Professional wrestling tag team
Professional wrestling tag team
The Kabuki Warriors
|
---|
|
|
Members
| Asuka
Kairi Sane
|
---|
Name(s)
| The Kabuki Warriors
|
---|
Former
member(s)
| Paige
(manager)
|
---|
Debut
| April 16, 2019
|
---|
Years active
| 2019?2020
2023?present
|
---|
The Kabuki Warriors
(
カブキウォリア?ズ
,
Kabuki Wori?zu
)
are a Japanese
professional wrestling
tag team
consisting of
Asuka
and
Kairi Sane
. They are both currently signed to
WWE
, where they perform on the
Raw
brand
and are members of
Damage CTRL
. They are former
two-time
WWE Women's Tag Team Champions
, with their first reign being the longest in the title's history. Asuka was a former one-time
Raw Women's Champion
and had won the women's
Money in the Bank
as part of the team.
The team originally formed as
faces
in April 2019 with
Paige
as their manager, before turning
heels
and kicking Paige out the following October. Asuka and Sane amicably split up in July 2020 when the latter left WWE to return to Japan. Sane returned in November 2023 at
Crown Jewel
and the two reunited as part of the
Damage CTRL
stable
.
History
[
edit
]
Women's Tag Team Champions (2019?2020)
[
edit
]
After spending some weeks away to promote the movie
Fighting with My Family
, retired
WWE
wrestler
Paige
made a backstage appearance on the April 9, 2019, episode of
SmackDown
, where she announced that she would be bringing a new tag team to the
SmackDown
women's division to
feud
with
The IIconics
(
Billie Kay
and
Peyton Royce
) for the
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship
.
[1]
A week later, Paige introduced the newly formed team of
Asuka
and
Kairi Sane
, dubbed "The Kabuki Warriors", who subsequently made their debut as a team by teaming with
Bayley
and
Ember Moon
to defeat The IIconics and the team of
Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville
.
[2]
Kabuki Warriors would then pick up wins over
local wrestlers
on the April 30 episode of
SmackDown
and the team of
Rose
and
Deville
on the May 14
SmackDown
, before beginning a feud with The IIconics over the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship throughout the summer.
[3]
[4]
After defeating The IIconics at
live events
in
Tokyo
on June 28,
[5]
The Kabuki Warriors received an opportunity against The IIconics for the tag team championship on the July 16 episode of
SmackDown
which they won by count out; however, The IIconics retained as titles do not change hands by count out unless stipulated.
[6]
On the August 5 episode of
Raw
, The Kabuki Warriors participated in a
fatal four-way tag team elimination match
for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship but were the last ones eliminated by
Alexa Bliss
and
Nikki Cross
.
[7]
They unsuccessfully challenged Bliss and Cross for the titles on the August 12 episode of
Raw
.
[8]
The Kabuki Warriors received another title shot against Bliss and Cross at the
Hell in a Cell
event
, where The Kabuki Warriors won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, after Asuka used
green mist
on Cross, thus showing signs of a
villainous
turn
.
[9]
[10]
The Kabuki Warriors were then
drafted
to the
Raw
brand on the October 14 episode of
Raw
.
[11]
They solidified their status as villains on the October 28 episode of
Raw
by turning on their manager Paige when Asuka spat mist into Paige's face and thus ending their association with her.
[12]
The Kabuki Warriors retained the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship against
Dakota Kai
and
Tegan Nox
on the October 30 episode of
NXT
and
Becky Lynch
and
Charlotte Flair
on the November 11 episode of
Raw
.
[13]
[14]
At
Survivor Series
, The Kabuki Warriors represented Raw in the 5-on-5-on-5 women's
Survivor Series match
against Team SmackDown and Team
NXT
, which Team NXT won. During the match, Asuka turned on her teammate Flair by spitting green mist on her, causing Flair to get eliminated, which led to The Kabuki Warriors beginning a feud with Lynch and Flair.
[15]
[16]
They successfully defended the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship against Lynch and Flair, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, and
Bayley and Sasha Banks
in a fatal four-way match at
Starrcade
.
[17]
[18]
The Kabuki Warriors continued their feud with Lynch and Flair, which led to them defending the titles against Lynch and Flair in the
namesake main event
of the
TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs
event, which Kabuki Warriors retained.
[19]
This led to Asuka entering a feud with Lynch in 2020 over the latter's
Raw Women's Championship
, which Asuka failed to win in subsequent matches at the
Royal Rumble
and the February 10 episode of
Raw
.
[20]
[21]
The Kabuki Warriors would then begin feuding with Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, which led to a match between the two teams at
WrestleMania 36
, where The Kabuki Warriors lost the titles back to Bliss and Cross.
[22]
They unsuccessfully challenged Bliss and Cross for the titles in a rematch on the April 10 episode of
SmackDown
.
