After losing in last Wednesday’s main event, Rhea Ripley is set for action on this week’s episode of NXT.
WWE has announced that Ripley vs. Dakota Kai will take place on this Wednesday’s NXT. This will be the first time Kai has wrestled since being part of the women’s WarGames match at NXT TakeOver; WarGames earlier this month. Team Candice (Candice LeRae, Kai, Raquel Gonzalez & Toni Storm) defeated Team Shotzi (Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, Ripley & NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai) in that match when Gonzalez pinned Shirai.
In a storyline injury update after TakeOver, Kai said she wouldn’t be seen for a while due to suffering an injury.
Storm defeated Ripley in the main event of last week’s NXT after Gonzalez interfered and threw Ripley into the ring post. A staredown between Ripley and Gonzalez had closed the previous week’s NXT episode when Ripley made a save for Moon.
Ripley tweeted about facing Kai on NXT: “Might as well put @RaquelWWE on that graphic too. Everyone knows @DakotaKai_WWE can’t fight her own battles…”
Kai then responded to Ripley: “Rippy; if you had any friends, you’d bring them too… and no, the spikes on your jacket don’t count.”
WWE has also announced that the Tag Team title street fight with Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch facing Killian Dain & Drake Maverick will open this week’s NXT. Here’s the updated lineup for the show:
A Very Gargano Christmas
Rhea Ripley vs. Dakota Kai
NXT Champion Finn Balor and Kyle O’Reilly look back at their title match from TakeOver 31
Jake Atlas vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
Bronson Reed returns
NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch defend against Killian Dain & Drake Maverick in a street fight