“I took almost a year off. I don’t know, I think after leaving WWE, I didn’t want to necessarily rush back into anything. I wanted to get back into wrestling on my terms and just find that passion and that love for it and just do it for fun. Basically, I wanted to do it for fun, and it was just a matter of the perfect time. Then when Will Ospreay hit me up. He’s basically like, we’d love to have you on the show, here’s what it is. When I found out I’m like wrestling Kris Statlander I’m like, oh my god, perfect. She’s been on my bucket list for years, literal years. So it just worked out.

It was weird, because during that time off, the longer I was away from wrestling, which was needed for me, personally, just mentally and emotionally, it was like the thought of wrestling again was looming over me. I have very severe performance anxiety, so the longer I was away, the more anxious I got about it. But then she made it so easy, she’s the best.”

“There was no real time limit of I want to be away for this amount. It was just more of a feeling, I guess. As soon as the opportunity came up that it was going to be there at that show on the big Wrestle Queendom show against Kris, I was like, Ah, this was meant to be. Yeah, it was cool.

I mean, I just really needed to take a step back for me in terms of just finding the passion and the love for it again. I didn’t mean for it to be a year. I know everyone was like, Why did you take a year off? I’m like, I didn’t mean to, and for that to be that amount of time, I just kind of took the time I needed. Then when the opportunity came up to be against Kris, it was perfect.” (quotes courtesy of ChrisVanVliet.com)

The post Former WWE star Dakota Kai explains why she took a year off from wrestling appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Taking time off after WWE departure: “I think I just really needed to take a step back and sort of rebuild myself in terms of confidence and what I thought about myself as a wrestler in this world. I didn’t really know if I still had a place in this world. Going forward, it’s just making sure that I’m good health-wise more than anything and that’s mental and physical as well.”

Potentially working for AEW or TNA: “I think once I get back into it, both those companies and so many more have people that I would love to face in the ring. I just think once I do this match and get back, get the wheels turning again, wherever my path may lead, I’m open to it completely.”

Injuries playing a role in her WWE release: “I think that definitely had a part to play. Obviously, with the change in management that probably had a big part to play too. It was surprising only because we were just coming off of the Intercontinental tournament. Obviously, plans changed. It’s one of those things where I was constantly fighting a glass ceiling and even when I was, I thought I was going to break through it.” (quotes courtesy of F4WOnline.com)

The post Dakota Kai on her WWE run: “I was constantly fighting a glass ceiling” appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

In a Twitch stream, Dakota addressed the status of her wrestling career…

“I miss wrestling, you guys. We’re gonna get back into it. It’s just one of those things where it’s been nice to have a little bit of a break. I’ve been doing it for a long time, longer than the last seven years I was with WWE. It is nice to take a step back a bit, but I really do miss it.”

charlie talking about wrestling <3 pic.twitter.com/UffFUDr9p1

— ✧･ﾟslater (@poisonouspixies) September 8, 2025

The post Dakota Kai addresses the status of her wrestling career following departure from WWE appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Meltzer wrote the following about the situation with Dakota…

“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. It was noted that she could have worked with Becky Lynch or Liv Morgan, who are also seen as top players, but it would only be a short-term thing.”

Meltzer of F4WOnline.com added that those spoken to in WWE gave praise to Dakota and believe AEW should sign her.

The post Backstage news regarding WWE’s decision to part ways with Dakota Kai appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Dakota Kai was among those released from WWE. Dakota issued an official statement via her social media accounts…

“Trying to get through all the messages and man, whether it’s from friends, family, colleagues, coaches, you guys… I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. That’s the stuff that matters. I got to make memories, create the best friendships and travel the world. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunities. Gonna take a little time but just know… we are far from done. I’ve BEEN ready. Let’s go. – king kota”

Notes app makes me cringe but the point stands

— 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖗𝖑 (@ImKingKota) May 3, 2025

The post Dakota Kai issues public statement regarding her release from WWE appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

* According to Fightful.com, Dakota Kai already has gained the interest of outside companies and top agents in pro wrestling. Dakota is expected to have numerous offers once her non-compete clause expires in 90 days.

* Fightful also noted that Shayna re-signed with WWE last year and was recently helping out in NXT. Shayna’s departure was said to have been a “big surprise” to people within the company.

* Former WWE star Nixon Newell aka Tegan Nox was among the wrestlers that publicly commented on the news. Nixon wrote the following via Twitter/X…

“Imagine releasing talent like that!…place is f*cking insane!”

Imagine releasing talent like that!…place is fucking insane!

— Nixon Newell (@TeganNoxWWE) May 3, 2025

The post News regarding the reactions to WWE’s round of talent departures from May of 2025 appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

“Surprise haha. In 2020, I had to cut all my natural hair to an inch I had been straightening and bleaching the sh!t out of my hair since high school and it took its toll. I never loved my curly hair because I didn’t know how to look after it and I got teased for it growing up.

@herhandstyles played the biggest part of helping it get healthy I love her sm for that and I’m learning to love my hair too.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔩𝔦𝔢 𝔊𝔦𝔯𝔩 (@imkingkota)

The post WWE star Dakota Kai shows off a different look that fans are not used to seeing appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

“We are told that Kai was ‘hurt’ during her tag team bout with IYO SKY against Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler. One person we spoke with believe it may have been the rough bump she took on a missile dropkick.”

Dakota is reportedly not backstage at tonight’s RAW. Johnson noted that Dakota was diagnosed with a concussion and will be out of the ring until she passes the company’s concussion protocols.

The post Dakota Kai reportedly “pulled off the road” ahead of the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

During WrestleVotes Radio on Sportskeeda.com’s Backstage Pass Patreon, the following was said in regards to why the match isn’t taking place at the Netflix premiere of RAW…

“We are told that WWE shifted the finals of the Women’s Intercontinental Tournament off of the Netflix debut in order for the match to not get lost in the shuffle. It seems like WWE wants to get this title off and running in a big way, and felt as though having it mixed in with a show the size of Netflix premiere would not do that justice.” (quote courtesy of WrestlingNews.co)

On today's WrestleVotes Radio episode, we chat about Randy Orton, Women's Championships, John Cena & what to expect on Netflix.

Be sure to join us: https://t.co/nGVVhDU78T

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) January 2, 2025

The post Report on why the WWE women’s Intercontinental champion isn’t being crowned at the Netflix premiere of RAW appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

During the August 12th edition of RAW, Michael Cole announced that Dakoata would be undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus. The current belief is that Dakota will be out of action for two to three months.

Sonya’s group, now known as the Pure Fusion Collective, will be challenging for the women’s tag team titles on next week’s RAW.

The post Update on Dakota Kai following attack from Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.