On February 16th, 2020 at NXT Takeover: Portland, Tegan Nox & Dakota Kai met in a street fight. The finish of that match involved Raquel Gonzalez making her debut and shoving Nox through a table. From that moment onward, Kai & Gonzalez were the greatest of allies. They would go on to win the first ever Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and become the first ever NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, all while Gonzalez was the NXT Women’s Champion. However, Kai was starting to fade into the shadow of her friend, and that wouldn’t do. With one swift kick, a friendship was ended, and now they will clash tonight at NXT Takeover 36.
Dakota Kai Employs Hit & Run Tactics To Kick This Fight Off
No one knows Gonzalez better than Kai, and that could be what helps her overcome the clear size advantage that is at play in this match. She taught Gonzalez everything that Gonzalez knows, but not everything that Kai knows. A slap to the face of Gonzalez would get the champion fired up, trying to get into her head before being driven hard into the corner with some shoulder thrusts.
Kai would catch her with a hurricanrana into the top turnbuckle, before slipping out of the ring to avoid a big lariat. Gonzalez tried to pull Kai back into the ring, only to wind up in an armbar. Kai wouldn’t be able to hold the submission, but as Gonzalez broke it off she’d launch off a scorpion kick and head back to the outside. The hit and run tactics would be stopped as Gonzalez finally caught her and nailed a series of Fallaway Slams.
She’d even catch a high crossbody into a press slam onto the top turnbuckle, before hitting another fallaway slam. Kai would block the twisting vader bomb and hit the Helluva Kick, but Gonzalez fell to the outside. Gonzalez was dead weight, and Kai struggled to get her into the ring before nine, but the time was enough to have Gonzalez kick out at two.
Raquel Gonzalez Has Her Hardest Fight Yet
Kai would have to keep the pressure on, nailing some kicks to the jaw before a codebreaker in the ropes for a two count. Gonzalez would hit a big slap, before a clothesline and a big boot. Kai would be flapjacked up into the air, before a side slam. The twisting vader bomb was next, but Kai was able to kick out at two.
Gonzalez would look for the powerbomb, before Kai countered into an armbar before being driven into the corner. Kai went for a scorpion kick, and Gonzalez countered into a Stretch Muffler then a powerbomb for a two count. Gonzalez would hit an Alley-Oop right onto the top rope, sending Kai flying onto the ramp.
Kai was back in and looked for a Codebreaker, which was blocked before a superkick landed. Gonzalez would take the Kairopractor, but it only got a two count. A chokeslam was attempted, before Kai countered and rolled Gonzalez to the outside. Back in, Kai nailed a double stomp for a two count.
Go To Kick would be attempted, before Gonzalez drove Kai into the corner. Gonzalez would find her head trapped between the turnbuckle and Kai’s boot, but had enough sense to counter the Helluva Kick into a super powerbomb for the win.
A smartly booked and back and forth battle between two who might be better rivals than partners. Clear chemistry and the high ring IQ of Kai brought this one along, and it was one of the best matches of Gonzalez’s reign because of this. Match Rating: 3.75/5 (*** 3/4)
What could be next for Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez after this match? Well, a sudden appearance from NXT UK”s Kay Lee Ray indicates that she’s looking for another lengthy reign. Can KLR defeat Gonzalez? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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