July 6, 2021. Capitol Wrestling Center. Orlando, Florida. NXT The Great American Bash 2021. Dakota Kai expressed that if not for Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon, she would be leaving the building on that night with championship gold. Moon and Shotzi played a pivotal role in NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai not winning the NXT Women's Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Match on the June 29, 2021 episode of NXT. Dakota and Raquel made it clear they intend to finally put an end to their eleven month war with Shotzi and Ember.

July 13, 2021. Capitol Wrestling Center. Orlando, Florida. NXT. That brewing tag team match was not fated to happen. Shotzi got called up to the main roster, leaving Ember without a partner. Hoping to finally end this war, Dakota battled Ember in a singles match. Kai was now two for one against Ember, defeating her in a grueling battle to bring their war to a close. The spotlight should have been on Dakota... but someone stole her moment.

Xia Li marched to the ring, storming right passed Dakota. It was Raquel whom Xia made her intentions for coming down clear to. Xia wanted an NXT Women's Championship Match. Raquel accepted the challenge.

Dakota's grief was worn all over her face and obvious to all, yet oblivious to Raquel. Xia passing right by Dakota as if Kai weren't even present was shades of Io Shirai doing the same when she presented Raquel with the open contract for a championship match at NXT Stand & Deliver four months prior. Then Raquel just granted Xia a championship match while ignoring the person right next to her who deserved a shot. Many felt Raquel should have offered Dakota the contract against Shirai out of respect for everything Kai had done for her. Shades yet again of March 17.

There had been tension in the air between Dakota and Raquel for a time, however Kai remained supportive of Raquel as champion. But on July 13, all these shades of the past were to be the last straw for Kai. She had given much to Raquel who in turn didn't even think to give her friend a title match while freely giving them to others. Dakota was willing to settle for the tag team titles for the sake of a friend. But that friend didn't see her as an equal, just her sidekick. We know Dakota has never been a sidekick... it was just a matter of time until Raquel found out herself.

July 20, 2021. Capitol Wrestling Center. Orlando, Florida. NXT. Raquel claimed that after she defeated Xia Li, there would be no challengers left. Dakota's stare said otherwise. Kai's eyes were fixed on the NXT Women's Championship as she prepped Raquel for her title defense against Xia. But would Raquel even get by the lethal Xia? It was no easy battle, however Raquel retained the title. As Dakota and Raquel posed on the ramp, Kai stared one last glance at the championship... for the night. Our Captain would soon make her intentions clear to Raquel.

Additional Information | Dakota Kai defeated Ember Moon (13:02) on the July 13, 2021 episode of WWE NXT at the Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando, Florida.