Cheree Georgina Crowley (born 6 May 1988) is a New Zealand professional wrestler. She is performing on the independent circuit under the ring name Charlie. She is best known for her tenure in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Dakota Kai.
Before signing with WWE, Crowley performed under the ring name Evie and appeared for Impact Pro Wrestling (IPW) in her native New Zealand, Pro Wrestling Women's Alliance (PWA) in Australia, American promotions Shimmer Women Athletes and Shine Wrestling, as well as Japanese promotions Pro Wrestling Zero1 and World Wonder Ring Stardom.
Crowley signed with WWE in 2016, where she adopted the ring name Dakota Kai and participated in the Mae Young Classic. She was then assigned to the NXT brand, where she became the inaugural winner of the Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and the inaugural and two-time NXT Women's Tag Team Champion alongside Raquel Gonzalez.
Crowley was released from WWE in April 2022 but returned to the company that July and joined the main roster, where she became part of the stable Damage CTRL. As part of the stable, she became a two-time WWE Women's Tag Team Champion with Iyo Sky. Crowley was once again released from WWE in May 2025.
Independent circuit (2007–2017)
Crowley made her professional wrestling debut on 15 December 2007 for Auckland based company Impact Pro Wrestling under the ring name Evie, a reference to her favourite Pokémon, Eevee.
In September 2011, she debuted in Sydney, Australia-based Pro Wrestling Alliance Australia (PWA Australia) for their annual PWWA show, where she defeated Kellie Skater. In August 2012, Evie became the first Impact Pro Wrestling NZ Women's Champion, defeating Britenay and Megan Fox in a triple threat match. A week later, she won the Interim PWWA Championship by defeating Jessie McKay in the finals.After Impact Pro Wrestling returned after a few months from folding in mid-2013, all the previous title holders were stripped of their championships. Evie made her debut for the all-female American promotion Shimmer Women Athletes at Volume 53 on 6 April 2013, participating in a five-way match which she lost to Christina Von Eerie and also included Yuu Yamagata, Kalamity, and Rhia O'Reilly. At Volume 54, Evie defeated Kimber Lee to pick up her first win for the promotion, but she was defeated by Mia Yim the next day at Volume 56. On 19 April 2013, Evie made her debut for Shine Wrestling at Shine 9, in a losing effort against Mercedes Martinez. Evie won the IPW New Zealand Women's Championship back in December 2013 and aligned herself with a new heel faction called 'The Investment'.
Evie began 2014 in Japan, working on a three-month contract awarded to her through Pro Wrestling Zero1, and becoming the first female to receive such a contract. She competed in a losing effort against Hikaru Shida at Shimmer Volume 62 in April 2014. At Volumes 63 and 64, Evie defeated Rhia O'Reilly and Nicole Matthews, respectively. At the Shine 18 iPPV on 20 April 2014, Evie and Skater lost to defending champions the Lucha Sisters (Leva Bates and Mia Yim) for the Shine Tag Team Championship.
World Wonder Ring Stardom (2015–2016)
On 6 December 2015, Evie made her debut for the Japanese World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion, winning the vacant Artist of Stardom Championship alongside Hiroyo Matsumoto and Kellie Skater. They lost the title to Io Shirai, Kairi Hojo, and Mayu Iwatani in their third defense on 28 February 2016.
Crowley appeared on 14 October 2015 episode of NXT as Evie, losing to the debuting Nia Jax. On 15 December 2016, Crowley signed a contract with WWE, and in June 2017, she was announced as a participant in the upcoming Mae Young Classic under the new ring name Dakota Kai. According to Crowley, she wanted her new ring name to sound tomboyish but still reflect her Samoan heritage. The word Kai means sea in the Polynesian language, indicating her journey to get to WWE, and contrary to popular belief, is not a reference to Leilani Kai. Kai entered the tournament on 13 July, defeating Kavita Devi in the first round and Rhea Ripley in the second round, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Kairi Sane.
On 25 October 2017 episode of NXT, Kai returned to television, competing in a women's battle royal won by Nikki Cross. On 10 January 2018 episode of NXT, Kai lost to the debuting Shayna Baszler by referee stoppage after Baszler stomped and injured her arm. After the match, Baszler attacked and locked her in the Kirifuda Clutch until NXT Women's Champion Ember Moon saved her. On 14 March episode of NXT, Kai scored her first televised victory, defeating Lacey Evans. Kai made her WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania 34 on 8 April, competing in the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal and becoming the first female New Zealander to compete at WrestleMania. Kai also won a WrestleMania Axxess tournament for an NXT Women's Championship match, but was defeated by newly crowned champion Baszler. In May, Kai earned another shot at the title, but again failed to win. Throughout the rest of the year, Kai racked up victories and losses against competitors like Santana Garrett, Bianca Belair, Lacey Evans and Aliyah.
In parallel to her activities in NXT, Kai also appeared in the newly created NXT UK brand. At Evolution on 28 October, the first all women's pay-per-view, Kai unsuccessfully challenged Rhea Ripley (in a dark match) for the NXT UK Women's Championship. Before the match, Kai took part in a tournament (which was taped in the summer but aired in November) for the vacant championship, defeating Nina Samuels in the first round but was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual winner Ripley. At NXT TakeOver: WarGames on 17 November, Kai and Io Shirai helped Kairi Sane during her match with Shayna Baszler by attacking Baszler's allies Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir. On 17 January 2019, Kai announced on her Twitter page that she sustained a torn ACL, during an NXT live event in December, which would sideline her from in-ring competition for the next few months. Kai defeated Taynara Conti in her return match on 25 September episode of NXT.
Shortly after, Kai's long-time tag team partner Tegan Nox returned to NXT and the two reunited their tag team dubbed "Team Kick". On 30 October episode of NXT, Team Kick unsuccessfully challenged The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. In November, Kai made her main roster debut as part of the NXT talent that were placed in an invasion angle with Raw and SmackDown as part of the Survivor Series pay-per-view. Mia Yim was chosen over Kai as part of Rhea Ripley's team for the first-ever women's WarGames match against Shayna Baszler's team. On 23 November, at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, just before the match took place, Kai replaced Yim, who was attacked backstage. However, before she entered the ring, Kai attacked her tag team partner Nox, turning heel. Upon her return in December, Yim revealed that Kai attacked her backstage, leading to a grudge match between the two, which Kai won. On 26 January 2020, at Royal Rumble, Kai entered her first Royal Rumble match at #15, but was eliminated by Chelsea Green.
Storyline with Raquel González (2020–2022)
On 29 January episode of NXT, Kai lost to Nox after she used a knee brace following a distraction from Candice LeRae. She then defeated Nox twice: in a street fight on 16 February at NXT TakeOver: Portland, and in a steel cage match, both after interference from González. At TakeOver: In Your House on 7 June, Kai, González and LeRae lost to Nox, Yim and Shotzi Blackheart in a six-woman tag team match. At NXT TakeOver XXX on 22 August, Kai failed to win the NXT Women's Championship from Io Shirai. On 6 December, she and González aligned with LeRae and Toni Storm to defeat Blackheart, Ember Moon, Shirai and Ripley in a WarGames match. Kai and González participated in the inaugural Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and won by defeating Blackheart and Moon in the finals at Vengeance Day on 14 February. With this win, they earned a shot at WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, a match that would end in controversy on 3 March episode of NXT, after Kai was submitted by Baszler despite not being the legal competitor in the match. The following week, they were awarded the newly created NXT Women's Tag Team Championship by General Manager William Regal, marking Kai's first championship in WWE. However, the two lost the titles to Blackheart and Moon later that night.