Tag: dakota kai

Dakota Kai in concussion protocol following WWE Raw injury

Posted on by Ian Carey

Dakota Kai is injured. 

On Monday, our own Bryan Alvarez wrote to his subscribers on X that Kai is in concussion protocol after taking a particularly stiff looking springboard dropkick by Zoey Stark during a match on Raw last week. PWInsider was the first to report that Kai has been pulled from WWE events.

“Yes, Dakota Kai in concussion protocol after being knocked into next week by the dropkick on RAW,” Alvarez wrote.

Kai is not at WWE Raw in Atlanta today, and there is no timetable for her return. 

Kai has dealt with multiple injuries in recent years. She returned to the ring in November after missing three months with a torn meniscus. She also missed from May 2023 to March 2024 after undergoing surgery for a torn ACL. 

Recently, Kai advanced to the tournament finals to crown the inaugural women’s Intercontinental Champion. She won a triple threat against Katana Chance and Shayna Baszler in the opening round and defeated Stark in the semifinals but was then defeated by Lyra Valkyria in the tournament finals.

Lyra Valkyria crowned first-ever WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The first-ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion has been crowned.

Lyra Valkyria defeated Dakota Kai in the finals of the tournament to crown the first-ever champion on Monday’s Raw. The finish had Valkyria move out of the way as Kai was going for a running boot to the corner. Valkyria then hit the nightwing in the middle of the ring for the victory.

After the win, Raw GM Adam Pearce awarded the title to Valkyria as she posed on the turnbuckle, pyro going off as she celebrated.

WWE announced the championship back in November, shortly after they introduced the Women’s United States title on SmackDown. Kai defeated Katana Chance and Shanya Baszler then Zoey Stark in the finals while Valkyria defeated Zelina Vega and Ivy Nile followed by IYO SKY.

In December, Chelsea Green defeated Michin to become the first-ever Women’s United States Champion. In a rematch, Green defeated Michin once again on Friday’s SmackDown to retain the title. NXT was the first to introduce a secondary women’s title with Kelani Jordan becoming the first-ever Women’s North American Champion, a title now held by Fallon Henley.

WWE Women’s Intercontinental title tournament finals set

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The finals to crown the first-ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion are now set.

Lyra Valkyria and Dakota Kai advanced to the finals on Monday’s Raw after both won their semifinal matches. They will meet in two weeks on the January 13 edition of Raw, which moves to Netflix starting next week.

The first match in the semifinals saw Kai defeat Zoey Stark with a fireman’s carry and pele kick. In the second semifinal, Valkyria defeated Kai’s Damage CTRL teammate IYO SKY after countering a roll-up.

Kai was the first to advance out of the first round, defeating Katana Chance and Shayna Baszler. SKY ended up replacing Kairi Sane, who was attacked backstage by the Pure Fusion Collective, putting her out of action. SKY would go on to defeat Alba Fyre and Natalya to make it to the next round.

Prior to SKY’s match on Monday, Kai and SKY talked to one another backstage, hoping to meet each other in the finals of the tournament.

The first-ever Women’s United States Champion was crowned at Saturday Night’s Main Event earlier this month, with Chelsea Green becoming the inaugural champion.

Dakota Kai advances in WWE Women’s Intercontinental title tournament

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The tournament to crown a Women’s Intercontinental Champion is officially underway.

Dakota Kai won the first opening round match on Raw, pinning Katana Chance with a scorpion kick in a match that also featured Shayna Baszler of the Pure Fusion Collective. She’ll now face the winner of the three-way between Zoey Stark, Raquel Rodriguez, and Kayden Carter in the semifinals.

The bracket for the Women’s Intercontinental title tournament was revealed shortly before Raw began on Monday. The other side of the bracket will see Lyra Valkyria, Zelina Vega, and Ivy Nile as well as Alba Fyre, Kairi Sane, and Natalya do battle to determine the other two spots in the semifinals. It isn’t known when the finals to crown the first-ever champion will take place.

A similar tournament is taking place on SmackDown, where the first Women’s United States Champion will be crowned at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14. The final opening round match between Naomi, Tiffany Stratton, and Elektra Lopez.

Dakota Kai returns to in-ring action on WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Dakota Kai is back.

Ahead of Damage CTRL’s match against the Pure Fusion Collective on Monday, it was revealed that Dakota Kai had returned from her injury. The reunited trio defeated Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler, and Sonya Deville in a six-woman tag team match.

Kai has been out of action for the last three months with a torn meniscus. Back in August, she was scheduled to face off against Deville on Raw but was attacked backstage by Pure Fusion, which wrote her off television. 

Collection before the match could begin. 

