Dakota Kai

Dakota Kai, born Cheree Georgina Crowley on May 6, 1988, in Auckland, New Zealand, is a professional wrestler and graphic designer. A trailblazer for New Zealand wrestling, she first gained recognition on the independent circuit under the ring name Evie, competing across New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and Japan. Her work in promotions like Shimmer Women Athletes and World Wonder Ring Stardom caught WWE's attention, leading to her signing in 2016. As Dakota Kai, she made history in NXT by winning the inaugural Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and becoming the first-ever NXT Women's Tag Team Champion alongside Raquel Gonzalez. After a brief release in 2022, she returned to WWE and joined the main roster as part of Damage CTRL, winning the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship twice with Iyo Sky. Released again in May 2025, Kai now performs on the independent circuit under the ring name Charlie, showing the resilience that has defined her career. Known for her athleticism and punk-inspired style, she remains a beloved figure among wrestling fans, who have supported her through every twist and turn. [edit]

Born Cheree Georgina Crowley in East Auckland, New Zealand, Dakota Kai grew up with Irish and Samoan heritage. Her first ring name, Evie, came from her favorite Pokémon character, Eevee, showing her creative streak from an early age. She trained at Impact Pro Wrestling (IPW) in New Zealand, making her professional debut on December 15, 2007. Over the next eight years, she built a reputation on the independent circuit, becoming the first-ever IPW New Zealand Women's Champion and winning the Interim PWWA Championship. Her career took her internationally, wrestling for Pro Wrestling Women's Alliance in Australia, Shimmer Women Athletes and Shine Wrestling in the United States, and Pro Wrestling Zero1 and World Wonder Ring Stardom in Japan. In Japan, she achieved a major milestone by becoming an Artist of Stardom Champion. This international experience, particularly her standout performances in Shimmer and Stardom, caught WWE's eye. She made her first WWE appearance as Evie in October 2015, facing Nia Jax in a squash match on NXT, though she didn't sign until December 2016. Upon signing, she reported to the WWE Performance Center, training alongside future stars like Bianca Belair, Lacey Evans, and Raquel Gonzalez. [edit]

After signing with WWE in December 2016, Dakota Kai quickly made her mark. In 2017, she competed in the Mae Young Classic, defeating Kavita Devi and Rhea Ripley before losing to Kairi Sane in the quarterfinals. The following year, she made history as the first female New Zealander to compete at WrestleMania, participating in the women's battle royal at WrestleMania 34. In 2019, she had two failed attempts at the NXT Women's Championship against Shayna Baszler and also reached the semifinals of the tournament to crown the inaugural NXT UK Women's Champion, falling to Rhea Ripley. At WarGames 2019, she executed a memorable heel turn that became one of the biggest in WWE that year. Her biggest achievement came in 2020 when she and Raquel Gonzalez won the inaugural Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and became the first-ever NXT Women's Tag Team Champions, a title they held twice. After a brief release in April 2022, she returned at SummerSlam that July, joining Bayley's faction Damage CTRL alongside Iyo Sky. With Sky, she captured the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship twice, and she also wrestled legends like Trish Stratus, Lita, and Becky Lynch at WrestleMania. Released again in May 2025, she took a year off to rediscover her passion for wrestling. In 2026, she returned to the independent circuit under the ring name Charlie, with her first match back against Kris Statlander at Pro Wrestling EVE in London, a moment she called "meant to be." [edit]

Dakota Kai's public image has evolved from a plucky underdog to a confident veteran. Known for her athletic in-ring style and a punk-inspired aesthetic, she often sports vibrant hair colors that have become a visual trademark. Her fan base, informally called "Team Kick" after her finishing move, has supported her through multiple WWE releases and her independent circuit return. During her Damage CTRL run, she was part of one of WWE's most prominent women's factions, which elevated her profile. On social media, she engages with fans through her Twitch channel and Instagram, showing a down-to-earth personality that resonates with audiences. Her resilience in bouncing back from releases has earned her respect, and she is seen as a trailblazer for New Zealand wrestlers. [edit]

Dakota Kai has been evaluated by iFANN's Global Fame Engine but does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, whether the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. That means she isn't among the most famous people on the planet by our metrics, but her recognition within the wrestling world is substantial, especially among dedicated fans of women's wrestling and NXT history.

