Dakota Kai, born Cheree Georgina Crowley on 6 May 1988, is a New Zealand professional wrestler who has gained global recognition through her work with WWE.
Known for her agility, striking ability, and tactical mindset, Kai initially found success on the NXT brand, where she became a two-time NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion.
Her prominence continued to grow when she joined the main roster, becoming a key member of the Damage CTRL faction alongside Bayley and IYO SKY.
Dakota Kai’s versatility in the ring and her ability to lead and betray allies have made her a formidable presence in WWE.
File
- Full name: Cheree Georgina Crowley
- Date of birth: May 6, 1988
- Age: 36 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Auckland, New Zealand
- Nationality: New Zealand
- Occupation: Professional wrestler
- Height: 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm)
- Parents: Not applicable
- Siblings: Two (Cyrene, an MMA fighter, and Earl, a DJ)
- Spouse: Not applicable
- Children: Not applicable
- Relationship status: Private, rumored to be close friends with Shayna Baszler
- Religion: Not applicable
- Ethnicity: Samoan and European descent
- Net worth: 3 million USD
Early life and education
Dakota Kai, currently 36 years old, was born on May 6, 1988 in Auckland, New Zealand, into a family of European and Samoan descent.
Her mother is from the village of Lepea in Samoa, an important part of Kai’s culture.
Growing up in Auckland, she played sports from a young age, although little is known about her formal education.
Kai first ventured into professional wrestling in 2007, starting with the Auckland promotion before moving on to larger promotions in Australia, Japan and the United States.
Her early life was focused on cultivating her wrestling career with no publicly available details of any formal college education or other qualifications.
Personal life
Dakota Kai is quite private about her personal life. She is not married and has no children.
Although her private life remains largely private, she is known to have close friendships with fellow wrestlers Shayna Baszler and Mia Yim, even sharing a house with Baszler in Florida.
There is no public information about her romantic relationships and she seems to focus much of her attention on her professional wrestling career.
Career
Dakota Kai’s wrestling journey began in 2007 with Impact Pro Wrestling in Auckland, New Zealand, where she performed under the ring name Evie.
Over the next decade, she gained experience with various promotions across Australia and Japan, including Shimmer Women’s Athletes and World Wonder Ring Stardom. She became a rising star in the international wrestling scene.
In 2017, Kai signed with WWE and participated in the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament, where she reached the quarterfinals.
Her bubbly personality quickly won over fans and she became a regular fixture on NXT. She finally turned heel in 2019 following a memorable betrayal by her tag team partner, Tegan Nox, in NXT’s first ever women’s WarGames match.
This marked a significant change in her character, moving from a fan-favorite character to a cunning and ruthless competitor.
Kai successfully teamed with Raquel Gonzalez, winning the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship twice.
However, their partnership fell apart following a storyline betrayal, further demonstrating Kai’s ability to navigate the complex character dynamics in WWE.
In 2022, Dakota Kai was released from WWE but made a surprising return just a few months later at SummerSlam, teaming with Bayley and IYO SKY to form the Damage CTRL faction on WWE’s main roster.
The group quickly made an impact, winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, further establishing Kai as a dominant figure in the women’s division.
prize
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship (twice) – with IYO SKY
- NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship (twice) – with Raquel Gonzalez
- Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (2021) – with Raquel Gonzalez
- Artist of Stardom Championship (1 time) – with Hiroyo Matsumoto and Kellie Skater
- Impact Pro Women’s Wrestling Champion (3 times)
Net worth
Dakota Kai’s net worth is estimated to be around $3 million.
Her main source of income is her WWE contract, which includes base salary, bonuses, and additional income from pay-per-view appearances and merchandise sales.
Argumentative
In 2022, WWE released her, a move that surprised many fans. Her release is said to be related to the decision not to renew her contract, citing concerns about her future within the company.
This brief hiatus from WWE led to speculation about her future in wrestling, but she returned within a few months at SummerSlam 2022 as part of Damage CTRL, causing speculation. That rumor was quashed.
Another notable storyline controversy occurred in 2019 when she betrayed her best friend, Tegan Nox, at NXT TakeOver: WarGames. This heel turn shocked the WWE Universe and was pivotal in Kai’s career.
Her betrayal of Nox was one of the most talked about moments in NXT that year, as it was a pivotal change in character that dramatically altered her trajectory in the company.
Kai’s heel character was often criticized by fans for her cruel and selfish tactics in the ring, especially during her feuds with former teammates Raquel Gonzalez and Tegan Nox.
However, this criticism is mainly limited to her scripted roles in WWE, and she is widely respected for her athletic ability and dedication to her craft.
Social Media
- Instagram: @dakotakai_wwe
- Twitter: @DakotaKai_WWE
