10 Most Heartbreaking WWE Releases Ever

Dakota Kai’s release on May 2, 2025, arrived like the final note of a song cut short—leaving fans wondering how the melody ended. 

She’d reshaped her NXT persona from plucky underdog into one of the brand’s most magnetic villains, her betrayal of Tegan Nox standing among WWE’s most riveting twists. Promoted to the main roster as part of Damage CTRL, Kai clicked alongside Bayley and IYO SKY, capturing the Women’s Tag Team Championships and proving she could carry high-pressure storylines on Raw and SmackDown.

Then came the curt roster-cut announcement—no video package, no on-air farewell—snapping her momentum in two. That abrupt end stung hardest because Kai embodied everything WWE claims to prize: charisma, in-ring mastery and a genuine bond with the crowd. She wasn’t a placeholder; she was a potential cornerstone of the women’s division.

Backstage, teammates rallied. Bayley shared throwback photos, calling Kai family forever. Iyo Sky and Katana Chance mourned losing a sparring partner who’d sharpened their own performances. Kai herself leaned into the grind, replying with a defiant meme that signaled she’s only just begun her next chapter

For everyone who tracked her rise from NXT standout to main-roster linchpin, this felt like a story left unfinished—proof that some talents deserve an encore, not a silent cut to black.