Her fanbase, often casually referred to as "Kota fans" or simply "Dakota Kai fans," has no formal, documented name. There are no organized fan campaigns, no birthday billboards, no coordinated charity drives that have been recorded, nothing of that scale. Instead, her support is quieter, more personal. Fans have followed her through two WWE releases and her independent circuit comeback, and they engage with her through social media, where she maintains a presence on Instagram and Facebook, though her Instagram is currently private.

What sets her apart is the loyalty of those who do follow her. They've stuck with her through the highs, like the Damage CTRL debut at SummerSlam 2022, and the lows, like the shocking 2025 release. They've listened to her candid interviews on podcasts like Chris Van Vliet's Insight, where she discussed her career and future. Her fans are the kind who appreciate the craft, who respect her resilience, and who show up when she returns to the ring, like her recent independent circuit appearances under the ring name Charlie.[edit]

Dakota Kai's Twitch channel, charliegirl, has around 85,700 followers and has been active since 2016, featuring gaming and Just Chatting content. She has spoken about code-switching her accent, noting that she sometimes has to put on an American accent on the phone because people can't understand her. Her finishing move is called the Kai-ropractor, a spinning heel kick. She has a background in graphic design, which she studied before wrestling full-time. Her hair color has become a signature part of her look, often dyed in vibrant shades. She is known to be a huge fan of the Pokémon franchise, which inspired her original ring name.

One of the most retold stories from her career is the story of how she trained Stephanie McMahon for her WWE tag team match against Ronda Rousey, a sign of the company's trust in her abilities that fans still bring up as proof of her underrated skill. Another iconic moment is the formation of Damage CTRL at SummerSlam 2022, when she returned alongside Bayley and IYO SKY; Kai later revealed in 2026 interviews that the original concept for the faction was vastly different from what fans saw, adding a layer of behind-the-scenes lore. After her 2025 release, she took a year-long hiatus, and her return to the independent circuit in 2026 as Charlie has become a comeback story that fans have followed closely.[edit]

Details about Dakota Kai's family are largely private, but she has mentioned her Irish and Samoan heritage in interviews. She has not publicly shared names or details about her parents or siblings. As of 2026, she has no publicly known spouse or children, and she keeps her personal life out of the spotlight. Her focus remains on her wrestling career and her Twitch streaming. [edit]

Dakota Kai has formed significant partnerships throughout her career. Her most notable alliance is with Iyo Sky, her tag team partner and Damage CTRL stablemate, with whom she won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship twice. She also had a successful partnership with Raquel Gonzalez, winning the inaugural NXT Women's Tag Team Championship. Bayley, as the leader of Damage CTRL, has been a key mentor and ally. She also trained with Stephanie McMahon for a match against Ronda Rousey, and her return match on the independent circuit was against Kris Statlander. [edit]

Dakota Kai has kept her romantic life extremely private. There are no confirmed public relationships, and she has never been married or engaged. She has not been linked to any high-profile partners, and no credible sources have reported on a current dating partner. As of 2026, she appears to be single, focusing on her wrestling career and streaming. [edit]

As of 2026, iFANN's editorial research estimates Dakota Kai's net worth at $2 million. Her primary income sources have been her WWE salaries during her two stints with the company, which for main roster talent typically range in the mid-six figures annually. Since her release in May 2025, she has earned from independent circuit appearance fees. Additionally, she generates revenue from her Twitch channel, charliegirl, which has approximately 85,700 followers, and from merchandise sales. Her earnings over nearly two decades in wrestling, combined with these ventures, have built her current wealth.[edit]

Dakota Kai has won several championships in her career, including the inaugural NXT Women's Tag Team Championship and the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship twice. She also won the first Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. While she hasn't received traditional industry awards, her championship reigns are a testament to her in-ring success. [edit]