Rec
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Raw Talk these days is a show hosted remotely in a studio with interviews done remotely. But in 2020 Raw Talk was a show filmed at the Performance Center with guests literally sitting beside the hosts. It also was a time where few Raw Talk episode highlights made YouTube, hence only a summary here. At the end of the July 13, 2020 episode of Raw Talk, the Kabuki Warriors talk about their recent loss to Sasha Banks and Bayley and have hope that Asuka can beat Sasha Banks at Extreme Rules. Kairi expresses a desire to face Asuka for the Raw Womenâs Championship (this never happens, alas). The episode ends with Kairi playing the Kabuki Warriors theme (âWarriorsâ) on her recorder. Speaking of, this is probably the last time Kairi is seen playing a recorder as she hasnât brought it back for her second STARDOM or second WWE runs (as opposed to her wagashi, for example). A clip of the episode that isnât a remixed version of Kairi playing the recorder (as seen on YouTube) can be clicked on above.
Apr 15, 2024
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Rec
Bayley and Sasha Banks introduce a video package (first shown on SmackDown and known on YouTube as "Bayley and Sasha Banks pay tribute to Bayley and Sasha Banks"). They hug after the video finishes and say they are the greatest before the Kabuki Warriors come out. After the Kabuki Warriors are introduced Bayley and Sasha jump them.
Bayley and Sasha have the early momentum in the match until she hits a facebuster and tags in Kairi. Bayley and Sasha regain momentum after knocking Asuka off the apron and stopping Kairi from hitting an InSane Elbow. Bayley and Sasha slam Kairi into the plexiglass.
Asuka and Kairi almost win the tag championship after Asuka kicks and Kairi hits an InSane Elbow on Sasha but Bayley pulls Sasha out of the ring, breaking up the count. Bayley and Sasha win after Sasha reverses Kairi's Sliding D attempt to a Bank Statement.
This would be the last Kabuki Warriors match (not including Survivor Series: WarGames, as members of Damage CTRL) until December 15, 2023.
Apr 15, 2024
Rec
A recap of Asuka and Sasha's match at Extreme Rules plays, followed by a recap of what lead to this match.
Bayley and Sasha Banks come out. They claim Stephanie McMahon is a "bully" and that she's "jealous." Sasha insists they run the company while Bayley spins Sasha's Extreme Rules "win."
The Kabuki Warriors come out. Asuka talks to Kairi. Kairi chases Bayley out of the ring area, seemly taking advantage of the unique stipulation applied to this match (the title can change hands if there is interference, a disqualification, or count out, along with the usual title stipulations).
After a series of strikes from Asuka, Asuka goes for an armbar but escapes being pinned. Sasha goes for a one-legged Boston crab. After that doesn't work and Sasha gets punted out of the ring Sasha starts to get counted out. It's a ruse as Sasha grabs title belts to try and disqualify Asuka. Of course the ruse doesn't work.
Sasha targets and injures Asuka's leg. She tries to take advantage of Asuka's injured leg but she fails to capitalize. Asuka is able to fight back but whenever Sasha gets momentum she tries to target Asuka's leg.
After Asuka is able to hit a missile drop kick on Sasha, the video screen turns on to reveal Bayley (along with the shadow of a boom microphone) slamming Kairi against a ladder and one of the garage doors of the Performance Center. "You think you can jump me?" Bayley says to Kairi. Asuka tries to continue fighting Sasha but gets counted out; she leaves the match after hearing Kairi say her name in agony. "[Asuka's] not gonna help you," Bayley says before fleeing when Asuka hobbles by Kairi's side. Bayley rejoins Sasha in the ring after she's rewarded with the Raw Women's Championship.
After a commercial break Charly Caruso tries to give an update on Kairi's condition in front of the DOCTOR/TRAINER room but are interrupted by Sasha and Bayley using the camera time to celebrate Sasha's title win further. Asuka leaves the DOCTOR/TRAINER room and, after asked about Kairi's condition, yells in Japanese.
This would be Kairi's last appearance in WWE...until 2023.
Bayley and Sasha Banks come out. They claim Stephanie McMahon is a "bully" and that she's "jealous." Sasha insists they run the company while Bayley spins Sasha's Extreme Rules "win."
The Kabuki Warriors come out. Asuka talks to Kairi. Kairi chases Bayley out of the ring area, seemly taking advantage of the unique stipulation applied to this match (the title can change hands if there is interference, a disqualification, or count out, along with the usual title stipulations).
After a series of strikes from Asuka, Asuka goes for an armbar but escapes being pinned. Sasha goes for a one-legged Boston crab. After that doesn't work and Sasha gets punted out of the ring Sasha starts to get counted out. It's a ruse as Sasha grabs title belts to try and disqualify Asuka. Of course the ruse doesn't work.
Sasha targets and injures Asuka's leg. She tries to take advantage of Asuka's injured leg but she fails to capitalize. Asuka is able to fight back but whenever Sasha gets momentum she tries to target Asuka's leg.
After Asuka is able to hit a missile drop kick on Sasha, the video screen turns on to reveal Bayley (along with the shadow of a boom microphone) slamming Kairi against a ladder and one of the garage doors of the Performance Center. "You think you can jump me?" Bayley says to Kairi. Asuka tries to continue fighting Sasha but gets counted out; she leaves the match after hearing Kairi say her name in agony. "[Asuka's] not gonna help you," Bayley says before fleeing when Asuka hobbles by Kairi's side. Bayley rejoins Sasha in the ring after she's rewarded with the Raw Women's Championship.
After a commercial break Charly Caruso tries to give an update on Kairi's condition in front of the DOCTOR/TRAINER room but are interrupted by Sasha and Bayley using the camera time to celebrate Sasha's title win further. Asuka leaves the DOCTOR/TRAINER room and, after asked about Kairi's condition, yells in Japanese.
This would be Kairi's last appearance in WWE...until 2023.
Apr 23, 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 âuntouchable,â 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
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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 didnât respect the business by staying in a wrestling ring way too long for his liking at WrestleMania XL Saturday, which isâŠweird, as I feel people (on and offline) werenât 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