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Kairi appears ringside despite entering the Royal Rumble earlier. Unlike other Asuka matches and appearances, Kairi doesn't interfere in the match.
Asuka gets an early advantage and mostly dominates the early part of this match. Becky has no option but to fight back to the best of her ability. She throws Asuka off the ring. She does a Bexploder outside the ring. She does a leg drop in the ring. She does a Spanish fly off the ropes. It isn't enough. After fighting through an armbar, Asuka Lock attempt, and knee strikes, Becky is tiring. The ref restrains Asuka to check on Becky after the knee strikes. Becky grabs the ref to prevent the match from being stopped. She's greeted with more knee strikes but still prevails. Becky is able to escape an Asuka Lock attempt and dodge strikes but can't get the pin. Becky is able to finally overcome Asuka when Asuka tries to go for a poison mist attack with the referee cornered after an accidental shove. Becky kicks Asuka as the poison mist attack happens, blinding Asuka instead. Becky wins by armbar submission (and because Asuka is temporarily blind).
Mar 18, 2024
Related Recs
Becky says Asuka spitting poison mist in her face helped her see clearly. Maybe it's Asuka who's intimidated by Becky these days, she says. Becky would rather fight Asuka instead of her scheduled opponent, Kairi Sane. Yes, Asuka did win in their SmackDown Women's Championship at last year's Royal Rumble, but who really won in the end? Becky thinks she did, comparing her past year (winning the 2019 Royal Rumble, her match at WrestleMania 35, Becky Two Belts, etc.) to Asuka making soup on YouTube (which I assume is a reference to Asuka's vlog). At the Royal Rumble Becky says she'll collect one last debt--to prove that Asuka can't beat Becky anymore.
The Kabuki Warriors come out to the ring. Asuka hits Becks with Kairi's wagasa before commercial. Asuka sits on ringpost. Becky punches Asuka off the turnbuckle.
Becky wins the match by submission (armbar). Asuka pushes Becky off Kairi with a shining wizard and puts Becky in an Asuka Lock. After the referee gets Asuka off of Becky she issues another kick to Becky.
Mar 17, 2024
After a segment where Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe and the Viking Raiders fight off Seth Rollins, Murphy, and the Authors of Pain (setting up that night's main event), Becky's music starts up and she comes out to the ring. The Kabuki Warriors come out. Asuka speaks Japanese before ending with "easy-peasy."
Tom says Becky is more confident now than she was before fighting Asuka at the Royal Rumble for the title. Kairi is still aiding Asuka--she distracts Becky for a hip attack and takes a punch off the apron from Becky.
Becky wins after scramble pin attempts and a predecessor of the Manhandle Slam. Becky is then attacked by a debuting (on the main roster) Shayna Baszler.
Mar 20, 2024
Becky walks to the ring. It's the debut of a Game of Death/Kill Bill look for Becky. Becky wonders what kind of champion she is. She says she let doubters get to her and doubts forcing a match with Asuka. Becky talks about how her life has changed since becoming champion. She wonders if she should settle and listen to ”the powers that be.” A recap of the following plays afterwards: Becky and Asuka's match at Royal Rumble 2018. Becky entering the women's Royal Rumble match in the same year. Her tag match with Charlotte against the Kabuki Warriors in Manchester. The tag team championship match at TLC 2019. Asuka comes out. She calls Becky stupid in Japanese and does the "Omae wa mou shindeiru” meme before entering the ring. Becky punches Asuka and leaves the ring. Asuka is "irate."
Mar 16, 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