In a recent episode of WWE SmackDown, viewers were treated to a series of unexpected events that left fans reeling. Bayley, who was initially believed to be challenging Rhea Ripley for a match at WrestleMania 40, instead turned her attention to Asuka, IYO SKY, and Kairi Sane. She confronted them regarding their behavior towards her, which escalated into a physical altercation. Bayley was outnumbered until she managed to wield a metal pipe, driving her adversaries from the ring. Using her victory in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match, she then boldly issued a challenge to IYO SKY for a showdown at WrestleMania 40.
The absence of Dakota Kai, the fifth member of Damage CTRL, during this dramatic segment was conspicuous. However, she made her return to SmackDown the following week, seeking reconciliation with Bayley. While her intentions seemed genuine, there are underlying reasons for Bayley to maintain a degree of skepticism towards her. Kai’s history of deceit and her recent actions suggest that Bayley’s trust might be misplaced.
Dakota Kai’s credibility came into question when she explained her absence from the previous week’s SmackDown as due to a doctor’s appointment. Bayley’s probing about why Dakota had not forewarned her about Asuka and Kairi Sane’s schemes was met with a response that implied Dakota had faith in Bayley’s strategy. However, the fact that Dakota was aware of the animosity towards Bayley and chose to withhold this information is suspicious and casts doubt on her loyalty.
Adding to the mistrust is Dakota Kai’s history of turning on her friends. Her transformation from a beloved NXT babyface to a ruthless competitor was marked by her betrayal of Tegan Nox, which resulted in a brutal attack that injured Nox’s leg. Dakota’s pattern of betrayal continued when she turned on Raquel Rodriguez, her former ally in NXT. Given this pattern of behavior, Bayley has every reason to be cautious in her dealings with Dakota Kai.
Bayley herself is no stranger to the sting of betrayal, having experienced it from both sides during her time in WWE. Once the quintessential babyface, Bayley’s character evolved after being repeatedly betrayed, leading to her own heel turn. Her past experiences with disloyalty, as well as her own actions towards Sasha Banks, now known as Mercedes Mone, inform her wariness towards Dakota Kai. This is further compounded by the fact that during a recent rescue attempt, Kai did not actually strike Asuka, Kairi Sane, and IYO SKY with a steel chair, but rather hit the ropes, raising questions about her true intentions.
