Tag: Asuka

Women’s Championship presentation announced for WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A Women’s Championship presentation is set to go down on SmackDown tonight.

WWE has announced that Asuka will be presented with a new WWE Women’s Championship on tonight’s episode of SmackDown. Asuka currently holds the Raw Women’s title but is a member of the SmackDown roster.

“Tonight on SmackDown, Raw Women’s Champion Asuka will have a WWE Women’s Championship Presentation,” WWE wrote. “The WWE Universe will be waiting with bated breath to see how Asuka reacts and what the new design will look like.”

Asuka became Raw Women’s Champion by defeating Bianca Belair at Night of Champions last month.

At the time of the WWE Draft, Belair was the Raw Women’s Champion and Rhea Ripley was the SmackDown Women’s Champion. They changed brands in the draft with Belair moving to SmackDown and Ripley being selected by Raw.

Ripley still holds the SmackDown Women’s Championship. She retained against Natalya at Night of Champions.

SmackDown is taking place at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa tonight. Here’s what’s been announced for the episode:

  • Jey Uso makes his choice (whether he’s siding with Jimmy Uso or Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa)
  • Women’s Championship presentation with Asuka
  • Men’s Money in the Bank qualifying match: Santos Escobar vs. Mustafa Ali
  • Men’s Money in the Bank qualifying match: Butch vs. Baron Corbin
  • Women’s Money in the Bank qualifying match: Bayley vs. Michin
  • Women’s Money in the Bank qualifying match: IYO SKY vs. Shotzi

Asuka wins Raw Women’s title at WWE Night of Champions

Posted on by Joseph Currier

For the first time in more than a year, the Raw Women’s Championship has changed hands.

Asuka put an end to Bianca Belair’s title reign by defeating her at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Belair was champion for 420 days before dropping the title to Asuka.

An innovative use of blue mist led to Asuka getting the victory over Belair. Before Belair went for the KOD, Asuka spit the mist into her own taped up fingers. Belair picked up Asuka for the KOD, but Asuka raked Belair’s eyes with the mist. With Belair blinded, Asuka hit two kicks and pinned Belair to win the Raw Women’s Championship.

Belair vs. Asuka was a rematch from WrestleMania 39. Asuka lost that first meeting but returned to WWE programming two weeks ago and resumed her feud with Belair.

Though she’s the Raw Women’s Champion, Asuka is a member of the SmackDown roster. Both Asuka and Belair moved to SmackDown in the WWE Draft.

SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley was selected by Raw in the WWE Draft. Ripley retained her title against Natalya at Night of Champions.

Belair had been Raw Women’s Champion since winning the title from Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022.

Asuka vs. Zelina Vega added to WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ahead of challenging for the Raw Women’s title at Night of Champions, Asuka will be in action on SmackDown tonight.

WWE has announced Asuka vs. Zelina Vega for tonight’s episode of SmackDown. The show is taking place at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.

Asuka returned to WWE television last Friday and resumed her feud with Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. A celebration for Belair was being held, but Asuka ruined it by spitting mist into Belair’s face.

Belair retained the Raw Women’s Championship against Asuka at WrestleMania 39 this April. Both were then selected by SmackDown in the WWE Draft.

The rematch between Belair and Asuka is set for Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 27.

Vega was also recently in Women’s title contention. Rhea Ripley defeated Vega at Backlash to retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

The updated card for tonight’s show is listed below:

  • Face-to-face segment with Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa and Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
  • The Usos vs. The LWO (Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar)
  • The Grayson Waller Effect with guest AJ Styles
  • The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Butch) vs. Pretty Deadly
  • The Street Profits vs. LA Knight & Rick Boogs
  • Asuka vs. Zelina Vega

Raw Women’s title match official for WWE Night of Champions

Posted on by Ian Carey

The Raw Women’s Championship match has been confirmed for Night of Champions. 

WWE revealed on Thursday that Bianca Belair will defend her title against Asuka on the show in a rematch from WrestleMania 39.

An angle to set up the match took place on SmackDown last week from Belair’s hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. Asuka interrupted Belair’s Championship Celebration segment and spewed a toxic mist into the champion’s face. Belair was later shown in the back receiving medical attention. 

