Dakota Kai Biography: Husband, Age, Children, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Awards, WWE

Dakota Kai, born Cheree Georgina Crowley on May 6, 1988, is a New Zealand professional wrestler who gained global recognition through her work with WWE.

Known for her agility, striking ability, and tactical mindset, Kai initially found success in the NXT brand, where she became a two-time NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion.

Her rise to prominence continued as she joined the main roster, becoming a key member of the Damage CTRL faction alongside Bayley and IYO SKY.

Dakota Kai’s versatility in the ring and ability to lead and betray allies has made her a formidable presence in WWE.

Profile

• Full name: Cheree Georgina Crowley
• Date of birth: May 6, 1988
• Age: 36 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Auckland, New Zealand
• Nationality: New Zealand
• Profession: Professional wrestler
• Height: 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm)
• Parents: N/A
• Siblings: Two (Cyrene, an MMA fighter, and Earl, a DJ)
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: N/A
• Relationship status: Private, rumored close friendship with Shayna Baszler
• Religion: N/A
• Ethnicity: Samoan and European descent
• Net worth: $3 million

Early Life and Education

Dakota Kai, now 36 years old, was born on May 6, 1988, in Auckland, New Zealand, to a family of mixed European and Samoan heritage.

Her mother hails from the village of Lepea in Samoa, a significant part of Kai’s cultural background.

Growing up in Auckland, she was athletic from a young age, although little is known about her formal education.

Kai first ventured into professional wrestling in 2007, starting with Auckland-based promotions before moving to larger circuits in Australia, Japan, and the United States.

Her early life focused on cultivating her wrestling career, with no publicly available details about any formal college education or other qualifications.

Personal Life

Dakota Kai has kept her personal life relatively private. She is not married and has no children.

While her private life remains largely under wraps, she is known to share a close friendship with fellow wrestlers such as Shayna Baszler and Mia Yim, even sharing a home with Baszler in Florida.

There is no publicly available information about her romantic relationships, and she appears to focus much of her attention on her career in professional wrestling.

Career

Dakota Kai’s wrestling journey began in 2007 with Impact Pro Wrestling in Auckland, New Zealand, where she performed under the ring name Evie.

Over the next decade, she gained experience in various promotions across Australia and Japan, including Shimmer Women Athletes and World Wonder Ring Stardom. She became a rising star in the international wrestling scene.

In 2017, Kai signed with WWE and participated in the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament, where she made it to the quarterfinals.

Her bubbly persona quickly won over fans, and she became a regular in NXT. She eventually turned heel in 2019 after a memorable betrayal of her tag team partner, Tegan Nox, during NXT’s first-ever women’s WarGames match.

This marked a pivotal shift in her character, transforming from a fan favorite to a cunning and ruthless competitor.

Kai formed a successful partnership with Raquel Gonzalez, winning the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships twice.

However, their partnership dissolved after a storyline betrayal, further showcasing Kai’s ability to navigate complex character dynamics in WWE.

In 2022, Dakota Kai was released from WWE but made a surprising return just a few months later at SummerSlam, joining forces with Bayley and IYO SKY to form the Damage CTRL faction on WWE’s main roster.

The group quickly made an impact, capturing the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, further establishing Kai as a dominant figure in the women’s division.

Awards

• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with IYO SKY
• NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Raquel Gonzalez
• Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (2021) – with Raquel Gonzalez
• Artist of Stardom Championship (1 time) – with Hiroyo Matsumoto and Kellie Skater
• Impact Pro Wrestling Women’s Champion (3 times)

Net Worth

Dakota Kai’s net worth is estimated to be around $3 million.

Her primary source of income is her WWE contract, which includes a base salary, bonuses, and additional earnings from pay-per-view appearances and merchandise sales.

Controversy

In 2022, WWE released her, a move that surprised many fans. Her release was reportedly linked to her decision not to renew her contract, citing concerns about her future in the company.

This brief hiatus from WWE led to speculation about her future in wrestling, but she returned within a few months at SummerSlam 2022 as part of Damage CTRL, putting the rumors to rest.

Another notable storyline controversy came in 2019 when she famously betrayed her best friend, Tegan Nox, at NXT TakeOver: WarGames. This heel turn shocked the WWE Universe and was pivotal in Kai’s career.

Her betrayal of Nox was one of the most talked-about moments in NXT that year, as it was a significant character shift that drastically altered her trajectory within the company.

Kai’s heel persona has often drawn criticism from fans for her ruthless and selfish tactics in the ring, particularly during her feuds with former partners Raquel Gonzalez and Tegan Nox.

However, this criticism is primarily confined to her scripted role in WWE, and she is widely respected for her athletic ability and dedication to her craft.

Social Media

• Instagram: @dakotakai_wwe
• Twitter: @DakotaKai_WWE