Dakota Kai Says WWE SummerSlam Return Was Last Minute, Wanted To Work With Bayley For Years

At WWE SummerSlam, Bayley made her return from injury, and she wasn’t alone.

Bayley was flanked by IYO SKY (Io Shirai), who was also returning from injury, and Dakota Kai, who had been released in April. The group entered the ring and confronted WWE Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, who was quickly joined by her SummerSlam opponent Becky Lynch by her side.

Speaking on WWE’s The Bump, Kai discussed her return to WWE at SummerSlam.

“Honestly, it still feels like a whirlwind to me with everything that happened. It all happened so last minute too. To be talking with you guys is insane to me. Everything that happened since Saturday has been insane. It’s been crazy,” she said.

When asked about working with Bayley & SKY, Kai said, “Bayley and I, we’ve been kind of talking about something like this for a long time. It hasn’t been something that was spurred overnight. This has been something we’ve wanted for years. The fact that it actually happened and to be under her guidance is insane because she’s literally amazing and great. IYO and I, we’ve known each other a long time, when I first went to Japan and she is literally one of the best in the world. To be alongside these two women is a dream. Everything that’s happened is something you think of in a fever dream, you don’t think it’s really going to happen, but the fact that it has and I’m alongside these two amazing people is crazy.”

Fightful Select reported the stable was pitched before Kai’s release, but Vince McMahon rejected the idea. McMahon retired on July 22, leading to Triple H leading WWE creative.

After Kai was released, Bayley sent out a tweet saying Kai was one of the reasons she couldn’t wait to get healthy.

… And Dakota is one of the main reasons I couldn’t wait to get healthy. For the opportunity to wrestle her, to work alongside her, to make history with her.

Now I just have to be jealous of whoever gets to. We love you Charlie! See you around — https://t.co/kwCxQEuGBZ

— Bayley (@itsBayleyWWE) April 30, 2022

Kai said about the tweet, “When she first sent that message out, obviously that was a very emotional time. The fact that she did that and also sent me a bunch of chocolates and flowers, which she didn’t have to do. Looking back on that tweet now, it’s kind of crazy that everything she said, even back then at a time where we were unsure about everything, it’s a lot. It’s overwhelming. Even when I said, ‘let’s make history,’ it was kind of weird for me to even respond. We’re doing it.”

Bayley, Kai, & SKY targeted Lynch and Belair on Monday’s WWE Raw. Alexa Bliss & Asuka ended up backing up Belair.

During a backstage segment on WWE Raw, Kai said that they “know how to play the game,” seemingly referencing Triple H and his new role.

Kai added on The Bump, “I think a lot of change is about to happen and I’m glad I can be part of this wave. We’re definitely going to make ourselves known.”

SKY was in singles action against Belair on Raw, but the bout ended in a DQ when Asuka, Bliss, Kai, and Bayley all got involved.

If you missed anything from WWE Raw, check out Fightful’s full report on the show by clicking here.

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