In the months since Kai’s injury, Damage CTRL has been working as a tag team. They challenged for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles at Crown Jewel earlier in the month, failing to win them. On the next episode of Raw, IYO SKY became the number one contender for the Women’s World Championship held by Liv Morgan.

Asuka is the lone Damage CTRL member still out of action after undergoing knee surgery earlier in the year. Recently, it was reported that she had signed a new long-term contract with WWE.

Dakota Kai out of action with torn meniscus

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Dakota Kai is out of action.

On WWE Raw, Michael Cole announced on commentary that the Damage CTRL member would be out eight to ten weeks with a torn meniscus, and is set to undergo surgery.

Kai was scheduled to face Sonya Deville on last week’s Raw, but was jumped before the match by Deville and new stable members Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark. After the attack, Kai was clutching her knee. SKY replaced her in the match and ended up pinning Deville. In the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer mentioned that the injury angle was to cover for a real injury.

On Monday’s show, SKY and Kairi Sane wrestled Baszler and Stark in a number one contender’s match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles. The match ended without a clear winner after champions Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre interfered, laying out both teams. A triple threat tag team title match was then made for next week’s show.

Another Damage CTRL member, Asuka, is also out of action with a knee injury.

WWE Main Event results: Bronson Reed vs. Tyler Bate

Posted on by James Cox

This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania before Monday’s episode of Raw.

Dakota Kai (w/Kairi Sane) defeated Ivy Nile (5:41)

In the time they had, this was pretty good. Some hard work and neat little things that they did together made this perfectly watchable.

This was actually Kai’s second ever Main Event appearance, having only been on the show once before back in the summer of 2021. It seems like the kind of place that she would have worked more.

Nile used her power and strength in the early moments to show off. A delayed release vertical suplex was the highlight, before Kai took control and slapped on a rest hold.

The crowd got behind Nile as she looked to work her way out and she fired up with a head scissors another suplex for two.

In the end, while Nile was trying to get the thing won, using some roll-up attempts, Sane came on the apron with the distraction and that was enough to turn the match around.

Kai used her scorpion kick followed by the Go To Kick to get the win and she and Sane made off out of there like bandits. Crowd hated which was good heat and you realise how increasingly well-liked Nile is.

Bronson Reed defeated Tyler Bate (w/Pete Dunne) (6:50)

Bate and Reed had a strong match, particularly in the closing minutes. Much like last week, Bate and Dunne could work this show every week and it would be fine by me.

Although Bate did enter with Pete Dunne, they agreed that Bate didn’t need him and so Dunne headed to the back. Seems like a stupid move when you look at the size differential with Bronson Reed, but it isn’t something you see very often on this show, so was a cool little move.

They went to the break after two minutes or so and so the opening moments was all about Bate trying to grapple with Reed to get the upper hand before he got tossed over the top rope.

After the ads and after Bate had worked his way out of the bear hug, they did a killer spot where Bate used three clotheslines to finally topple Reed and then put him in an airplane spin. I loved this and the crowd loved it too but it wasn’t enough to defeat the big guy.

Reed used a big power bomb and then dragged him into position so that he could finish him off with the Tsunami off the top rope.

I’m still not sure that they know what to do with Reed, but if nothing else, his finisher always seems pretty over.

Becky Lynch vs. Dakota Kai added to WWE Raw lineup

Posted on by Ian Carey

A new match has been announced for tonight’s WWE Raw.

Becky Lynch vs. Dakota Kai will now take place on the show. WWE previously revealed that Lynch would be “in action” on Monday’s episode but didn’t reveal Kai as her opponent until today on WWE Now.

“Becky Lynch has found herself on the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour with the two set to battle for the Women’s World title in Saudi Arabia, but first The Man will face a challenge from one of the red brand’s biggest antagonists, Dakota Kai,” Megan Morant said. “With Liv Morgan looming, can Becky Lynch take care of business against Dakota Kai on the road to the championship showdown?”

Five matches are now confirmed for Raw. The show is scheduled for the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

WWE Raw announced lineup for May 13, 2024 —

  • King of the Ring quarterfinal: Ilja Dragunov vs. Jey Uso
  • King of the Ring quarterfinal: Gunther vs. Kofi Kingston
  • Queen of the Ring quarterfinal: Lyra Valkyria vs. Zoey Stark
  • Queen of the Ring quarterfinal: IYO SKY vs. Shayna Baszler
  • Becky Lynch vs. Dakota Kai

Four matches announced for next WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE has announced four matches for the Friday, March 29 SmackDown. 

Following up on an angle from this week’s show where Damage CTRL beat down Bianca Belair & Naomi, Belair will go one-on-one with Dakota Kai on next week’s episode. 

