In September 2011, she debuted in Sydney, Australia-based Pro Wrestling Alliance Australia (PWA Australia) for their annual PWWA show, where she defeated Kellie Skater. In August 2012, Evie became the first Impact Pro Wrestling NZ Women's Champion, defeating Britenay and Megan Fox in a triple threat match. A week later, she won the Interim PWWA Championship by defeating Jessie McKay in the finals.
After Impact Pro Wrestling returned after a few months from folding in mid-2013,[5] all the previous title holders were stripped of their championships. Evie won the IPW Women's Championship back in December 2013 and aligned herself with a new heel faction called 'The Investment'.[4]
Evie began 2014 in Japan, working on a three-month contract awarded to her through Pro Wrestling Zero1, and becoming the first female to receive such a contract.
Evie made her debut for the all-female American promotion Shimmer Women Athletes at Volume 53 on 6 April 2013, participating in a five-way match which she lost to Christina Von Eerie and also included Yuu Yamagata, Kalamity, and Rhia O'Reilly. At Volume 54, Evie defeated Kimber Lee to pick up her first win for the promotion, but she was defeated by Mia Yim the next day at Volume 56. She competed in a losing effort against Hikaru Shida at Shimmer Volume 62 in April 2014. At Volumes 63 and 64, Evie defeated Rhia O'Reilly and Nicole Matthews, respectively.
Crowley appeared on 14 October 2015 episode of NXT as Evie, losing to the debuting Nia Jax.[10] On 15 December 2016, Crowley signed a contract with WWE,[11] and in June 2017, she was announced as a participant in the upcoming Mae Young Classic under the new ring name Dakota Kai.[12] According to Crowley, she wanted her new ring name to sound tomboyish but still reflect her Samoan heritage. The word Kai means sea in the Polynesian language, indicating her journey to get to WWE, and contrary to popular belief, is not a reference to Leilani Kai.[3] Kai entered the tournament on 13 July, defeating Kavita Devi in the first round and Rhea Ripley in the second round, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Kairi Sane.[13][14]
Beginnings in NXT (2017–2020)
Kai (left) during her match with Nikki Cross in 2018
On 25 October 2017 episode of NXT, Kai returned to television, competing in a women's battle royal won by Nikki Cross.[15] On 10 January 2018 episode of NXT, Kai lost to the debuting Shayna Baszler by referee stoppage after Baszler stomped and injured her arm. After the match, Baszler attacked and locked her in the Kirifuda Clutch until NXT Women's ChampionEmber Moon saved her.[16] On 14 March episode of NXT, Kai scored her first televised victory, defeating Lacey Evans.[17] Kai made her WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania 34 on 8 April, competing in the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal and becoming the first female New Zealander to compete at WrestleMania.[18] Kai also won a WrestleMania Axxess tournament for an NXT Women's Championship match, but was defeated by newly crowned champion Baszler.[19] In May, Kai earned another shot at the title, but again failed to win.[20][21] Throughout the rest of the year, Kai racked up victories and losses against competitors like Santana Garrett,[22]Bianca Belair,[23] Lacey Evans[24] and Aliyah.[25]
Kai in 2018
In parallel to her activities in NXT, Kai also appeared in the newly created NXT UKbrand.[26][27] At Evolution on 28 October, the first all women's pay-per-view, Kai unsuccessfully challenged Rhea Ripley (in a dark match) for the NXT UK Women's Championship.[28] Before the match, Kai took part in a tournament (which was taped in the summer but aired in November) for the vacant championship, defeating Nina Samuels in the first round but was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual winner Ripley.[29][30] At NXT TakeOver: WarGames on 17 November, Kai and Io Shirai helped Kairi Sane during her match with Shayna Baszler by attacking Baszler's allies Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir.[31] On 17 January 2019, Kai announced on her Twitter page that she sustained a torn ACL, during an NXT live event in December, which would sideline her from in-ring competition for the next few months.[32] Kai defeated Taynara Conti in her return match on 25 September episode of NXT.[33]
Shortly after, Kai's long-time tag team partner Tegan Nox returned to NXT and the two reunited their tag team dubbed "Team Kick".[34][35][36] On 30 October episode of NXT, Team Kick unsuccessfully challenged The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.[37] In November, Kai made her main roster debut as part of the NXT talent that were placed in an invasion angle with Raw and SmackDown as part of the Survivor Seriespay-per-view.[38][39]Mia Yim was chosen over Kai as part of Rhea Ripley's team for the first-ever women's WarGames match against Shayna Baszler's team.[40][41][42][43] On 23 November, at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, just before the match took place, Kai replaced Yim, who was attacked backstage. However, before she entered the ring, Kai attacked her tag team partner Nox, turning heel for the first time in her career.[44][45] Upon her return in December, Yim revealed that Kai attacked her backstage, leading to a grudge match between the two, which Kai won.[46][47][48] On 26 January 2020, at Royal Rumble, Kai entered her first Royal Rumble match at #15, but was eliminated by Chelsea Green.[49]
On 29 March episode of NXT, after Toxic Attraction took out Choo, Kai attacked the group and was assisted by a returning Raquel González, whom Kai embraced afterwards, turning face for the first time since 2019.[69] At the NXT Stand & Deliver pre-show on 2 April, Kai and González defeated Toxic Attraction members Dolin and Jayne to win the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship.[70] However, they dropped the titles back to Toxic Attraction on the following episode of NXT after interference from Rose.[71] The following week, Kai failed to win the NXT Women's Championship from Rose in what would be her final appearance in NXT.[72]
