December 7, 2018. Shopko Hall. Green Bay, Wisconsin. NXT Live Event. Dakota Kai teamed up with Kairi Sane and Candice LeRae against NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir. Kai's team won the match but there was nothing to celebrate on that night. After planting a kick, Kai landed her right foot awkwardly and tore her ACL.

This legitimate injury would keep Our Captain out of action for nine months. But this road she would not walk alone. Her best friend Tegan Nox had injured her ACL on August 8, 2018 in a match against Rhea Ripley during the second Mae Young Classic. The inseparable friends would make this long, grueling road to recovery together. They were not just friends, they were sisters, family. Their support system would include mutual friends Candice LeRae and Mia Yim.

Tegan would be cleared for an in-ring return in July 2019, back in action later that month on the NXT House Show Loop before returning home to Cardiff, Wales to compete briefly on NXT UK. Nox would return stateside to the news Dakota was scheduled to return to action for the first time since December 2018 on the September 25, 2019 episode of NXT.

Charlie and Steffanie Newell had gone through rehabilitation together. Now, Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox would get to team up together on both the NXT House Show Loop and for the first time ever on NXT television. The Captains of Team Kick were back as sharpe as a lance.