Dakota Kai Bio
Cheree Georgina “Charlie” Crowley, best known by the ring name Dakota Kai, is a New Zealand professional wrestler born on 6 May 1988 in Auckland, New Zealand. She began her career in 2007 on the independent circuit before signing with WWE, where she became a prominent performer in the women’s division. Throughout her career, she has performed under multiple ring names and competed across promotions in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and the United States.
Crowley first rose to international recognition as Evie in promotions such as Impact Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Women’s Alliance, Shimmer Women Athletes, Shine Wrestling, and World Wonder Ring Stardom. After joining WWE, she adopted the Dakota Kai persona and became known for her athleticism, striking ability, and contributions to evolving the women’s tag team division. She has held championship gold in both NXT and on the main roster, cementing her legacy as one of New Zealand’s most accomplished wrestlers.
Early Life and Background
Cheree Georgina Crowley was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, where she developed an early interest in athletics and physical performance. She is of Irish and Samoan descent, and her mother is originally from the Samoan village of Lepea on the island of Upolu. This multicultural upbringing shaped her identity and would later influence her wrestling persona.
Her brother, Earl, first introduced her to professional wrestling, sparking a passion that would define her career path. Growing up in a sports-oriented family, Crowley was surrounded by athletic role models, including her grandfather Pat Crowley, who represented New Zealand in rugby as a member of the All Blacks in 1949 and 1950. This strong athletic lineage provided a foundation for her future in combat sports.
Crowley has a younger sister named Nyrene, a mixed martial artist with a professional record of 4-4-0, who trains at City Kickboxing alongside notable UFC fighters such as Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France, and Carlos Ulberg. Surrounded by competitive athletes, Crowley pursued her own path in professional wrestling, training rigorously to develop her craft before making her in-ring debut.
Path to Professional Wrestling
Crowley made her professional wrestling debut on 15 December 2007 for the Auckland-based promotion Impact Pro Wrestling under the ring name Evie, a reference to her favorite Pokémon, Eevee. This debut marked the beginning of a decade-long journey through the international independent wrestling circuit, where she honed her skills and built a reputation as a talented performer.
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. These early title victories established her as a leading figure in New Zealand women’s wrestling and opened doors to international opportunities.
Evie expanded her reach by competing in Australia, Japan, and the United States. She debuted for Pro Wrestling Alliance Australia in September 2011, won the vacant Artist of Stardom Championship in World Wonder Ring Stardom in December 2015, and competed in Shimmer Women Athletes and Shine Wrestling. In 2014, she received a rare three-month contract with Pro Wrestling Zero1 in Japan, becoming the first female wrestler to be awarded such an opportunity. These experiences prepared her for the biggest stage in professional wrestling.
Dakota Kai Career
Early Career (2007–2015)
Crowley’s early career was defined by steady progression through the independent circuit, where she established herself as a versatile and hard-hitting competitor. Working under the name Evie, she competed across New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and the United States, gaining valuable experience against a wide range of opponents. Her technical proficiency and willingness to travel for wrestling opportunities set her apart from many of her peers.
Her championship success on the independent scene included reigns as the IPW New Zealand Women’s Champion and the Interim PWWA Championship. She also captured the Artist of Stardom Championship in Stardom alongside Hiroyo Matsumoto and Kellie Skater. These accomplishments caught the attention of WWE scouts, leading to her appearance on NXT on 14 October 2015 as Evie, where she lost to the debuting Nia Jax.
WWE NXT Era (2016–2022)
Crowley signed a WWE contract in December 2016 and was reintroduced in June 2017 as Dakota Kai, a name she chose to sound tomboyish while reflecting her Samoan heritage, as the word Kai means sea in the Polynesian language. She competed in the inaugural Mae Young Classic, defeating Kavita Devi and Rhea Ripley before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Kairi Sane. This tournament established her as a rising star in the NXT women’s division.
Kai made her WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania 34 on 8 April 2018, competing in the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal and becoming the first female New Zealander to compete at WrestleMania. She also won a WrestleMania Axxess tournament for an NXT Women’s Championship match but was defeated by Shayna Baszler. A torn ACL in December 2018 sidelined her for several months, but she returned stronger, reuniting with her tag team partner Tegan Nox to form Team Kick.
After turning heel by attacking Nox at NXT TakeOver: WarGames in November 2019, Kai aligned with Raquel González and Candice LeRae. Together with González, she won the inaugural Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic at Vengeance Day in February 2021 and was awarded the inaugural NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship. She later won the titles again at NXT Stand & Deliver in April 2022 before being released from WWE on 29 April 2022, ending her first seven-year tenure.
