Former Champion Returns at SummerSlam After Iyo Sky’s Successful MITB Cash In on an Injured Bianca Belair

SummerSlam was truly a spectacular event. The show in Detroit saw rivalries end, titles change, and a surprise return. After a very physical triple-threat women’s match, Bianca Belair emerged victorious over Charlotte Flair and Asuka despite suffering a kayfabe knee injury mid-match. However, her brief title reign came crashing down as Iyo Sky claimed glory from amongst the shadows with her Money in the Bank briefcase. 

Not only did the fans see the title change hands twice, but they also witnessed the much-awaited return of Damage CTRL member Dakota Kai. After Sky won her first Women’s Championship on the main roster, Kai showed up and joined in on the celebration.  

Dakota Kai returns to WWE after almost three months

Although Bianca Belair sustained a severe injury from her fall outside the ring, she had the wherewithal to recuperate and return to the match. However, she did not get enough time to celebrate as Iyo Sky emerged and pounced at her, cashing in her MITB contract and picking up the scraps. Following Iyo Sky’s win, Bayley and Dakota Kai joined in on the jubilation. 

Dakota Kai was last seen on WWE TV in an episode of SmackDown on May 12th. Kai’s last involvement came in a tag team match with Sky against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. However, she ended up injuring her knee, leading to her write-off from WWE programming. We should also note that Dakota Kai’s return does not portend her return to action. 

During the post-show media scrum, she relayed that she is not yet medically cleared to take bumps. She said, “I came because this is such a great moment for her and us as a group. I’m still ways away from being in-ring cleared, but I had to be here for her tonight. This is a crazy accomplishment for her, representing us as Damage CTRL. But yeah, 2024 is about to be crazy. But we’re getting there.”

By the looks of things, Kai only returned to celebrate Sky’s victory. Iyo Sky is enjoying her first title reign as the Women’s Champion on SmackDown. But Sky had an impressive reign as the NXT Women’s Champion, holding the title for 304 days. 

ALSO READ: “Thank You”: Bayley Proves Her Loyalty as Iyo Sky Cashed In Her MITB Contract to Become the New WWE Women’s Champion, Fans Go Crazy

On the other hand, Dakota Kai is a two-time Women’s tag team champion alongside Iyo Sky. We will have to wait and see when Kai finally makes her in-ring return. Anyway, Kai’s return to Damage CTRL at SummerSlam came full circle. 

Damage CTRL originated at SummerSlam 2022

Last year at SummerSlam, Bianca Belair faced off against Becky Lynch in a very physical match. After The EST defeated Lynch to retain the Raw Women’s Championship, a returning Bayley interrupted her. 

However, Bayley was not alone, as Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai flanked her in the ring. The nefarious trio almost made a statement by attempting to victimize Bianca Belair.

It was at that moment that fans realized that a new alliance came into play. Damage CTRL has since been dominant on the roster, looking out for each other and stealing wins. It will be interesting to see what happens next in Damage CTRL, especially now that Iyo Sky is the top women’s Champion on SmackDown. 

Watch This Story: As Big As-Serena Williams’ WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair Makes A Huge Statement About Daughter Charlotte Flair

Meanwhile, Dakota Kai’s in-ring return date remains in limbo. Tell us what you think about Dakota Kai’s surprise appearance. Comment below!