Belair was drafted to SmackDown but still holds the Raw Women’s title. The SmackDown Women’s Champion, Rhea Ripley, is assigned to Raw. In previous years, WWE has held title exchange segments involving the champions switching belts. However, this has yet to happen with Ripley and Belair. 

WWE Night of Champions, Saturday, May 27, 1 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock & WWE Network —

  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn defend against Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa
  • Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Asuka 
  • Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes
  • World Heavyweight Championship tournament finals: Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles
  • Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch
  • Intercontinental Championship: Gunther defends against Mustafa Ali

Asuka to challenge Bianca Belair at WWE WrestleMania 39

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Bianca Belair now knows who her WrestleMania opponent will be.

Asuka will challenge Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 39. That was confirmed when Asuka defeated Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan, Nikki Cross, Natalya, and Carmella in an Elimination Chamber match on Saturday night.

Asuka was the last woman to enter the Elimination Chamber. She eliminated Carmella to win the match and was also involved in eliminating Rodriguez and Morgan.

The final three wrestlers left at the end were Asuka, Carmella, and Rodriguez. Asuka and Carmella worked together to eliminate Rodriguez, then Asuka submitted Carmella with an armbar.

A more aggressive version of Asuka returned to WWE in last month’s women’s Royal Rumble match. Asuka made it to the final three of the Rumble before being eliminated by Rhea Ripley.

WrestleMania 39 is taking place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2. Three matches have already been confirmed for the event:

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes
  • SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defends against Rhea Ripley
  • Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Asuka

Asuka vs. Liv Morgan set for WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Before taking part in Saturday’s women’s Elimination Chamber match, Asuka and Liv Morgan will face off on SmackDown.

WWE has announced that Asuka vs. Morgan will take place on SmackDown this Friday. The match was made official after Morgan challenged Asuka on social media.

Asuka, Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Nikki Cross, Natalya, and Carmella will be the six participants in the women’s Elimination Chamber match at this Saturday’s pay-per-view. The winner earns a Raw Women’s Championship shot against Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 39.

On Raw earlier this week, Asuka, Cross & Carmella defeated Morgan, Rodriguez & Natalya. Asuka attacked everyone in the match, including her own partners. The match ended with Asuka submitting Morgan.

WWE will be at the Bell Centre in Montreal for back-to-back nights this Friday and Saturday. The updated lineup for SmackDown can be seen below:

  • Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends against Madcap Moss
  • Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler vs. Natalya & Shotzi
  • Drew McIntyre & Sheamus vs. The Viking Raiders
  • Asuka vs. Liv Morgan

Two triple threat matches with title implications set for WWE Raw

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has revealed how the next challenger for Bianca Belair’s Raw Women’s Championship will be decided.

It was announced this afternoon that two triple threat matches will take place on tonight’s episode of Raw. The winners of those matches will advance to face each other next week, with the winner of that match getting a future shot at Belair’s title.

Bayley vs. Asuka vs. Rhea Ripley and Nikki Cross vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch are the two triple threat bouts set for tonight.

All six competitors in the triple threats were involved in the women’s WarGames match at Survivor Series. Belair, Lynch, Asuka, Bliss & Mia Yim defeated Bayley, Dakota Kai, IYO SKY, Cross & Ripley in WarGames.

Belair has been Raw Women’s Champion since winning the title from Lynch at WrestleMania 38 this April. She recently retained against Bayley at both Extreme Rules and Crown Jewel.

The Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. is hosting tonight’s Raw. Here’s what’s been announced for the show:

  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos defend against Matt Riddle & Elias
  • Bayley vs. Asuka vs. Rhea Ripley
  • Nikki Cross vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch
  • JBL will host an invitational poker tournament

