match Shayna Baszler shows up. Shayna took out Bayley on the earlier SmackDown Manchester, England show. Kairi attacks Charlotte. Asuka and Kairi keep Charlotte away from tagging Becky for a while. Shayna climbs on the apron to distract Becky but is attacked by Bayley. The distraction is enough for Asuka to roll up Becky. Shayna ducks into the audience while Bayley attacks Becky as Becky's attempting to catch up to Shayna.
Mar 7, 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