Dakota Kai expected to have 'plenty of offers' from other promotions after WWE release

The Damage CTRL member was off WWE TV in the past few weeks

WWE issued a wave of talent releases on Friday, May 2, 2025, affecting both the main roster and NXT. Among the notable names let go were Dakota Kai, Braun Strowman, Shayna Baszler, Kayden Carter, and Katana Chance. The move has sent shockwaves across the wrestling community, as fans and insiders react to the sudden departures of several established performers.

Dakota Kai’s release has drawn particular attention. According to Fightful Select, the former WWE star is already attracting serious interest from outside promotions and top wrestling agents. Despite being under a 90-day non-compete clause, many expect Kai to receive a flurry of offers once she’s available.

Dakota Kai’s journey in WWE

Kai’s journey in WWE has been one of resilience and reinvention. She first rose to prominence in NXT, where she captured the inaugural NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Raquel Gonzalez. The duo earned the gold after winning the first-ever Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, cementing their place in NXT history.

Though Kai was briefly released in April 2022, she returned just a few months later in a major surprise at SummerSlam, aligning with Bayley and Iyo Sky to form the faction Damage CTRL. As part of the group, Kai found success on the main roster, becoming a two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion with Sky.

In May 2023, Kai suffered a significant ACL injury that sidelined her for several months. She eventually made her return to WWE programming and rejoined Damage CTRL, although her role in the faction had noticeably shifted. Her second stint with WWE officially came to an end with her release in May 2025.

Other top stars also released by WWE

The departures don’t stop with Dakota Kai. Former Universal Champion Braun Strowman, former NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler, and NXT tag team duo Kayden Carter and Katana Chance were also cut from the roster. As of now, WWE has not released an official statement on the reasoning behind the latest talent purge.

As the wrestling world processes the news, attention now turns to where these stars will land next—and how their careers might evolve outside the WWE system.

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