The new number one contender Dakota Kai addressed NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai during a video package on the August 12th, 2020 episode of NXT. Everything Our Captain had previously done had been leading to this match at TakeOver 30. The world would see a Dakota Kai like never before.

Dakota felt Io had placed herself on a pedestal and intended to knock her off it. Unlike the other opponents Shirai had faced, Dakota said she didn't fear Io. Dakota felt she had gotten into Io's head and it would be the key to defeating her for the championship at TakeOver 30. Kai was confident, even stating she would do it without an "insurance policy". That "insurance policy" was her associate Raquel Gonzalez who had been AWOL since the end of June. It would appear that partnership had ended.

August 19, 2020. WWE NXT. Full Sail University. Winter Park, Florida. Dakota Kai was the number one contender and not the least bit shy about reminding everyone as she came to the ring for a match against Jessi Kamea. That coming Saturday she would challenge NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai for the championship at NXT TakeOver 30. Kai viciously worked Kamea over with strikes, chokes and kicks. Kamea got in a brief spurt of offense before Kai dropped her on the ropes and finished her with Go to Kick to score a pinfall victory.

After the match, Kai addressed Shirai's recent comments about her in response to the vignette from August 12, 2020. Shirai didn't believe Kai didn't fear her, claiming she was scared of her like she had been of Shayna Baszler. Io also insisted Kai wasn't in her head, rather she had just pissed her off. Kai felt Io's own words merely proved her point: Shirai was focused on recalling the people of her past while she was focused 100 percent on defeating her at TakeOver 30.

Dakota savored that she would enjoy kicking Io over and over during their match. Shirai didn't take kindly to that, charging the ring to attack her. Just when it looked like Dakota was going to retreat to the backstage area... Our Captain instead lured Io into a big boot and Chingona Bomb courtesy of her "insurance policy" Raquel Gonzalez who had been AWOL since the end of June.

It's true that Dakota Kai doesn't actually need Raquel Gonzalez to stand a chance at beating Io Shirai for the title. But by sending Raquel away for a bit and bringing her back into play when Io didn't see it coming, Kai had once again proven she had gotten into Io's head. A statement was made by Dakota Kai on that night and it was a painful one for the NXT Women's Champion.

Additional Information | Dakota Kai defeated Jessi Kamea (2:55) on WWE NXT August 19, 2020 at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.