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Tom Phillips mentions, in a way, WrestleMania 36's tag line: "This year is the only year that's too big for two nights." LOL. The Kabuki Warriors vs. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross is set for WrestleMania.
This match itself starts with Asuka asking Kayden who she is before saying her signature phrase "No one is ready for Asuka." The match ends with Asuka hitting a knee on Kayden before submitting her in the Asuka Lock. Asuka goes to the Raw announce desk (still, for the moment, located near the entrance ramp), grabs a headphone set, and calls out Nikki and Alexa in Japanese.
Mar 26, 2024
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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
A Charly Caruso interview shows the growing rift between Bayley and Sasha Banks when Sasha puts their tag team championships on the line the following week.
Later for Bayley and Sasha's match Nikki Cross, Bayley's Extreme Rules challenger, appears on commentary. Security wants her gone from commentary, but the commentary desk talk them down. Bayley and Sasha argue with Nikki after they make their entrance. The Kabuki Warriors enter shortly thereafter.
Early in the match Bayley rolls out of a kneebar attempt. Bayley uses her time out of the ring to knock off Nikki's headset. It's enough for security to escort Nikki away from commentary and for Bayley to think she's gotten rid of a distraction for the rest of her match.
Before a second commercial break, Bayley uses the time she has after slamming Asuka into the announce desk to grab Nikki's vacated headset to invite Sasha over and to talk into said headset.
After the break Bayley tries to taunt Asuka into using her poison mist attack and mocks her dancing. Asuka charges at Bayley. Bayley tries to grab Asuka's tights but Asuka hits her with a backfist and then a hip attack. Bayley throws Asuka into the turnbuckle but after Sasha kicks Asuka Asuka is able to still kick out of a Bayley pin attempt. Bayley chokes Asuka on the ropes and has Sasha bring over a bottle of water to splash it in Asuka's face. It's then revealed Nikki has escaped security to lurk behind the plexiglass separating the ring from the audience mostly made up of people training at the Performance Center and people already on NXT TV. (And some of them are still on main roster and/or NXT TV to this writing!) Asuka attempts to get in an Asuka Lock but Bayley escapes. Sasha tries to help Bayley escape a second Asuka Lock attempt but Kairi spears Sasha. Asuka wins by pinfall.
Apr 14, 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
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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