[23]
Asuka's Raw Women's Championship reign and Sane's departure (2020)
[
edit
]
On the April 13 episode of
Raw
, Asuka defeated
Ruby Riott
to qualify for the women's
Money in the Bank ladder match
while Kairi Sane lost to
Nia Jax
in a qualifying match.
[24]
Asuka went on to win the match at the
namesake event
, thus winning the women's Money in the Bank contract which allowed her to cash in for a future title shot at the time and place of her choosing.
[25]
The following night on
Raw
, however, Asuka was awarded the Raw Women's Championship by former champion Becky Lynch, who gave the title to Asuka due to her pregnancy, which led to Asuka embracing Lynch and it resulted in The Kabuki Warriors turning into
fan favorites
.
[26]
As the Raw Women's Champion, Asuka became the second
Women's Grand Slam
winner and the third
Women's Triple Crown
winner. The Kabuki Warriors then began feuding with
Sasha Banks
and Bayley as Banks and Asuka fought to a no contest at
The Horror Show at Extreme Rules
after Bayley interfered and counted the pinfall for Banks though Banks was not recognized as champion. On the July 27 episode of
Raw
, Sane was viciously attacked by Bayley backstage during the Raw Women's Championship match between Asuka and Sasha Banks which led to Asuka running to the backstage area where she was counted out and lost the title. This was done to write Sane out of the storylines as she announced her departure from WWE on
Twitter
as she was heading back to Japan to be with her husband, effectively disbanding The Kabuki Warriors.
[27]
[28]
[29]
Reunion and joining Damage CTRL (2023?present)
[
edit
]
Sane returned to WWE at
Crown Jewel
on November 4, 2023, and assisted
Iyo Sky
in retaining her
WWE Women's Championship
.
[30]
On the following episode of
SmackDown
, Sane forgave Bayley for her actions back in 2020 and joined
Damage CTRL
. Later that night, during a six-woman tag team match pitting Asuka with
Bianca Belair
and Charlotte Flair against Damage CTRL (Bayley, Sky, and Sane), Asuka turned on her teammates to reunite with Sane and Sky and subsequently joined Damage CTRL the following week.
[31]
[32]
Damage CTRL faced the team of Belair, Flair,
Shotzi
and
Becky Lynch
in a
WarGames match
at
Survivor Series: WarGames
but were defeated after Lynch pinned Bayley.
[33]
On the December 15 episode of
SmackDown
, Asuka and Sane defeated
Michin
and
Zelina Vega
in their first return tag team match as The Kabuki Warriors.
[34]
On the January 26, 2024 episode of
SmackDown
, The Kabuki Warriors defeated
Katana Chance
and
Kayden Carter
to become the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.
[35]
This is The Kabuki Warriors' record-tying second reign as a team and Asuka's record-setting fourth reign individually as champion. The Kabuki Warriors went onto retain their titles against Chance and Carter in a rematch on the February 5 episode of
Raw,
and against
Candice LeRae
and
Indi Hartwell
at the
Elimination Chamber: Perth
pre-show. At
NXT Roadblock
on March 5, The Kabuki Warriors defeated
Tatum Paxley
and
NXT Women's Champion
Lyra Valkyria
to retain their titles. At
Backlash France
on May 4, The Kabuki Warriors lost the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship to the team of
Bianca Belair
and
Jade Cargill
, ending their second reign at 99 days.
[36]
Two days later on
Raw
, it was reported that Asuka has suffered an unspecified injury and was pulled out from the
Queen of the Ring
tournament.
[37]
Championships and accomplishments
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Trionfo, Richard (9 April 2019).
"WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: KOFI'S CELEBRATION, SAMI PULLS A LACEY, TAG TITLE MATCH TIMES TWO, AND MORE"
.
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. Retrieved
26 May
2020
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"WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: NEW FACES, EIGHT WOMAN TAG MATCH, A NEW MEMBER OF THE NEW DAY (FOR A DAY), AND MORE"
.
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.
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2020
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.
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2020
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.
PWInsider
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.
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.
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.
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.
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2020
.
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.
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.
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30 May
2020
.
- ^
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.
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.
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. Retrieved
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2020
.
- ^
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.
Wrestleview
.
Archived
from the original on 27 January 2021
. Retrieved
30 May
2020
.
- ^
Mike Tedesco (October 30, 2019).
"WWE NXT Results ? 10/30/19 (Finn Balor explains, WWE Women's Tag Team Title match)"
.
Sportskeeda
.
Archived
from the original on 29 September 2021
. Retrieved
30 May
2020
.
- ^
Mike Tedesco (November 11, 2019).
"WWE Raw Results ? 11/11/19 (Seth Rollins' Survivor Series team, Women's Tag Titles)"
.
Wrestleview
.
Archived
from the original on 24 September 2020
. Retrieved
30 May
2020
.
