Dakota Kais WWE release wasnt just about budget cuts it was about WWE not seeing her as a top-tier player in the long run.
According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE officials viewed Kai as expendable in a womens division now stacked with major stars like Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, and Jade Cargill.
One person said that Kai still had use on a micro level on the main roster but was never going to be used in the top tier with the likes of Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, Jade Cargill or others they see as the top women stars they see long-term, Meltzer reported.
While Kais talent was acknowledged, the belief was that she would primarily serve as enhancement talent for rising stars like Roxanne Perez and Giulia. Aside from that, they saw her future as just putting over the likes of Roxanne Perez and Giulia, who are the next ones with the idea of being pushed to stardom, Meltzer added.
Meltzer also noted that WWE didnt see Kai as having the star power to warrant her salary. Although she could have been slotted into short-term feuds with established names like Becky Lynch or Liv Morgan, the company ultimately decided that Kais value wasnt significant enough to justify her contract.
Kai, who just turned 37, now finds herself in a crowded free-agent market under a 90-day non-compete clause. With WWE positioning her as a stepping stone for other talent, the question is whether another company will see her as a main event player.
Was WWE right to let Dakota Kai go, or did they underestimate her potential? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
