Dakota Kai & IYO SKY started out on separate paths in WWE, but that all changed in the summer of 2022.
After years of pitching and planning, Bayley’s vision of a faction finally came to life last July when she aligned herself with Dakota Kai and IYO SKY (fka Io Shirai). The trio first emerged at WWE SummerSlam, but it wasn’t until their win at Clash at the Castle that Kai and SKY felt they really connected as a team.
In an interview with WrestleZone’s Managing Editor Bill Pritchard, Dakota Kai & IYO SKY discussed the moment they knew Damage CTRL was destined to be together.
“I feel like for us, and this has been an idea that Bayley’s wanting to do for years now, [to form] a group. I think the moment that it clicked for us was probably Clash at the Castle,” said Kai. “That was such a big win for us and that was such an iconic [place], you know, in Wales, Cardiff. The crowd was amazing. Everything just worked out for us in that match. I think that was a good moment for us.”
“I agree,” IYO SKY said in response.
Before their call-up to the main roster, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY crossed paths in WWE’s developmental brand of NXT. When asked to name one stand-out moment from their Damage CTRL counterparts, Kai and SKY recalled each other’s impressive work in NXT. In regard to Damage CTRL’s leader, Bayley, both had the same match in mind,
“I think for IYO, her match against Candice [LeRae] at the [NXT] Takeover Toronto a few years ago was amazing. That match is one I watched back recently, actually. That was like so freaking amazing,” Kai said. “And then for Bayley, obviously her and Sasha [at NXT Takeover Brooklyn], that that’s so iconic. It’s still talked about to this day. They both were trailblazers and they got given this opportunity, they killed it, so yeah.”
“That Bayley-Sasha match is so nice,” SKY said in agreement. “Also, I like [Dakota’s] moment with Tegan Nox [at 2019 WarGames]. That moment was amazing. It’s such a badass thing of your career. Yeah, it was cool.”
Watch our full interview with Dakota Kai & IYO SKY below:
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