Dakota Kais release from WWE has sparked speculation about her next move, with AEW emerging as a potential destination.
According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, some within WWE believe Kai could land in AEW and become a valuable asset. One person in WWE expected her to wind up in AEW and helping them, Meltzer reported.
However, Kais road to AEW might not be as clear as it seems. Back in April 2022, when WWE initially released her from NXT, Kai reportedly held talks with both AEW and Stardom. At the time, she was seriously considering her options and appeared close to making a move. But when Vince McMahon stepped down and Triple H gained control of WWE creative, everything changed.
Triple H extended main roster contracts to both Dakota Kai and Io Shirai, who was also set to exit WWE and return to Stardom. Shirai re-signed under the name Iyo Sky and joined the newly formed Damage CTRL faction alongside Kai and Bayley. Levesque offered both main roster contracts and Shirai signed as Iyo Sky, and Kai returned, Meltzer noted.
Now that Kai has been released again, the question is whether AEW is still interested after being left hanging in 2022. AEWs womens division has expanded significantly since then, but Kais name still holds weight, especially with her strong in-ring skills and character work.
Will AEW put those past talks behind them and bring Dakota Kai into the fold, or will the 2022 negotiations complicate her chances? Drop your predictions in the comments below!
