Ex-WWE Star Talks About Release, Misses the Ring, and Teases Return
Dakota Kai has finally opened up about life after WWE, breaking her silence during a recent livestream and offering fans a candid look at where her head is at when it comes to wrestling.
The former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion admitted that while she’s enjoying some much-needed downtime, the itch to wrestle hasn’t gone away.
“I miss wrestling, you guys! I gotta get back into it,” Kai told her viewers. “It’s just one of those things where it has been nice to have a little bit of a break. I’ve been doing it for a long time… It’s nice to take a step back for a while, but I really do miss it.”
A Surprising Release
Kai’s exit from WWE in early 2025 came as a shock to many fans and colleagues alike. At the time, she was still a central figure in Damage CTRL alongside Bayley and IYO SKY — a faction that had become one of WWE’s most prominent acts.
It wasn’t the first time Kai reinvented herself. From her days in NXT’s “black and gold” era, where her heel turn stunned fans, to becoming the first-ever two-time NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, Kai proved time and again that she could adapt and thrive. On the main roster, she added two WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship reigns with SKY to her résumé.
The Road Ahead
Since her release, speculation has swirled about where Kai could land next. Both AEW and TNA Wrestling are said to have interest in the Kiwi star, and with her non-compete clause expired, she’s now free to sign wherever she chooses.
Her Damage CTRL allies have been supportive from afar, with Bayley and SKY both speaking highly of Kai’s contributions to their run. That support, combined with her undeniable talent, has kept fan excitement high about when and where she’ll return to the ring.
🎙️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Dakota Kai is one of those performers who feels like unfinished business. She’s done almost everything there is to do in WWE’s women’s division, but she was never given that sustained singles spotlight run many fans believe she deserves. AEW could use her veteran leadership to bolster their women’s division, while TNA has been thriving on giving established stars fresh starts. Wherever Kai ends up, it seems inevitable that the break is temporary — and her return could be one of the most impactful stories of 2025.
