Dakota Kai watched on as Raquel Gonzalez warmed up for her match at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver by facing Zoey Stark on the March 31, 2021 episode of NXT. Kai snuck in a pretty good shot at Stark while the referee's back was turned only to find herself clotheslined over the barrier seconds later by an aggravated Zoey.

The next week on April 7, 2021 Raquel defeated Io Shirai to win the NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver Night 1. The two night event was labeled the biggest TakeOver in the history of NXT, however Dakota's part was just accompanying her associate to the ring. Dakota tried to intervene on her behalf only to be caught and ejected from ringside.

Raquel's rise since WarGames 2020 had led Shirai to challenge her by offering an open contract. Dakota was happy for her associate but still visibly hurt it wasn't her who would receive the shot. Ever since WarGames 2020 it was clear NXT management had picked Raquel as the "next big thing" and Kai was slowly but surely feeling left behind.

Gonzalez had built up a base of fans yet others felt it should have been Dakota who faced Shirai for the title at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. Or else received a shot at the NXT UK Women's Championship held by Kay Lee Ray. Cracks were forming between Dakota and Raquel and they would only grow wider as spring turned into summer.

Additional Information | Raquel Gonzalez (with Dakota Kai) versus Zoey Stark took place on the March 31, 2021 episode of WWE NXT at the Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando, Florida. WWE NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver 2021 Night 1 took place on April 7, 2021 at the Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando, Florida.