WWE Main Roster and Damage CTRL Era (2022–2025)
Kai re-signed with WWE on 30 July 2022 and returned at SummerSlam alongside Bayley and Iyo Sky, confronting Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. The trio was later named Damage CTRL at Clash at the Castle in September 2022. Alongside Iyo Sky, Kai won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, becoming one of only three wrestlers to have held both the WWE and NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Kai and Sky lost the titles in October 2022 but regained them at Crown Jewel on 5 November 2022, marking the first time a women’s championship changed hands in the Middle East. Their second reign ended in February 2023 when they lost to Becky Lynch and Lita. After the 2023 WWE Draft, Damage CTRL moved to SmackDown, where Kai suffered a torn ACL during a match in May 2023, forcing her into a manager role during her recovery.
After returning to in-ring action, Kai competed in the 2024 Women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament, challenging Lyra Valkyria in the finals in January 2025 but falling short. Following a concussion and her final televised victory over Ivy Nile, Crowley was released from her WWE contract on 2 May 2025, ending her second tenure with the company.
Style and Strengths
Dakota Kai is known for her hard-hitting striking style, combining stiff kicks, precise timing, and an athletic build to overwhelm opponents. Her background in martial arts and her training alongside elite fighters at City Kickboxing have contributed to a striking-based offense that stands out in the women’s division. She excels in tag team scenarios, using her experience as a cohesive partner to complement high-flying allies like Iyo Sky and Raquel González.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kai became the first female New Zealander to compete at WrestleMania when she entered the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34 in 2018. She is also recognized as the inaugural NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion and a two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. Her victory at Crown Jewel in November 2022 was historic, marking the first women’s championship title change in the Middle East.
Dakota Kai Career Wins
Throughout her career spanning multiple promotions and countries, Dakota Kai has accumulated championship gold across every major brand she has represented. From her early successes in New Zealand and Japan to her historic reigns in NXT and on the main roster, she has consistently proven herself as a top-tier competitor in the women’s division.
WWE Championship Highlights
Kai is a two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, having won the titles alongside Iyo Sky in September 2022 and again at Crown Jewel in November 2022. She is also a two-time NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, first awarded the inaugural title in March 2021 with Raquel González and later winning it again at NXT Stand & Deliver in April 2022. These accomplishments place her among an elite group of wrestlers who have held tag team gold in both NXT and WWE’s main roster.
Other Wins and Performances
On the independent circuit, Kai (as Evie) won the IPW New Zealand Women’s Championship, the Interim PWWA Championship, and the Artist of Stardom Championship in World Wonder Ring Stardom. She was also the inaugural winner of the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in 2021. Her success across multiple promotions demonstrates her versatility and longevity in the wrestling industry.
Dakota Kai Family
Family Background and Wrestling Lineage
Crowley comes from a deeply athletic family with strong ties to combat sports and physical competition. Her brother Earl first introduced her to professional wrestling, while her younger sister Nyrene is a professional mixed martial artist training at City Kickboxing. Her grandfather Pat Crowley was a member of the legendary All Blacks rugby team, representing New Zealand in 1949 and 1950.
Personal Life
Crowley is of Irish and Samoan heritage, with her mother originally from the Samoan village of Lepea on the island of Upolu. She is currently in a relationship with American professional wrestler Karl Fredericks. She is also known to share a close friendship with fellow wrestlers Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, and Mia Yim, and has resided in Florida with Baszler. Outside of wrestling, Crowley has appeared in a music video for the Auckland band These Four Walls and co-hosts a podcast with Thea Trinidad, known professionally as Zelina Vega.
2025 Season Performance
Dakota Kai’s 2025 began with a shot at the inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Championship, as she challenged Lyra Valkyria in the tournament finals on the 13 January 2025 episode of Raw. Despite a competitive showing, she was unable to capture the title. Later that month, it was reported that she had suffered a concussion, adding another setback to a career already marked by injury challenges.
Kai returned to action and defeated Ivy Nile on the 27 March 2025 episode of Main Event in what would become her final televised match in WWE. Her second tenure with the company came to an end on 2 May 2025, when she was released from her contract after three years back with the promotion. The release concluded a chapter that included historic tag team success and her role as a key member of the Damage CTRL faction.
As of mid-2025, Dakota Kai’s future in professional wrestling remains open, with her legacy as one of New Zealand’s most accomplished wrestlers firmly established. Her combination of in-ring ability, championship pedigree, and contributions to the women’s division ensures she will remain a sought-after talent in the global wrestling landscape.