Daily Update: Roman Reigns record, Asuka & IYO SKY, Jim Ross

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

INLINE

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

*Match and performer of the week
*WWE business in detail, explanations and comments from Nick Khan, Paul Levesque and Stephanie McMahon
*Where revenue increased
*Numbers after the first nine months of the year
*WWE current value
*Lots of talk on the Bray Wyatt angle and how it performed
*Levesque talks the Wyatt angle
*Levesque talks future booking
*Notes on how the major events performed
*New TV shows WWE is producing
*Nick Khan talks sports rights
*Vince McMahon investigation notes
*How Raw and Smackdown are dong compared to the rest of television
*Why the USA Network needs Raw or it will become an also-ran station
*Khan talks future of television
*WWE attendance
*Nick Khan’s contract
*Jeff Jarrett, Colt Cabana, Katsuyori Shibata and Mike Tyson in AEW
*Jarrett’s planned role
*Why Cabana was brought back
*The back story on Shibata
*WWE Crown Jewel note
*The first pro wrestling show at the new Ariake Arena
*Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Great Muta and how it was set up
*New Japan’s Rumble on 44th Street coverage
*UFC weekend coverage
*The most detailed look at TV numbers over the past week
*Streaming and international TV numbers
*Wrestler gets heat from the family of the originator of his gimmick’
*Stardom PPV coverage
*Popular wrestling TV show being revived in 2023
*Vikingo debuts outside Mexico
*MLW recent hires from ROH
*Dynamite ratings for the year as compared to last year
*AEW stars in England
*Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva PPV numbers
*WWE PPV updates
*WWE returns
*WWE injury notes
*Story behind recent WWE cuts
*Sheamus wedding
*Ticket sales for upcoming shows

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

September 21, 2005 Observer Newsletter: Spike & WWE counterprogram one another, TNA Unbreakable

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Tuesday News Update

WWE

  • As of today, Roman Reigns has reached the 800 day mark as WWE Universal Champion. He defeated Braun Strowman and then-champion Bray Wyatt to win the title at Payback on August 30, 2020.
  • Wendy Choo vs. Tamina and Xyon Quinn vs. Akira Tozawa was taped for this week’s Main Event prior to Monday’s Raw.
  • A translation of the promo Monday night between Asuka and IYO SKY.
  • Nikki Cross on Twitter wrote about discarding the 24/7 Championship: “Il do whatever I want with it. Dump it on the Floor, inside the trash, outside in a dump, an incinerator…..bury the thing in a graveyard. Please, by all means, try and argue with me, try to stop me. I welcome it please. Hehehehehehehe honestly I won’t bite.”
  • Omos recently returned to Nigeria, surprising his family.
  • The Special Olympics has a school of strength section on their website that features Drew McIntyre.
  • Former WWE star Gene Snitsky attended Monday’s Raw, writing on Instagram: “Like I never left! @wwe @tripleh @wwenetwork THANKS for the hospitality my wife @mrssnitsky1 and I had a blast…. was great seeing everyone yesterday! Truly the greatest show on earth.”
  • Free matches added to WWE’s YouTube page today include Lita vs. Molly Holly from Survivor Series 2003, John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt from WrestleMania XXX, and Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso from WWE Clash of Champions 2020.

AEW

  • AEW Road to Boston, which focuses on Sammy Guevara vs. Bryan Danielson 2 out of 3 falls, and Ethan Page vs. Eddie Kingston in an AEW World title eliminator tournament match.
  • This week’s Sammy Guevara vlog.

Other Wrestling

  • Jim Ross noted on his ‘Grilling JR’ podcast that he will be speaking to Dark Side of the Ring for an upcoming look at The Junkyard Dog.
  • Tonight’s Tales from the Territories will focus on Polynesian Pro Wrestling, which was run by The Rock’s grandfather Peter Maivia and later his grandmother, Leah Maivia.
  • Fightful spoke to Gisele Shaw about Impact, WOW, and more.
  • WrestlePro will stream their 100th event for free this Saturday.
  • Matt Cardona spoke to ComicBook about his upcoming match for the NWA World Championship at NWA Hard Times 3.
  • Former NXT UK talent Amale spoke to PWMania about her time with the promotion while also expressing interest in the NXT Europe project. For sure. I am loving the freedom I have as an independent wrestler right now, like I want to go across the world, get better, win titles and fight for many promotions, but I would love to part of NXT Europe as it is going to be really special. Like NXT UK, it is going to be big and I’m sure it will be a place where so much talent can go, become very good wrestlers and make great matches for the fans to see. Because of that, I want to be there. This is no gimmick, this is my life and I want to realize my dreams.”
  • Will Hobbs vs. Rocky Romero has been added to Defy’s November 26 event.
  • The Kingdom vs. The Briscoes has been added to WrestleCade Supershow weekend on November 26.
  • Warhorse announced he and his wife are expecting a child.

