HUGE Turn On WWE NXT, TakeOver Title Match Set

WWE pulled a major turn to set up a TakeOver 36 match last night.

NXT logo
WWE

Dakota Kai turned on ally Raquel Gonzalez during last night's episode of WWE NXT, setting up a Women's Title match between the two for TakeOver 36 (22 August).

This went down as part of an in-ring segment in which Kai put the champion over as "the most dominant woman in NXT history." Name-dropping the likes of Asuka and Charlotte Flair, and claiming that Gonzalez was better than them all, Dakota was setting up a ruse, betraying her long-time rival after asking who was woman enough to challenge Raquel at TakeOver.

Kai statedthat Gonzalez would be champion for as long as they were in each other's corners. Then came the turn, as Kai kicked Gonzalez down and posed with the championship, setting the bout up.

Advertisement

The way the angle was scripted and executed suggests that Gonzalez will be playing the babyface here. Technically, she is the one who switched alignments.

Gonzalez had been aligned with Kai since TakeOver: Portland in February 2020, when she helped Dakota to a win over rival Tegan Nox. They have been attached at the hip ever since, with Kai instrumental in a number of Raquel's biggest wins, standing by her side when she became NXT Women's Champion in April.

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.