Shawn Michaels has nothing but high praise for Dakota Kai.
Shawn Michaels is widely considered to be the greatest in-ring performer of his generation. For some, he is even seen as the greatest of all time. Nowadays, Shawn Michaels spends his time passing on his knowledge and helping the next generation of WWE performers grow in NXT.
Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez often have their Dynamic compared to Shawn Michaels and Diesel from days gone by. Now, Shawn Michaels is letting the world know just how much of a valued performer Dakota Kai is in his eyes.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Shawn Michaels openly stated that he believes Dakota Kai's true value may very well be underestimated by some who don't understand all she brings to the table. Shawn would even compare what she can do to what he tried to do during his time on top.
“What you see Dakota doing, I always pictured myself in that role because I wanted to Ping-Pong around the ring for my opponent,” Michaels says. “That’s one of the reasons I became who I became in the business, so watching Dakota, I am so impressed.”
Michaels continued, “I don’t want to say she feels under the radar, but I don’t know if everyone gets or appreciates everything Dakota Kai does and everything she brings to the table,” says Michaels. “She is such a workhorse. She’s really helped propel Raquel, and I keep going back to that WarGames match. She is unbelievable, and doesn’t think twice about the sacrifice that is involved and necessary. She works to the hilt, which is hard not to like and appreciate.”
Currently, Raquel Gonzalez is the NXT Women's Champion and NXT has shown brief moments of frustration on the part of Dakota Kai.
Kai has commented on the comparisons she and Raquel often get to Shawn Michaels and Diesel in the past. Read her comments here.