The closer Dakota and Wendy get to the finals of the 2022 Women's Dusty Cup Tournament the more our Captain fears bad old habits will resurface. Her semifinal match with old rival Raquel Gonzalez isn't likely to make her nerves any calmer. It was Dakota's loss to Raquel at TakeOver 36 that was catalyst for her breakdown. Dakota convinced herself to believe that removing her former ally from the ranks of NXT would let her bury her past, ridding her of the demons in her head.

March 8, 2022. NXT Roadblock. This semifinal match pitting Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade against Wendy Choo and Dakota Kai starts with Wendy using some sleepy mind games to outwit the opponents. Dakota applauds her partner's antics from the apron. The action spills to the floor where Kai instinctively checks on her partner. She is also confronted by Gonzalez for the first time since their street fight in December. The sight of an enemy whom she has never been able to defeat spins Dakota into a frenzy as she shouts that she doesn't know Raquel anymore.

Little does Dakota expect another part of her recent past to appear. Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin of Toxic Attraction attack Raquel from behind as the referee is distracted by Choo and Jade battling in the ring. Dakota is horrified by her former WarGames teammates interference even though it gives Choo and her a huge advantage. Dakota doesn't seem to want to roll like that.

Raquel tags into the match after insisting to the medics that she's well enough to press on despite clearly not being. The brickhouse of fire is quickly put out when Dakota is able to ground her reeling opponent with the Kairopractor. Dakota charges Raquel intent on striking her down with the Kaio-Kick. However, Dakota halts in her tracks, conflicted about further taking advantage of her injured opponent. When she finally charges again, Raquel catches her with the Chingona Bomb. But Raquel is too hurt to crash Dakota down to the mat, instead getting planted by Dakota's DDT. Dakota pulls herself together realizing Raquel would show her no mercy because that's how they rolled when they were a team, the third time finally striking her down with the Kaio-Kick.

Wendy crashes down with her sleepy bomb followed by Kai hitting Gonzalez with the Coup-de-Kai. The referee pounds the mat three times and Dakota has finally scored a pinfall victory over her archrival. Her past has been buried, just not in the vengeful way she once sought to find closure. But she can't relish the moment realizing Wendy and her have made it to the finals. Raquel's fallen body can't escape her gaze. Their rivalry is buried but the memories of their split remain. Now more than ever. She wants her new partnership with Wendy to work, however the memories of the past continue to churn in her mind those fears that success tears apart relationships.

Toxic Attraction's interference wasn't done out of kindness. They simply see Dakota and Wendy as lesser threats. If Dakota and Wendy can win the tournament thus earning a shot at the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship, Gigi and Jacy may quickly learn their so-called lesser opponents are their reckoning. But first Kai and Choo must get by Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray in the finals. And Dakota must continue to fight her demons and clear her head of her fears.

Additional Information | Dakota Kai & Wendy Choo defeated Raquel Gonzalez & Cora Jade (10:42) in a semifinal match of the 2022 Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament at WWE NXT Roadblock 2022 on March 8, 2022 at WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.