Rec
✖️
The original tweet celebrated the Kabuki Warriors returning as a tag team to SmackDown. This person deleted their tweet (it's been screenshotted; the quote tweet read "It's funny because women don't act in Kabuki plays" and Asuka says It’s funny because "Not that Kabuki.
傾く
We know more about Japanese culture than you do."
I'm amazed I missed this a few months ago.
傾く
We know more about Japanese culture than you do."
I'm amazed I missed this a few months ago.
Mar 3, 2024
Related Recs
Rec
Today had to be the day YouTube is slow and weird when I want to share YouTube clips. FML. Anyway.
On commentary, the IIconics deny the teams in the ring title opportunities. Once again the IIconics try to generate heel heat by attempting to say "kabuki" wrong. (This has been mercifully removed from this YouTube edit of the match.)
While we’re here: Ironically the response by smarky types at the time trying to "improve" the Kabuki Warriors’ name with a substitute Japanese word at best and being all-out racist and fetishizing at worst while claiming Vince McMahon would come up with these names was, in my opinion, on the same level as the "kabuki" mispronunciation. (The rec I'm posting after this explains the Kabuki Warriors name and the ignorance of smarks mocking the name. No I’m not sharing these racist “improvements/alternatives“ and you can find that bullshit on blogs doing bad recaps of SmackDown in 2019 and Reddit if you wish.)
Asuka pins Mandy Rose and establishes the reputation of the Kabuki Warriors in the tag division.
While we’re here: Ironically the response by smarky types at the time trying to "improve" the Kabuki Warriors’ name with a substitute Japanese word at best and being all-out racist and fetishizing at worst while claiming Vince McMahon would come up with these names was, in my opinion, on the same level as the "kabuki" mispronunciation. (The rec I'm posting after this explains the Kabuki Warriors name and the ignorance of smarks mocking the name. No I’m not sharing these racist “improvements/alternatives“ and you can find that bullshit on blogs doing bad recaps of SmackDown in 2019 and Reddit if you wish.)
Asuka pins Mandy Rose and establishes the reputation of the Kabuki Warriors in the tag division.
Feb 26, 2024
Rec
I meant to add this in my piece about TLC 2019 but I felt it was distinct enough to rec separately. Here, in Japanese, Asuka talks about how tough the match was while asserting the Kabuki Warriors are still the tag champions. Kairi Sane laughs, says the Kabuki Warriors are “untouchable,” and says no one can take the titles off them. The clip goes into Kairi being pulled from under the ring apron and spraying Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair with a fire extinguisher. Asuka then hits Charlotte and Becky with a kendo stick and a rope. Kairi is able to drive Becky into a steel chair with Asuka.
Mar 13, 2024
Rec
This WWE exclusive explains how Kairi and Asuka initially wanted to call their tag team "Kabuki Girls" but Paige suggested "Warriors" to make the team sound more "fierce."
A comment under the video (look for the "Joshi Warriors" comment and read that thread) says Asuka wanted the name to come across as "eccentric, weird, unusual." And she's not wrong! There's a Japanese verb called kabuku, which translates to English as "to lean" or "to be out of the ordinary." (The fact I looked for this on the Wikipedia page for "kabuki" in the face of an online fan base that'll yell at you for not knowing a wrestler without Googling but will also make racist jokes without Googling Japanese words says a lot.)
In my opinion Paige should've conveyed the Kabuki Warriors were more eccentric than other teams to the WWE audience as well as their opponents instead of "my girls are the best" and explained what the term kabuki meant to an English-speaking audience but oh well.
After their London appearance the Kabuki Warriors and Paige don't appear for several episodes of SmackDown.
A comment under the video (look for the "Joshi Warriors" comment and read that thread) says Asuka wanted the name to come across as "eccentric, weird, unusual." And she's not wrong! There's a Japanese verb called kabuku, which translates to English as "to lean" or "to be out of the ordinary." (The fact I looked for this on the Wikipedia page for "kabuki" in the face of an online fan base that'll yell at you for not knowing a wrestler without Googling but will also make racist jokes without Googling Japanese words says a lot.)
In my opinion Paige should've conveyed the Kabuki Warriors were more eccentric than other teams to the WWE audience as well as their opponents instead of "my girls are the best" and explained what the term kabuki meant to an English-speaking audience but oh well.
After their London appearance the Kabuki Warriors and Paige don't appear for several episodes of SmackDown.
Feb 26, 2024
Top Recs from @roseplantqueen
Rec
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.
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
Rec
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.
* 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
Rec
The context is Mark Henry (the wrestler) was caught on a hot mike saying Kairi didn’t respect the business by staying in a wrestling ring way too long for his liking at WrestleMania XL Saturday, which is…weird, as I feel people (on and offline) weren’t thinking about a woman staying too long in a wrestling ring before a match was a bad thing.
Back to whatever I can post of my Kabuki Warriors watch. (Watching Raw after WrestleMania, so I might be engrossed in that.)
Apr 8, 2024