Dakota Kai’s WWE Release May Be Tied to Damage CTRL’s Breakup

Dakota Kai’s sudden WWE release sent shockwaves through fans—but now, there may be an explanation behind the decision.

Just days after her contract was terminated, Wrestling Observer Live’s Bryan Alvarez shared a key update that could explain why Kai was cut. According to Alvarez, WWE’s decision to disband Damage CTRL might’ve sealed her fate. “I don’t know what the story is there other than – and I don’t know if this is ‘official’ – but I was kind of told unofficially that Damage CTRL’s done. The group is done.”

With the faction no longer part of WWE’s plans, it appears Kai was left without a defined role on the roster. Alvarez continued, “That probably means that maybe Asuka and Kairi might come back as a tag team, and IYO’s obviously a big singles star, and maybe they just figured that Dakota, she’s not gonna be at the level of an IYO, doesn’t have a partner, we don’t do a six-woman division, so she got cut. But that one is surprising.”

This marks Kai’s second WWE release—she was previously let go in April 2022 before returning that July at SummerSlam, forming the original Damage CTRL alongside Bayley and IYO SKY. Her second run featured memorable moments and solid matches, but with no clear direction following the group’s collapse, WWE may have seen her as expendable.

Despite being under a 90-day non-compete clause, Kai is already attracting heavy interest. It was previously reported that “outside companies and top agents in pro wrestling” have started reaching out with serious offers. While she can’t appear on TV just yet, her post-WWE career seems to be on the fast track.