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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
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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
Charlotte is later interviewed. She's asked about her upcoming match with Asuka as well as her loss at NXT Takeover: In Your House. She claims she didn't lose as she wasn't pinned or submit. She says she elevated the NXT Women's Championship. She also claims Asuka is trying to "steal her moment." Asuka dances in with the Raw Women's Title. "Do you ever take anything seriously?" Charlotte asks. "Yes. Yes, I do," Asuka says before slapping her.
During their match, commentary suggests that Charlotte is downplaying her loss to Io Shirai at TakeOver: In Your House. Bayley and Sasha Banks come back out, this time to sit on commentary. During the break Charlotte sends Asuka flying over the announce desk. Both fight on the outside before entering the ring. The IIconics watch the match behind the plexiglass barricades around the ring. They attack Bayley and Sasha Banks. All are ejected before the last commercial break.
Commentary wonders how much Asuka can handle before her match with Nia Jax at Backlash as Charlotte struggles to take out Asuka. Asuka is able to kick out of a Charlotte spear and places Charlotte into a submission. Nia comes out and interferes, allowing Charlotte to spear and pin Asuka. Nia Samoan Drops Asuka.
Apr 5, 2024
Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya vs. Nia Jax — Winner Challenges Asuka at WWE Backlash: Raw, May 25, 2020
Asuka comes out on commentary. She's asked if she thinks Natalya (after last week) can focus on the match, then if she wants to face Nia. She mostly speaks Japanese but at one point she does lament Kairi's latest fate in English ("Poor Kairi"). Asuka really doesn't like Charlotte currently; she laughs at Charlotte's promo during the Kevin Owens Show and boos the idea of Charlotte becoming a double champion. Okay, not completely: Asuka cheers Charlotte targeting Nia's knee with kicks and a Figure Four/Eight attempt. Asuka tosses Nia back into the ring at one point. She yells at Charlotte to give up after Natalya puts her in a sharpshooter. Then Asuka gets mad when Nia breaks up Natalya's submission attempt and yells when Nia stares her down. Although she's stunned at Nia's Samaon Drop and pin, she displays the Raw Women's Championship in front of Nia after the match.
Apr 2, 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