Damage CTRL regain Women’s Tag Team titles at WWE Crown Jewel

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Just five days after winning the titles, Alexa Bliss & Asuka’s Women’s Tag Team Championship reign has come to an end.

Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & IYO SKY) regained the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles by defeating Bliss & Asuka at Saturday’s Crown Jewel pay-per-view. Damage CTRL were able to get the victory after interference by Nikki Cross.

Bliss was about to hit Twisted Bliss on Kai near the end of the match, but Cross attacked Bliss and laid her out with a swinging fisherman’s neckbreaker. The referee was distracted by Asuka and SKY fighting in the ring and didn’t see Cross interfere. Kai then pinned Bliss to get the victory.

Bliss & Asuka had defeated Kai & SKY in the main event of Raw this past Monday to win the Women’s Tag Team titles.

This is Kai & SKY’s second reign as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.

Nikki Cross reemerged on Raw last month, ditching her “Almost A Superhero” character for a return to her more chaotic and unhinged persona.

Women’s Tag Team title rematch set for WWE Crown Jewel

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A WWE Women’s Tag Team title rematch will take place at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia this Saturday.

WWE has announced that Alexa Bliss & Asuka will make their first Women’s Tag Team title defense as they face Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & IYO SKY) at Crown Jewel. Bliss & Asuka dethroned Kai & SKY as Women’s Tag Team Champions on last night’s episode of Raw.

After being laid out by Damage CTRL four weeks ago, Bliss & Asuka made their return to WWE television by saving Bianca Belair from a Damage CTRL beatdown on last night’s Raw. That led to Bliss & Asuka facing off with Kai & SKY in the main event.

Damage CTRL’s Bayley is challenging Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship in a Last Woman Standing match at Crown Jewel.

Belair and Bayley were at ringside for the Women’s Tag Team title match on last night’s Raw. Bayley ended up giving Belair a Bayley-to-Belly off the barricade and through a pair of tables.

The Crown Jewel main card streams live on Peacock/WWE Network starting at noon Eastern time this Saturday (November 5). Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Logan Paul
  • Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley
  • Last Woman Standing match: Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Bayley
  • Steel cage match: Drew McIntyre vs. Karrion Kross
  • Braun Strowman vs. Omos
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos defend against Ridge Holland & Butch
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss & Asuka defend against Dakota Kai & IYO SKY
  • The OC (AJ Styles, Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) vs. The Judgement Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio)
  • Bray Wyatt will appear

WWE Raw video highlights: Title change, Lesnar/Lashley pull-apart brawl

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Raw’s go-home show for Crown Jewel included a title change.

In the main event of last night’s Raw, Alexa Bliss & Asuka dethroned Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & IYO SKY) to become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. The title match was made official after Bliss & Asuka returned earlier in the episode, saving Bianca Belair from a Damage CTRL beatdown.

Bayley got involved in the Women’s Tag Team title match until being countered by Belair. A brawl between the two ended with Bayley giving Belair a Bayley-to-Belly off the barricade and through a table.

With Bayley and Belair out of the picture, Bliss took out Kai and Asuka avoided a moonsault from SKY. Bliss hit Twisted Bliss on SKY to get the victory.

This was Bliss & Asuka’s first appearance on WWE television since being laid out by Damage CTRL four weeks ago.

Belair is defending her Raw Women’s Championship against Bayley in a Last Woman Standing match at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia this Saturday.

