Tensions rose between The Kabuki Warriors at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble, and new backstage footage has revealed just how furious Asuka was after being accidentally eliminated by her own tag team partner, Kairi Sane.
During the Women’s Royal Rumble match, Iyo Sky was trying to eliminate Asuka, who was already standing at the edge of the ring holding the ropes. Sane tried to save Asuka and went to hit Sky, but she escaped. It almost made Sane push her partner to the floor, but she controlled her momentum at the end.
Then Sky pushed Sane, which almost eliminated Asuka, but Sane held her. Sky and Sane then started fighting in the ring while Asuka somehow held to the ropes outside. Sane then went to hit Sky. However, she dodged at the last second, and instead of taking out her intended target, Sane collided with Asuka. “The Empress of Tomorrow” couldn’t hold the rope anymore and fell to the floor.
The elimination left Sane visibly stunned inside the ring. But her shock didn’t last long as Sky capitalized on the chaos and quickly dumped Sane out as well. Cameras briefly caught Asuka on the outside, grabbing Sane by the hair and glaring at her in frustration, but the broadcast quickly moved on as the match continued.
Asuka Gets Her Revenge on Kairi Sane After WWE Royal Rumble Mishap
In newly released footage by WWE, the two Kabuki Warriors were shown heading backstage in a golf cart after their eliminations. Asuka, who was still fuming, suddenly kicked Sane out of the moving cart. Sane was forced to walk the rest of the way backstage as Asuka rode off.
The moment painted a picture of the growing rift between the former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Last month, The Kabuki Warriors lost their tag titles, and the Royal Rumble mishap appears to have pushed their partnership to a breaking point.
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