Summer 2018. Dakota Kai had to deal with a pesky pair of foes in self-proclaimed "First Lady of NXT" Lacey Evans and "Boujee Baddie" Aliyah. During the July 11th 2018 episode of NXT, Kai commented on NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler who had some choice words for the division the prior week. Dakota promised Shayna with a fierceness in her voice that she would be seeing her again very soon for she was working her way to earn another title match. Evans sauntered in on her interview time, running down Kai including accusing her of lacking class.

Evans was insulted at the thought of Dakota as NXT Women's Champion. The militant felt the title needed a "classy lady" like her to hold it. Dakota objected to Evans rudeness. First it was an attack on social media earlier in the year. Now it was to her face. Kai was sick of all this talk and issued a challenge to Evans for a match on the next episode, vowing to kick the class right off her face. In March, Kai had scored a quick win over Evans who underestimated her because her shoulder was taped up from the wounds inflicted by Shayna Baszler.

This time, Evans wouldn't underestimate Kai. But was no less arrogant, mocking her kicks after the opening bell. Evans pie faced Kai who shot back with a jackknife cover for one. Kai controlled for a bit before Evans snatched dominance for a time. A missed moonsault by Evans gave Dakota an opening. Some of her favorite kicks dished out damage but she missed a pivotal enzuigiri that gave Evans the shot she needed to connect with the Women's Right. Kai was down and out giving Evans the pinfall victory. After the match, Evans verbally berated Our Captain.

If there was another member of the NXT Women's Division at that time who could match Lacey in the rudeness department it was Aliyah. The self-absorbed Boujee Baddie was once a friend of Kai even teaming up with her at a couple house shows in 2017. But since that time, Aliyah had fallen in love with her own reflection and was the embodiment of entitlement whereas Kai was the kind and humble girl next door who took pride in earning all her achievements. Dakota would face Aliyah on the August 29th 2018 episode of NXT.

It was back and forth until Aliyah struck Kai with a vicious back elbow. The Boujee Baddie worked Kai over, soon locking her in a body scissors. Aliyah applied it harder as Kai was about to escape. Kai would yet manage free, firing back with some of her favorite kicks. Aliyah snatched back control grabbing Kai by the head and slamming her to the canvas. The Boujee Baddie tugged at Kai's hair and talked trash. Instead of going for a pin, Aliyah stood over Kai taking a moment to pose. Dakota tripped Aliyah and hit the Kairopractor for the pinfall victory.

On the September 12th 2018 episode of NXT, footage from the previous week was shown. Kai had gotten in a heated argument with Lacey Evans and Aliyah. "The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo came to Dakota's side to back her up if things took a nasty turn. Evans and Aliyah backed off. A tag team match was made between the pairings for the September 19th 2018 episode of NXT. Dakota and Deonna had teamed up once prior, defeating Evans and Bianca Belair at an NXT House Show in August. They had also been opponents in Progress Wrestling twice in 2017.

Dakota and Deonna showed unity, warming each other up before the match. Kai even did Deonna's signature bow to her opponent along with her. Dakota gave her team a fighting chance during a comeback. But Deonna was taken out, and a blind tag from Lacey went unseen by Kai. Dakota had rolled Aliyah up but she wasn't the legal woman. Evans connected with the Women's Right and covered Kai to score her team the win. Dakota and Deonna would look to rebound from their loss with singles action on the newly arrived NXT UK brand.

Additional Information | Lacey Evans defeated Dakota Kai (8:58) on the July 18, 2018 episode of WWE NXT at Full Sail in Winter Park, Florida. Dakota Kai defeated Aliyah (5:12) on the August 29, 2018 episode of WWE NXT at Full Sail in Winter Park, Florida. Lacey Evans & Aliyah defeated Dakota Kai & Deonna Purrazzo (7:35) on the September 19, 2018 episode of WWE NXT at Full Sail in Winter Park, Florida.