On 29 April 2022, Kai was released from her WWE contract.[73] She had reportedly expressed to the company that she was not planning on renewing her contract prior to her release.[74]
On 30 July 2022, Kai re-signed with WWE and returned at SummerSlam alongside Bayley and Iyo Sky (formerly known as Io Shirai), confronting Raw Women's ChampionBianca Belair.[75] She officially joined the Rawbrand as a heel and made her debut for the brand the following night.[76][77] On 8 August episode of Raw, the trio challenged Belair, Alexa Bliss and Asuka to a six-woman tag team match at Clash at the Castle. Kai and Sky then participated in a tournament for the vacant WWE Women's Tag Team Championship and made it to the finals,[78][79] where they lost to Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez, albeit controversially as Aliyah pinned Kai even though she was not the legal competitor.[80] On 3 September, at Clash at the Castle, the stable of Kai, Sky and Bayley was named as Damage CTRL, defeating Belair's team.[81] On 12 September episode of Raw, Kai and Sky defeated Aliyah and Rodriguez in a rematch to win the Women's Tag Team Championship for the first time.[82] With the win, Kai and Sky became two of three (the other being Rodriguez) wrestlers to have won the WWE and NXT Women's Tag Team Championships. Kai and Sky lost the titles on 31 October episode of Raw to Bliss and Asuka, ending their reign at 48 days.[83] At Crown Jewel on 5 November, they won back the titles in a rematch, marking the first time a women's championship changed hands in the Middle East.[84] At Survivor Series WarGames on 26 November, Damage CTRL, Rhea Ripley and Nikki Cross lost to Belair, Asuka, Bliss, Mia Yim and Becky Lynch, who pinned Kai, in a WarGames match.[85] On 16 December episode of SmackDown, Kai and Sky retained their titles against Liv Morgan and Tegan Nox.[86]
On 28 January 2023, Kai entered the women's Royal Rumble match at the titular event. She eliminated five wrestlers before being eliminated by Lynch.[87] On 27 February episode of Raw, Kai and Sky lost the Women's Tag Team Championship to Lynch and Lita after interference from Trish Stratus, ending their second reign at 114 days.[88] The feud resulted in a six-woman tag team match at WrestleMania 39 on 1 April, where Damage CTRL lost to Lynch, Lita, and Stratus.[89]
As part of the 2023 WWE Draft, Damage CTRL was drafted to the SmackDownbrand.[90] On 12 May episode of SmackDown, Kai and Bayley failed to win the Women's Tag Team Championship from Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. During the match, both Kai and Morgan suffered injuries, with Kai tearing her ACL and Morgan injuring her shoulder.[91][92] On 5 August, Kai made a physical appearance for the first time since her injury at SummerSlam to celebrate Sky's WWE Women's Championship victory.[93] She began to appear regularly in a manager role for Damage CTRL until she was medically cleared for in-ring competition. On 9 February episode of SmackDown, Kai saved Bayley from an attack by Damage CTRL and was briefly kicked out of the stable.[94] On 1 March episode of SmackDown, Kai and Bayley were set in a match against The Kabuki Warriors (whom had subsequently joined Damage CTRL), however, Kai attacked Bayley and rejoined the stable.[95] At Night 1 of WrestleMania XL on 6 April, Kai, Asuka and Sane lost to Belair, Naomi and Jade Cargill in a six-woman tag team match.[96]
As part of the 2024 WWE Draft on 29 April, Kai was drafted to the Raw brand with the rest of Damage CTRL.[97] On 6 May episode of Raw, Kai competed in the first round of the Queen of the Ring tournament, replacing Asuka, who was not medically cleared to compete, but lost to Lyra Valkyria.[98] The group turned face on 29 July episode of Raw, when they began feuding with Pure Fusion Collective (Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark and Sonya Deville).[99] In August, it was reported that Kai had to undergo surgery after suffering another knee injury, this time a torn meniscus. A backstage attack on Kai by PFC was used to write her off television.[100] Kai returned on the November 11 episode of Raw, where Damage CTRL defeated PFC in a six-woman tag team match.[101]
Other media
In September 2009, Crowley starred in the music video for "Sweet December" by Auckland band These Four Walls.[102] In the summer of 2013, as Evie, she was profiled on the Māori Television sports show Code.[103]
Crowley currently streams on Twitch under the username "Charliegirl".[104] In August 2023, Crowley along with Thea Trinidad, launched a new podcast titled "ZELVXandCharlieGirl".[105]
Crowley is of Irish and Samoan descent.[111] Her mother is originally from the Samoan village of Lepea on the island of Upolu.[112] She has two younger siblings: a sister named Nyrene, who is a mixed martial artist,[113] and a brother named Earl, who first introduced her to professional wrestling.[114] Her grandfather Pat Crowley represented New Zealand as a member of the All Blacks in 1949 and 1950.[113]
^Bristout, Ralph (17 November 2018). "NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler def. Kairi Sane (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)". WWE. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2024. Sane received some outside assistance from Dakota Kai and Mae Young Classic finalist lo Shirai, and Shirai floored Shafir and Duke with a breathtaking moonsault to the floor.
^Garretson, Jordan (23 November 2019). "Team Ripley def. Team Baszler (First-ever Women's WarGames Match)". WWE. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019. Instead of heading to the ring, Kai savagely attacked partner and longtime friend Tegan Nox in their team's shark cage with no remorse.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (3 August 2013). "PWWA Championship". Cagematch.net. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (25 August 2012). "PWWA Interim Championship". Cagematch.net. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
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