Plus, last night’s Raw featured a pull-apart brawl between Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley ahead of their match at Crown Jewel. Officials, security, wrestlers, and even Triple H tried to break up the brawl and restore order.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Bianca Belair vs. Nikki Cross

Alexa Bliss and Asuka save Bianca Belair from Damage CTRL beatdown

Brock Lesnar/Bobby Lashley pull-apart brawl

Seth Rollins vs. Austin Theory

Roman Reigns knocks out The Miz

The Miz threatens to file a defamation suit if Johnny Gargano’s tell-all interview airs

Karl Anderson vs. Damian Priest

MVP will have a surprise for Braun Strowman on SmackDown this Friday night

R-Truth interrupts Baron Corbin and JBL, gets laid out with End of Days

Trick or Street fight: Matt Riddle vs. Otis

Mustafa Ali vs. The Miz

WWE Investigates: Johnny Gargano’s tell-all interview

Dakota Kai & IYO SKY vs. Alexa Bliss & Asuka for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles

Raw fallout: Alexa Bliss & Asuka knew they could dethrone Damage CTRL

Raw fallout: Elias isn’t ready to team with Matt Riddle quite yet

Raw Talk: The OC, Judgment Day, The Miz appear

Alexa Bliss & Asuka win Women’s Tag Team titles on WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The end of Monday’s Raw saw new Women’s Tag Team Champions crowned.

Asuka and Alexa Bliss defeated IYO SKY and Dakota Kai to win the titles for the first time as a team. The finish came when Asuka blocked IYO SKY’s moonsault, connecting with a kick. Bliss then hit SKY with the Twisted Bliss, picking up the win.

This ends SKY and Kai’s run with the titles after 50 days. They defeated Aliyah and Raquel Rodrigez to win the titles on the September 12, 2022 edition of Raw.

Bliss and Asuka made their return to Raw on Monday after being laid out on the October 3 edition of the show by Damage CTRL. They made the save for Bianca Belair, who was being attacked by all three members of the group. Later, Bliss challenged the champions to a title match, which was confirmed later in the show.

Belair and Bayley, who are scheduled to meet each other at Crown Jewel on Saturday, were at ringside for the match seconding the two teams. They ended up in a brawl, with Bayley sending both she and Belair through tables outside the ring announcer’s area.

Alexa Bliss & Asuka advance in WWE Women’s Tag Team title tournament

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Alexa Bliss and Asuka are headed to the next round of the WWE Women’s Tag Team title tournament.

On Monday’s Raw, Bliss and Asuka defeated Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H. to advance. The finish had Bliss knocking out Nikki as Asuka submitted Doudrop with an armbar.

With the win, Bliss and Asuka will now meet IYO SKY and Dakota Kai, who advanced last week by defeating Tamina and Dana Brooke. After Asuka and Alexa Bliss won their match tonight, they were confronted by Kai and SKY, as the two teams have been feuding in recent weeks.

On SmackDown this past Friday, Raquel Gonzalez and Aliyah defeated Xia Li and Shotzi to advance. They will meet the winners of a Natalya & Sonya Deville vs. Nikkita Lyons & Zoey Stark match that will take place on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown.

The winners of the tournament will be crowned the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. The titles have been vacant since May, when Sasha Banks and Naomi were stripped of the titles and suspended by the company after walking out of Raw.

Six-woman tag team match added to WWE Clash at the Castle

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A six-woman tag team match has been added to Clash at the Castle.

Bianca Belair issued the challenge on behalf of Asuka and Alexa Bliss. Bayley accepted for her, ISO SKY, and Dakota Kai, agreeing to a match for September 3 in Cardiff, Wales.

Bayley made her return to WWE following knee surgery at SummerSlam last month, introducing Dakota Kai and IYO SKY to the main roster. The following Monday on Raw, Bayley, SKY, and Kai made their intentions known by attacking Asuka and Bliss during their match against one another. Later, a match between SKY and Belair ended after Bliss and Asuka attacked Bayley and Kai in the ring.

Here is the current lineup for Clash at the Castle:

  • Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
  • Liv Morgan vs. Shayna Baszler for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship
  • Bianca Belair, Asuka, and Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY

WOL Saturday: Vince’s boomer entertainment

Posted on by Jim Valley

Wrestling Observer Live Saturday is back with Jim Valley. 

We have a Money in the Bank preview including the only match that isn’t predictable. WWE SmackDown, meanwhile, had a good old fashion battle royal, the New Vicious Viking Raiders, Maximum Male Models about 15 years too late, and why WWE feels more like World Boomer Entertainment than a product that reflects a changing, new world. 

Plus, Rampage, Kenny Omega and more.

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