WWE NXT TakeOver: Dakota Kai’s heel run could surprise everyone

Reactions to Dakota Kai’s heel turn at WWE NXT TakeOver: WarGames have been mixed, but her heel run has potential that could surprise a lot of people.

We are just an hour into WWE’s third annual NXT TakeOver: WarGames event and it did not take long before the show got the crowd erupting in shock and awe. Minutes into the opening match, the Women’s WarGames match, Dakota Kai (serving as a last minute replacement for Mia Yim, who got attacked backstage during the pre-show), shocked us all when she attacked her partner Tegan Nox and walked away from Team Ripley.

The reaction to Kai’s heel turn so far (judging from the Twitter TL at least) is mixed to say the least. Most of those criticizing the move don’t like it because Dakota Kai has proved to be such a phenomenal underdog that a heel run sounds like a misstep. However, let us not forget that we were saying the exact same thing about another WWE Superstar who once played a phenomenal babyface: Bayley.

When Bayley first turned heel a few months back, we were all quick to call it the wrong move and call WWE a flock of morons for making everyone’s favorite Huggable One a detestable villain. No one expected Bayley to perform well in the role and viewed it as a miscasting, but since settling in the role (especially following her drastic transformation), Bayley has completely excelled in the part given to her. Many of the same critics who criticized the heel turn are currently loving the heel run.

Now, I understand that both Bayley and Dakota Kai are two completely different performers, but they are two, multi-faceted performers at that. Both were viewed as Superstars who work best as babyfaces, but we can say the same about a lot of wrestlers throughout history. The Rock, Bret Hart, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins … hell, Hulk Hogan (as much as his personal life sours me on the man) built a career as a universally loved babyface, then made tremendous money as nWo’s heel leader.

The point I’m trying to make is that as great wrestlers, the majority of WWE Superstars are also great actors. As such, actors have the skills to adapt into whatever role is offered to them. If someone makes a phenomenal babyface, they are likely able to make for just as much of an amazing heel as well. It’s hard enough to get anyone to like you, so if a wrestler is skilled enough to get the world to fall in love with them, they have the skills to make those same fans turn on them.

If the best babyfaces make for the best heels, then Dakota Kai, as one of WWE’s best faces, could surprise us all with a tremendous heel turn, depending on how she approaches her new character.

Not to mention, the heel turn opens the door to a bevy of interesting feuds and matches against the likes of Tegan Nox, Rhea Ripley and (if she’s revealed as Yim’s attacker), Mia Yim. Hell, WWE could even revisit old feuds against the likes of Shayna Baszler, but presenting a new heel dynamic for Kai to play off.

It’s still early, so this is very much a “wait and see” type of deal, but there’s enough potential here to get me excited for the Dakota Kai heel run that will momentarily be upon us.