NXT Superstar, Dakota Kai, is going in for surgery to repair a torn ACL. She hasn’t wrestled since an NXT house show in Green Bay on December 17th. Kai was teaming with Candice LeRae & Kairi Sane in a match against Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, and Marina Shafir when the injury occurred.

https://twitter.com/DakotaKai_WWE/status/1085850042924183553

Dakota Kai Statement On Surgery For Torn ACL

“I had always felt invincible. Working through minor injuries was something I never thought twice about because love what I get to do.”

“On December 7th in Green Bay during the last NXT Road Loop of 2018, I planted my foot awkwardly after a kick and I tore my ACL. I put off posting this because I wanted to focus on being home for the holidays and to be honest, I dreaded having to even mention this as I didn’t want to let any of you down. That, over everything, was and is the most heartbreaking feeling in the world.”

“Unfortunately, this will take me out for a bit. I’m surrounded by amazing people, doctors, trainers, and you. It helps more than I can explain especially being so far away from my family. The amount of positivity and support I have received already has been so overwhelming. It’s going to be a tough ride, mentally and physically. I know that. The last thing I want is any sympathy… but hear me when I say this: Within my whole being, I know for sure I will be back stronger than ever. I will hit the ground, running. That’s a promise.”

“‘Above all, don’t fear the difficult moments. The best comes from them.'”

As we reported earlier, Dakota Kai suffered an injury during a match at a recent NXT live event in Green Bay on Friday, 7 December. Details were not available at the time but now the Wrestling Observer has provided some information on the incident.

Kai was a part of a six-woman tag team match where she teamed up with Kairi Sane and Candice LeRae against the trio of NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, and Marina Shafir.

The referee threw up the X symbol when Kai suffered the injury. She was limping and had to be helped to the backstage by trainers.

Dave Meltzer revealed that Kai went through an MRI scan and while not confirmed by doctors yet, it is being said that she is suffering from a torn ACL.

A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) would mean that we can expect Kai to be out of action for six months to ten months.

Nothing has been confirmed officially by WWE or Dakota Kai herself so we’ll just keep our fingers crossed and update as more news comes out.

NXT recently held a live event in Green Bay, Wisconsin. During the event, it looks like one of the show’s stars suffered an injury. A few fans on Twitter posted photos of Dakota Kai dealing with an injury during her match. Kai was part of a Six-Woman Tag Team match. She teamed up with Kairi Sane and Candice LeRae against the trio of NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, and Marina Shafir.

During the contest, the referee threw up the “X” symbol and trainers came out from backstage to help Kai to the back. Kai was reportedly limping on her way out and needed the help of trainers to move. After Kai departed, the match continued on as a standard Tag Team match.

No official details on the severity of Kai’s injury have been made available as of this writing. But we’ll keep you updated as we learn more. Check out some photos from Kai’s incident in Green Bay below:

https://twitter.com/Big_Head_Mikey/status/1071237928028987392

Dakota Kai has to be helped to the back after legit injuring her knee. #NXTGreenBay pic.twitter.com/W4wZ4VZWr9

— Monday Night Rob (@TheRobertCaron) December 8, 2018

NXT and 205 Live will both air tonight on the WWE Network. In the case of NXT, tonight’s episode will be the penultimate before Takeover: WarGames on November 17th.

NXT Preview 11/7

Velveteen Dream vs Lars Sullivan

To the dismay of Lars Sullivan, Velveteen Dream was awarded the title shot at WarGames. Sullivan has vowed to prove tonight he’s the top contender for the NXT title no matter what William Regal decides.

Johnny Gargano Provides Answers

.. next week.

I promise I will tell you EVERYTHING you need to know. Pinky swear!

— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) November 1, 2018

Last month, Johnny Gargano was revealed as the man behind the attack on Aleister Black. Now, Gargano is scheduled to face Black one-on-one at Takeover: WarGames. Tonight, Gargano hs promised to explain why he did what he did. His old DIY tag-team partner, Tommaso Ciampa, might be listening closely to what he says.

