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This is the first time Natalya and Asuka have faced off against each other on Raw. Commentary mentions they are among the division’s best.
Towards the match’s end, Kairi issues a distraction to get Natalya out of the ring. She keeps it going to set Natalya up for Asuka to kick Natalya, knocking Natalya out.
Mar 7, 2024
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A minor thing to mention but since I'm mentioning announcers in this post I should say Vic Joseph was replaced by Tom Phillips on the Raw announce desk in the previous episode. Why? I couldn't honestly tell you. Later in the year Vic reappeared on the now defunct 205 Live. Of course now (as of this post) he's the lead announcer for NXT. Tom Phillips would eventually be released by WWE and now does commentary for TNA Wrestling.
During the match Tom suggests Asuka is "frustrated" after losing to Becky at the Royal Rumble. She hangs onto the ropes at one point in the match. She rolls out of the ring at another point. Nothing she does is enough to overcome Natalya. Asuka manages to escape Natalya's sharpshooter. Kairi is able to provide a distraction, allowing Asuka to put Natalya in the Asuka Lock and win. Phillips suggests this match felt "personal" to Asuka.
Mar 19, 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
An on-air graphic and announcement reveals the publication The Wrap first published the participants of the Elimination Chamber match for a chance at the Raw Women's Championship.
Later: Kairi Sane vs. Natalya. A recap of the Asuka/Natalya match plays, followed by Natalya sharing a social media post with a black eye sustained during the match. This sets up the Kabuki Warriors mocking Natalya's black eye upon them going down the entrance ramp. Asuka says she will beat Natalya in the Elimination Chamber match, "easy-peasy."
Natalya fails to overcome the Kabuki Warriors in her match, first getting distracted by Asuka to be set up for an elbow by Kairi. The elbow knocks Natalya off the apron. After getting kicked by Asuka outside the ring Natalya loses by count out.
Mar 20, 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