Dakota Kai

Cheree Georgina Crowley (born May 6, 1988) is a New Zealander professional wrestler.

She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Dakota Kai, where she is a member of Damage CTRL.

She is a former two-time WWE Women's Tag Team Champion with Iyo Sky.

She is also known for her time in NXT, where she won the inaugural Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and is a former two-time NXT Women's Tag Team Champion.

Prior to her signing with WWE, Crowley wrestled under the ring name Evie, and appeared for Impact Pro Wrestling (IPW) in her native New Zealand, Pro Wrestling Women's Alliance (PWA) in Australia, American promotions Shimmer Women Athletes and Shine Wrestling, as well as Japanese promotions Pro Wrestling Zero1 and World Wonder Ring Stardom.

Crowley made her professional wrestling debut on 15 December 2007 for Auckland based company Impact Pro Wrestling under the ring name Evie, a reference to her favourite Pokémon, Eevee.

In September 2011, she debuted in Sydney, Australia-based Pro Wrestling Alliance Australia (PWA Australia) for their annual PWWA show, where she defeated Kellie Skater.

In August 2012, Evie became the first Impact Pro Wrestling NZ Women's Champion, defeating Britenay and Megan Fox in a triple threat match.

A week later, she won the Interim PWWA Championship by defeating Jessie McKay in the finals.

After Impact Pro Wrestling returned after a few months from folding in mid-2013, all the previous title holders were stripped of their championships.

Evie won the IPW Women's Championship back in December 2013 and aligned herself with a new heel faction called 'The Investment'.

Evie made her debut for the all-female American promotion Shimmer Women Athletes at Volume 53 on 6 April 2013, participating in a five-way match which she lost to Christina Von Eerie and also included Yuu Yamagata, Kalamity, and Rhia O'Reilly.

At Volume 54, Evie defeated Kimber Lee to pick up her first win for the promotion, but she was defeated by Mia Yim the next day at Volume 56.

On 19 April 2013, Evie made her debut for Shine Wrestling at Shine 9, in a losing effort against Mercedes Martinez.

Evie began 2014 in Japan, working on a three-month contract awarded to her through Pro Wrestling Zero1, and becoming the first female to receive such a contract.

She competed in a losing effort against Hikaru Shida at Shimmer Volume 62 in April 2014.

At Volumes 63 and 64, Evie defeated Rhia O'Reilly and Nicole Matthews, respectively.

At the Shine 18 iPPV on 20 April 2014, Evie and Skater lost to defending champions the Lucha Sisters (Leva Bates and Mia Yim) for the Shine Tag Team Championship.

On 6 December 2015, Evie made her debut for the Japanese World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion.

In her first match she won the vacant Artist of Stardom Championship alongside Hiroyo Matsumoto and Kellie Skater.

Crowley appeared on the 14 October 2015 episode of NXT as Evie, losing to the debuting Nia Jax.

They lost the title to Io Shirai, Kairi Hojo, and Mayu Iwatani in their third defense on 28 February 2016.

On 15 December 2016, Crowley signed a contract with WWE, and a few months later she was announced as a participant in the upcoming Mae Young Classic under the new ring name Dakota Kai.

According to Crowley, she wanted her new ring name to be something that sounded tomboyish but still reflected her Samoan heritage.

The word Kai means sea in the Polynesian language, indicating her journey to get to WWE, and contrary to popular belief, is not a reference to Leilani Kai.

Kai entered the tournament on 13 July, defeating Kavita Devi in the first round and Rhea Ripley in the second round, before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Kairi Sane.

On 25 October 2017 episode of NXT, Kai returned to television, competing in a women's battle royal won by Nikki Cross.

On 10 January 2018 episode of NXT, Kai lost to the debuting Shayna Baszler by referee stoppage after Baszler stomped and injured her arm.

After the match, Baszler attacked and locked her in the Kirifuda Clutch until NXT Women's Champion Ember Moon saved her.

On 14 March episode of NXT, Kai scored her first televised victory, defeating Lacey Evans.

Kai made her WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania 34 on 8 April, competing in the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal and becoming the first female New Zealander to compete at WrestleMania.

Kai also participated in a WrestleMania Axxess tournament which she won, earning herself a match for the NXT Women's Championship, but was defeated by newly crowned champion Shayna Baszler.

In May, Kai earned another shot at the title but was unsuccessful in winning it.

Throughout the rest of the year, Kai racked up victories and losses against competitors like Santana Garrett, Bianca Belair, Lacey Evans and Aliyah.

In parallel to her activities in NXT, Kai also appeared in the newly created NXT UK brand.

At Evolution on 28 October, the first all women's pay-per-view, Kai unsuccessfully challenged Rhea Ripley (in a dark match) for the NXT UK Women's Championship.

Before the match, Kai took part in a tournament (that was taped back in the summer but aired in November) for the vacant championship, defeating Nina Samuels in the first round but was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual winner Ripley.

After spending a few months away, Kai returned at NXT TakeOver: WarGames on 17 November, where she and Io Shirai helped Kairi Sane during her match with Shayna Baszler by attacking Baszler's allies Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir.

On 17 January 2019, Kai announced on her Twitter page that she sustained a torn ACL, during an NXT live event in December, which would sideline her from in-ring competition for the next few months.

Kai defeated Taynara Conti in her return match on 25 September episode of NXT.