Heavy Machinery vs The Forgotten Sons

Two teams looking to move up in NXT’s tag-team division face each other tonight. With teams like the Street Profits, the Mighty, and Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan kicking around the division, there is not much room for error or losses.

Dakota Kai vs Taynara Conti

The captain of Team Kick has been competing in NXT UK in addition to the North American version. She’ll take on Taynara Conti tonight. Conti may not have a single’s victory yet in NXT but she did make it to the 2nd round of the MYC II before losing to Lacey Lane in the 2nd round.

205 Live Preview 11/7

TJP and Lucha House Party Rivalry Continues

Last week, TJP attacked Gran Metalik after the luchador had won a single’s match. TJP ripped off Metalik’s mask as he continues to disrespect lucha libre culture. Tonight, TJP may have his sights set on stealing another member of the factions masks.

Mark Andrews vs Buddy Murphy

The new Cruiserweight Champion, Buddy Murphy, will wrestle Mark Andrews tonight. The champion decided that since tonight’s 205 Live emanates from Manchester that he should take on one of NXT UK’s brightest stars.

Waiting in the wings for Murphy is Mustafa Ali, however. Ali defeated Tony Nese last week in a #1 contenders match.

WWE NXT star Dakota Kai spoke to Stuff to talk about her professional wrestling career. Kai was first asked about getting to compete on the WrestleMania pre-show in April. She took part in a 20-woman Battle Royal at the event in New Orleans:

“It’s still hard to believe that happened. Us girls involved found out literally the night before,” Kai said.

“Before I went down the ramp towards the ring, someone told me that it’s going to be overwhelming, it’s going to be insane but just take a moment, take a breath and absorb it as best you can because it’s going to go by like that and it really did.

“The whole experience was a whirlwind of emotions. Walking out in front of 80,000 people, as you could imagine, it’s the scariest thing in the world. But it was really, really cool.”

Kai then opened up about her professional wrestling career and finally completing her journey to WWE:

“Being here has been my dream for at least the last 13 years. I spent a lot of that time working the independent scene so to be here is still really crazy to me. And from there the opportunity to have a tryout happened and I got offered a contract,” Kai added.

“So it’s been a crazy ride but I’ve never been more passionate about anything in my life. All that travelling was something I loved to do and I always, always hoped that one day I’d be given the opportunity and here we are.”

The captain of Team Kick has been on something of a losing skid as of late. She’s dropped her last two matches in NXT.

Kai was defeated by Shayna Baszler on the May 9th episode of NXT. She had been portrayed as having been scared of the NXT Women’s Champion but finally did overcome her character arc and learned she can compete with the best the brand has to offer.

This week on NXT, Kai lost to Bianca Belair in a match taped from Chicago’s All-State Arena before Takeover: Chicago II. The 30-year-old from New Zealand recently commented on her loss.

https://twitter.com/DakotaKai_WWE/status/1009594515123064833

https://twitter.com/DakotaKai_WWE/status/1009636249974530048

Bianca Belair and Lacey Evans Comment on Dakota Kai

Kai’s loss to Bianca Belair on NXT this week will likely move Belair closer to a title shot. The former track and field star has been moving up the rankings steadily the last few months. Since WrestleMania, Belair has defeated Candice LeRae, Aliyah, and now Dakota Kai.

Belair took to Twitter to claim that after defeating Kai, she is the new captain of Team Kick.

I'm the Captain Now.#TeamKick@DakotaKai_WWE pic.twitter.com/3K8AJdbnp6

— Bianca Belair (@BiancaBelairWWE) June 21, 2018

Another member of NXT’s women’s division, Lacey Evans, also took to Twitter in response to Kai’s recent loss.