- ^
Powell, Jason (November 24, 2019).
"WWE Survivor Series Kickoff Show results: Powell's live review of Lio Rush vs. Kalisto vs. Akira Tozawa for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship"
.
Pro Wrestling Dot Net
.
Archived
from the original on November 29, 2019
. Retrieved
November 24,
2019
.
- ^
Powell, Jason (November 24, 2019).
"WWE Survivor Series results: Powell's live review of Brock Lesnar vs. Rey Mysterio in a No Holds Barred match for the WWE Championship, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Universal Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Bayley in a non-title match"
.
Pro Wrestling Dot Net
.
Archived
from the original on November 29, 2019
. Retrieved
November 24,
2019
.
- ^
Powell, Jason (December 1, 2019).
"12/1 WWE Starrcade results: Live updates on the full event, including the WWE Network broadcast"
.
Pro Wrestling Dot Net
.
Archived
from the original on December 3, 2019
. Retrieved
May 30,
2020
.
- ^
Johnson, Mike (December 1, 2019).
"COMPLETE WWE STARRCADE 2019 COVERAGE"
.
PWInsider
.
Archived
from the original on December 7, 2019
. Retrieved
May 30,
2020
.
- ^
Powell, Jason (15 December 2019).
"Powell's WWE TLC live review: The Kabuki Warriors vs. Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair vs Asuka in a TLC match for the Smackdown Tag Titles, Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin in a TLC match, Bray Wyatt vs. The Miz, Rusev vs. Bobby Lashley in a tables match"
.
Pro Wrestling Dot Net
.
Archived
from the original on 15 December 2019
. Retrieved
December 15,
2019
.
- ^
Powell, Jason (January 26, 2020).
"WWE Royal Rumble results: Powell's live review of the Royal Rumble matches, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan in a strap match for the WWE Universal Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Asuka for the Raw Women's Championship"
.
Pro Wrestling Dot Net
.
Archived
from the original on January 27, 2020
. Retrieved
January 26,
2020
.
- ^
Mike Tedesco (February 10, 2020).
"WWE Raw Results ? 2/10/20 (Becky Lynch vs. Asuka for the Raw Women's Championship)"
.
Wrestleview
.
Archived
from the original on 23 May 2020
. Retrieved
30 May
2020
.
- ^
Powell, Jason (April 4, 2020).
"WrestleMania 36 results: Powell's live review of night one featuring Goldberg vs. Braun Strowman for the WWE Universal Championship, Undertaker vs. AJ Styles in a Boneyard match, Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler for the Raw Women's Championship, Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens"
.
Pro Wrestling Dot Net
.
Archived
from the original on April 6, 2020
. Retrieved
April 4,
2020
.
- ^
Mike Tedesco (April 10, 2020).
"WWE SmackDown Results ? 4/10/20 (WrestleMania fallout, Braun Strowman new champion)"
.
Wrestleview
.
Archived
from the original on 25 April 2020
. Retrieved
30 May
2020
.
- ^
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.
Wrestleview
.
Archived
from the original on 19 April 2020
. Retrieved
30 May
2020
.
- ^
Powell, Jason (May 10, 2020).
"WWE Money in the Bank results: Powell's review of the Climb The Corporate Ladder MITB matches, Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship, Braun Strowman vs. Bray Wyatt for the WWE Universal Championship, Bayley vs. Tamina for the Smackdown Women's Championship"
.
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.
Archived
from the original on May 19, 2020
. Retrieved
May 10,
2020
.
- ^
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"WWE Raw Results ? 4/13/20 (Drew McIntyre and Becky Lynch to appear, MITB Qualifiers)"
.
Wrestleview
.
Archived
from the original on 9 August 2022
. Retrieved
30 May
2020
.
- ^
"My time in the NXT & WWE locker rooms was incredible. Everyone was kind, funny, & talented, so every day was full of happiness. Also, I was saved by the supportive staff behind the scenes. I will forever love & respect all these professionals I had the pleasure of working with.Four leaf clover"
.
Twitter
.
Archived
from the original on 2020-07-28
. Retrieved
2020-07-29
.
- ^
"I was able to accomplish so much in the last three years, but it wasn't because of my ability or my strength. It was because of all of the constant, warm support from the fans. I am so thankful I could meet you all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,Kairi Sane"
.
Twitter
.
Archived
from the original on 2020-07-28
. Retrieved
2020-07-29
.
- ^
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- ^
"WWE Raw Women's Championship"
.
WWE
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Archived
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. Retrieved
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2020
.
- ^
"WWE Women's Tag Team Championship"
.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
.
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.
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.
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.
External links
[
edit
]
|
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Raw
| Men's division
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Women's division
| |
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Stables and
tag teams
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Other on-air talent
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Referees
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SmackDown
| Men's division
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Women's division
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Stables and
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Other on-air talent
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Referees
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Performance
Center
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See also
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