Kiwi Dakota Kai Released By WWE
WWE officially announced the release of Dakota Kai. While a handful of other names were part of this latest roster purge, formerly known as Evie, who carved her path from the New Zealand and Australian wrestling scene all the way to WWE’s global stage.
From Auckland’s Indie Darling to NXT Star. Before she was captivating crowds in NXT and on Monday Night RAW, Cheree Crowley made waves in the New Zealand and Australian wrestling circuits under the ring name Evie. Known for her blistering kicks, MMA-inspired strikes, and underdog grit, she was a mainstay in promotions like Impact Pro Wrestling (NZ), PWA Australia, and Melbourne City Wrestling.
In 2017, the WWE universe got its first taste of her talent when she entered the inaugural Mae Young Classic, officially rebranding as Dakota Kai. Fans immediately connected with her scrappy, fearless energy, and she quickly became a standout in NXT’s competitive women’s division.
From there, Kai made history as part of NXT’s first-ever WarGames match, famously turning on best friend Tegan Nox in a moment that made the wrestling world gasp. She proved equally capable as both a beloved underdog and a ruthless heel — a rare versatility in today’s wrestling landscape.
Her partnership with Raquel González brought tag team gold, while her involvement with Damage CTRL on the main roster alongside Bayley and Iyo Sky showed WWE had big plans for her — or so we thought.
Despite injuries sidelining her at crucial times, Kai consistently bounced back stronger, showing the same fight she had when grinding through the indies. Fans rooted for her because she wasn’t a manufactured superstar — she was one of us. A fan-turned-performer who clawed her way to the top through passion and heart.
Many believed a significant singles run was inevitable. The charisma was there. The in-ring skills were never in question. All WWE had to do was let her cook.
The Others Released?
In addition to Dakota Kai, WWE released several other names today:
Braun Strowman
Shayna Baszler
Cora Jade
Eddy Thorpe
Katana Chance & Kayden Carter
Gigi Dolin
Jakara Jackson
Riley Osborne
Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, Wolfgang)
PPV + PLE Content. Northern Adelaide suburbs resident with a lifelong passion for professional wrestling since the age of 14. What drew Rhys to wrestling was the antics of Eddie Guerrero and the freestyles of John Cena, and has been hooked ever since. Currently, Rhys watches WWE and AEW programing. This passion for wrestling has led to Rhys writing for PW Down Under, where he has become the resident PPV guy.