Belair attempted to save Naomi from a four-on-one attack at the hands of Damage CTRL on Friday’s SmackDown, but ultimately fell victim to the numbers game and Damage CTRL stood tall to end the segment. 

A tag team bout with Randy Orton & Kevin Owens teaming against Pretty Deadly’s Elton Prince & Kit Wilson is also set for next week. All four were involved in a backstage promo segment on Friday’s SmackDown, with Owens attacking Pretty Deadly. Orton & Owens will challenge Logan Paul for the United States Championship at WrestleMania 40 in a triple threat match. 

The finals of a tournament to decide which teams will represent SmackDown in the Tag Team Championship ladder match at WrestleMania are also set for next week, with Austin Theory & Grayson Waller vs. The Street Profits, plus New Catch Republic vs. Legado Del Fantasma. 

After it was revealed that Jade Cargill has officially joined the SmackDown roster on this week’s SmackDown, a Cargill appearance on next Friday’s show has also been announced. 

The lineup for the Friday, March 29 WWE SmackDown: 

  • Bianca Belair vs. Dakota Kai
  • Randy Orton & Kevin Owens vs. Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson)
  • WrestleMania qualifying tournament bracket one finals: Legado Del Fantasma (Humberto Carrillo & Angel Garza) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate)
  • WrestleMania qualifying tournament bracket two finals: Austin Theory & Grayson Waller vs. The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins)
  • Jade Cargill’s first appearance as an official SmackDown roster member

Bayley to face Dakota Kai on WWE SmackDown next week

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On the road to WrestleMania, Bayley is set to face off against Dakota Kai in a singles match.

WWE has announced that Bayley vs. Kai will take place on SmackDown next Friday (March 15). The match is happening two weeks after Kai betrayed Bayley and sided with Damage CTRL.

Kai initially pretended like she was going to help Bayley in her feud against Damage CTRL. They were tag team partners against Asuka & Kairi Sane on SmackDown last week. But Kai dropped off the apron when Bayley went to make a tag. She then slapped Bayley before IYO SKY laid Bayley out.

Bayley is facing SKY for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 40. After winning the women’s Royal Rumble, Bayley left Damage CTRL and announced that she would be challenging SKY at WrestleMania.

A sit-down interview with Bayley aired on SmackDown tonight. Bayley promised to do everything in her soul to break Damage CTRL.

Later in the night, Damage CTRL responded to Bayley. Kai claimed that she was always the brains behind Damage CTRL, not Bayley. Kai challenged Bayley to face her on SmackDown next week.

This will be Kai’s first singles match in nearly a year. She was out of action for 10 months due to a torn ACL.

WWE has also announced that Rey Mysterio will appear on next week’s SmackDown. Last Friday, Mysterio returned to WWE programming for the first time since undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus last November.

Mysterio and the LWO are feuding with Santos Escobar and Legado del Fantasma. Dragon Lee defeated Angel on SmackDown tonight, but Legado del Fantasma beat down Lee after the match. It was said on commentary that the LWO weren’t in the building and couldn’t help Lee.

FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee is hosting next week’s SmackDown.

WWE SmackDown (Friday, March 15) —

  • The Rock appears
  • Bayley vs. Dakota Kai
  • Rey Mysterio appears

Dakota Kai’s in-ring return announced for next WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Dakota Kai will return to the ring for the first time since May 2023 on next week’s WWE SmackDown. 

In a match set up with multiple angles on this week’s SmackDown show, Kai & Bayley will face Asuka & Kairi Sane of The Kabuki Warriors as Damage CTRL explodes on the Friday, March 1 episode. 

Kai suffered a torn ACL in a match on May 12, 2023 and has been out of the ring since. 

On this week’s show, Kai was laid out backstage and later told Bayley in the trainer’s room that Asuka & Sane had attacked her. The attack on Kai was never shown, leaving room for the possibility that Kai will swerve Bayley in the match and realign with Asuka, Sane, and IYO SKY in Damage CTRL. 

Also announced for next week, Carlito will take on Santos Escobar in a street fight as the feud between Carlito’s LWO and Escobar’s Legado Del Fantasma will continue. 

WWE revealed earlier on Friday that The Rock will make an appearance on next week’s SmackDown in Glendale, Arizona as well. 

The announced lineup for the Friday, March 1 SmackDown: 

  • The Rock appears
  • Bayley & Dakota Kai vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane
  • Street fight: Carlito vs. Santos Escobar

Dakota Kai doesn’t expect to be cleared for WWE in-ring return until January

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though she’s been making regular appearances on WWE television, Dakota Kai is still a few months away from being able to return to the ring.

Kai underwent surgery in May to repair a torn ACL. While streaming on Twitch on Monday night, Kai was asked when she will be able to wrestle again. Kai said she doesn’t expect to be back in action until January 2024.

