In the quarterfinals of the Mae Young Classic, two of WWE's top young prospects would collide in a hard-hitting strong style contest. Kai was one and the other Japanese star Kairi Sane. Years ago on Dakota's first tour of Japan, Kairi and her met and instantly became friends. Coming into their Mae Young Classic match, both were young but already considered veterans of a kind. They didn't hold back, delivering violent chops and strikes. Mox approved beautiful wrestling violence. Every time it seemed someone had the match won, the opponent would kick out. Kai would miss a second Kaio-Kick and get crushed by a top rope elbow drop giving Kairi the pinfall victory. A tearful moment of respect was shared between the two after the match.

Additional Information | Kairi Sane defeated Dakota Kai (7:42) in the quarterfinals of the 2017 Mae Young Classic at Full Sail in Winter Park, Florida. The match took place during Episode 7 released on WWE Network on September 6, 2017. It had been taped on July 14, 2017.