March 22, 2022. NXT. Wendy Choo and Dakota Kai face Kai's old rivals Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray in the Women's Dusty Cup Final. Prior to the match, Kai and Choo are interviewed by Mac. Wendy has had way too much orange soda and rambles on about how Dakota and Raquel won last year's Dusty Cup but then fell apart and came to blows. Wendy's sugar rush rambling clearly makes Dakota briefly nervous since she's still concerned success with a new partner could resurface bad old habits.

Dakota asks Wendy to take it easy on the orange soda but shrugs it off since Wendy will be Wendy. Fittingly Wendy continues guzzling it down. Kai refocuses, admitting she wasn't sure her partnership with Wendy would work out but it did. With her new partner by her side, Kai notes she has a chance to make history and be the first person to win the Dusty Cup twice. Kai acknowledges Shirai and KLR are great but tonight is the night of Team Kick-Sleep. Any linger of concern Kai had about this partnership resurfacing bad old habits has been buried with her past.

Wendy showed team unity en route to the ring, revealing she was wearing Dakota's official shirt. Dakota looked the happiest and most at peace she's been in a very long time. Kai and Choo were all smiles during the introductions, however things turned physical quickly once the bell sounded. Kai rallied her partner from the apron until tagging in. Shirai made a comeback, trying to strike Kai with a tiger feint kick. Choo pulled off an impressive save, using her pillow to block Kai's face from being struck. Shirai did not take kindly, tossing Kai to the outside. Choo instinctively checked on her partner after KLR and Shirai hit dives.

Kai and Choo mounted a comeback moments later. Dakota's Kaio-Kick to KLR when she was on the top rope grounded her. KLR kicking out of a pin attempt by Kai had Kai stressing a bit, however she regained focus. Toxic Attraction who were watching from ringside had a laugh at Kai's expense. Choo and Kai made another comeback, hitting their top rope finishers. Kai stood in front of Choo as she went for a pin on KLR, trying to safeguard her partner from Shirai breaking up the fall. But instead, Shirai missile dropkicked Kai into Choo, breaking up the pin.

Shirai sent Kai to the floor with an underhook backbreaker. KLR and Shirai hit their finishers on Choo. Kai tried to come to Choo's rescue, however KLR held her down on the floor allowing Shirai to score the winning fall on Choo. After the match, Shirai and KLR forfeit their promised shot at the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship to add themselves to the Mandy Rose versus Cora Jade NXT Women's Championship match at Stand & Deliver. As for Dakota and Wendy...

Wendy Choo's tweet says it all. Weeks ago when I wrote that Women's Dusty Cup Outlook Article I noted that the true victory for Kai might be learning to trust in friendship again and overcome her demons. Dakota achieved success on both fronts. Reflection led to Reincarnation and Dakota buried her past so she could start again.

Dakota and Wendy aren't just tag team partners; they have become friends. They jelled as a team. Kai won her battle against her demons. The pairing is beloved by fans. They fought their hearts out. Dakota looked the happiest she has been in a long time alongside Wendy during their entrance and introduction for the Dusty Cup final. It's nice to see her smiling again. Over the last couple months Dakota became true to herself again, rediscovering her good heart and the power of friendship.

Perhaps the silver lining with Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray opting not to challenge Gigi and Jacy for the tag team titles is the champions now need challengers. Could there yet be a road for Team Kick-Sleep to dethrone Gigi and Jacy at Stand & Deliver?

Additional Information | Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray defeated Wendy Choo & Dakota Kai (10:22) in the final match of the 2022 Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament on WWE NXT March 22, 2022 at WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.