“Probably 2024, actually,” Kai responded. “I do think it’s funny that a lot of people are like, ‘She’s not injured at all, look at her walking around.’ But like, ACL injury — I haven’t even learned how to jump and run again yet. I think I’m going to start running this week. But ACL recovery, especially for someone that’s in sport or something like that where you use your legs a lot. Like, if I was a desk worker or something like that, I’d be back in work properly — like fully now. But because it’s wrestling, I won’t be cleared until January.”

At SummerSlam last month, Kai made an appearance to celebrate IYO SKY’s WWE Women’s Championship win. Kai has continued to appear with Damage CTRL on SmackDown since then.

A January return could potentially mean that Kai would be able to compete in the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble match.

Kai previously suffered a torn ACL in December 2018 and underwent surgery for the injury in January 2019.

Dakota Kai was contacted for WWE SummerSlam hours before show

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Dakota Kai had very little time to make it for her SummerSlam cameo.

Kai took to Twitch to detail her SummerSlam experience, where she showed up to congratulate Damage CTRL member IYO SKY after she won the WWE Women’s Championship. She found out that she was wanted for the show at 1 pm Saturday afternoon, the day of the show.

“It’s my sleep in day,” she said. “I’m gonna chill, not even gonna set my alarm. My phone was on ‘Do Not Disturb’…I wake up, my phone is blowing up. My anxiety was just through the roof, I saw all of these missed calls, all these texts…and [Bayley’s] like ‘We need you here!’.

Kai said that there was only one flight that would get her to the pay-per-view on time, Spirit Airlines, an airline that he had never traveled with before. After a flight delay due to mechanical issues, she managed to land in Detroit during the pay-per-view.

“Whatever match was after Shayna and Ronda, we landed,” Kai estimated on when she landed. “And thank goodness, they sent car service to come and get me and then they also had a makeup lady in the car…yes, lucky [SKY winning the title] was semi-main because I definitely wouldn’t have made it, I don’t think.”

At the SummerSlam press conference that took place following the event, Kai said that she was “a ways away” from returning from her torn ACL injury that took place back in May.

WWE’s Dakota Kai to undergo surgery for torn ACL

Posted on by Ian Carey

Dakota Kai is going to be on the shelf for an extended period of time. 

Our own Dave Meltzer has confirmed that Kai suffered a torn ACL during the women’s tag title match on the May 12 edition of SmackDown. She is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow. 

Liv Morgan sustained an injury to her shoulder in the same match. Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that she may require surgery as well. 

Kai’s injury is said to have occurred when she was trying to protect an already-injured Morgan during the match. 

“The word was that [Dakota Kai] was injured after Morgan suffered her shoulder injury and the knee injury came in a spot where she knew Morgan was hurt and was trying to protect her,” Meltzer wrote. 

Recovery time from ACL surgery can range from six months to a year. 

The members of Damage CTRL appeared to be starting an angle that could lead to the group breaking up. However, with Kai injured, it’s not clear how that storyline will move forward. 

Bayley and IYO Sky are scheduled to team up to face Raquel Rodriguez and a partner of her choosing on this week’s SmackDown. 

Injury updates: Dakota Kai, Mark Davis, more

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

We have some updates from all the injuries over the past week plus since what was discussed on last night’s Wrestling Observer Radio.

– There is nothing confirmed on Mercedes Mone past it was either an ankle or a foot injury.

– Mark Davis of Aussie Open had arthroscopic surgery on his knee to repair a torn meniscus. Aussie Open vacated both the New Japan Strong and IWGP Tag Team titles because they would be unable to make their already advertised defense at the June 4 Dominion show in Osaka.

Both titles will be up for grabs at Dominion in a match with EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI. Both teams were to face Aussie Open in a three-way for the IWGP Tag Team only. Because there was no timetable for Davis to return, they vacated the Strong titles as well.

But those close to Davis have said he’ll be back very soon, citing six weeks or perhaps even shorter.

– Dakota Kai’s injury was confirmed as a torn ACL. The injury took place in the same match on May 12 that Liv Morgan was injured in with Raquel Rodriguez & Morgan vs. Kai & Bayley for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles. The word was that she was injured after Morgan suffered her shoulder injury and the knee injury came in a spot where she knew Morgan was hurt and was trying to protect her.

KaI is scheduled for surgery tomorrow.

– Will Ospreay appeared in great pain last night from his right shoulder after his win over Hiroshi Tanahashi in Long Beach, California. He had just returned from an injury to the A/C joint suffered in a match with Davis in the New Japan Cup.

We’ve heard nothing regarding being out of action, only that he was in pain and his actions at the end of the match weren’t selling but were legitimate.