Dakota Kai: “It’s Great For Wrestling In General That There Is Competition Out There”

Dakota Kai is excited about the competition NXT has on Wednesday nights, but also wishes people can enjoy all the wrestling out there without going into heated debates.

Kai, who wrestles for NXT, spoke with Steven Muehlhausen of Sporting News, about needing to elevate her game as NXT has been airing at the same time as AEW’s Dynamite show. Although Kai said competition has forced her and the rest of the NXT roster to elevate their abilities to put on a great show, she hopes that people get to enjoy everything that both shows have to offer.

“One hundred percent. That’s the essence of competition. If there is something else out there that’s also bringing a great product, you want to elevate your own. That’s just how it would work. So honestly, I think it’s so good for the wrestling business. I wish a lot of people online would see that. The online community is small compared to those that watch it at home. I really wish that people would just be happy with both and not get into such heated debates about either. Wrestling is for everyone. It’s great for wrestling in general that there is competition out there; otherwise, how is anything going to be elevated in general? I love it. I just wish that people online would also see it that way and not take it so personal,” Kai said.

Kai also talked about how she has been handling the ongoing situation with COVID-19 and admitted that it felt weird not having put her body through the normal live events tour and only been focusing on the weekly NXT TV shows.

“At this time where we’re only having to go on Wednesdays. Initially, my body was confused. So it was still sore, but I think it was more like ‘Hey, why are we not like wrestling right now? Why are we not bumping’? It was a time where I had to actually adjust to not wrestling. I’m worried that when everything goes back to normal, then I’ll just be like, ‘Oh gosh’ (laughs). As a wrestler, we do things that no one else does that sort of conditioned our body to do what we do. Now that we’re not doing it as much, it’s very strange. It’s still nice to be able to heal. My body feels great now, but I think that when we get back into it, it’s going to be another adjustment,” Kai said.

Fightful has live coverage of both AEW and NXT, which air on TNT and the USA Network, respectively, every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.