Another big match for @DakotaKai_WWE and yet again…another loss. Nxt isn’t for little girls sweetheart. 👒 #StandDown #MoveOver #LadyOfNxt
.@WWENetwork @WWENXT

— Macey Estrella (@LimitlessMacey) June 21, 2018

Evans might be on quite a winning streak but she has lost to Dakota Kai in the past. Kai defeated her earlier this year on the February 8th, 2018 edition of NXT. Evans also lost to Belair on a show which aired last August. The First Lady of NXT recently defeated Kairi Sane, however, seemingly indicating she is in line for a push.

Toni Storm will be the next in line to challenge for Shayna Baszler’s championship. The two will meet next week on the WWE UK Tournament shows. Depending on what happens between Baszler and Storm, Belair or Evans could be the next in line for a title shot.

NXT Women’s Roster:

Champion: Shayna Baszler

• Nikki Cross
• Bianca Belair
• Lacey Evans
• Kairi Sane
• Dakota Kai
• Candice LeRae
• Vanessa Borne
• Taynara Conti
• Aliyah

PROGRESS Wrestling announced last week that NXT Superstar Nixon (Steffanie) Newell would be returning home to the United Kingdom as part of their Chapter 71 show ‘F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.P.R.O.G.R.E.S.S’

‘The Girl with the Shiniest Wizard’ was expected to be challenging PROGRESS Women’s Champion Jinny in a bout for the prestigious title. It was scheduled to be Jinny’s first defence of the belt since defeating the inaugural Champion Toni Storm and ending her nearly year long title reign by exactly a day.

Unfortunately Newell was injured the day before the bout at NXT’s Download Festival event. Nixon did however appear at PROGRESS Chapter 71 and confirmed that she had arranged for a replacement to take on Jinny for her Women’s title…Dakota Kai.

Kai and Newell have been appearing on the road for NXT as a tag team after Nixon made her debut in April at the Venice house show. Newell had been sidelined with an injury practically weeks after signing her NXT contract so this latest setback will hopefully not see her on the bench for a lengthy period of time but the extent of the injury has not yet been revealed publicly.

#TeamKick #Chapter71 pic.twitter.com/koQmvT8vqm

— PROGRESS Wrestling (@ThisIs_Progress) June 10, 2018

In an interview with WWE.com, NXT Superstar Dakota Kai recently mentioned the Rock as one of her early influences.

“My brother was the one who actually got me into WWE,” Kai said when asked about first getting into wrestling. “He watched it all the time, and I started to watch with him. I was hooked on The Rock and his ability to captivate an audience. From there, one of my friends I used to do athletics with told me about a local company that needed more girls. That was in 2007, and I haven’t looked back since.”

The Rock responded to the article and Kai on Twitter.

Very cool and flattering @DakotaKai_WWE. Thank you! Look forward to following your career. Work extremely hard, have FUN in the ring performing for the fans and always stay above bullshit backstage politics 😉🤙🏾👊🏾 https://t.co/OI4PTiW20I

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) June 3, 2018

The Rock Offers Advice to Dakota Kai

“Very cool and flattering @DakotaKai_WWE,” Rock Tweeted. “Thank you! Look forward to following your career. Work extremely hard, have FUN in the ring performing for the fans and always stay above bullshit backstage politics”

Kai and the Rock are both half-Samoan. Kai was also asked if she feels any pressure because of the rich lineage of Samoan wrestlers.

“I never felt any pressure about that,” she explained. “I’ve simply always embraced being ‘afakasi. Mum would make sure us kids would grow up with a strong sense of who we are and where we came from. I’ve visited Samoa twice and visited my mum’s home village of Lepea. She would always make traditional Samoan dishes for us, and we would have family get togethers somewhat regularly. Family is priority within the Samoan community, which means the support system I get from them is amazing.”

Dakota Kai was recently defeated by NXT Women’s Champion, Shayna Baszler, on NXT. The 30-year-old has now been in WWE developmental since April 2017. Before signing with WWE, she wrestled as Evie for promotions such as Shimmer and Stardom. Kai defeated Rhea Ripley as the NXT house show from Fort Pierce, Florida last night.