Will Ospreay reveals role in booking Kris Statlander vs. the former Dakota Kai
The former Dakota Kai will make her in-ring return later next month against AEW’s Kris Statlander, and Will Ospreay had a role to play in it.
On Sunday, March 8th, 2026, Kai, now known as Charlie, will make her in-ring return at Pro Wrestling Eve’s Wrestle Queendom 8 against the AEW Women’s Champion, Kris Statlander. Recently speaking to Grapple Theory, Ospreay revealed how he helped book the match and bring Kai into the mix.
“I wanted to try and find a wrestler that wasn’t attached to any other major company. I just had this moment, ‘Dakota Kai doesn’t work there now. I wonder if she’s free.’ I didn’t see anything because she doesn’t really post that much,” Ospreay said.
“I think she has a Twitch stream. I just dropped her a message and said, ‘What are the chances of making this happen?’ She got back to me right away. Super eager to do it. The back and forth between us was so good. She really wants to come to EVE and celebrate this huge show and really wanting to wrestle Kris Statlander.”
Since her release from WWE in May, 2025, Kai has been on a break from wrestling but regularly streams on Twitch as well as hosts a podcast with WWE’s Zelina Vega.
Pro Wrestling Eve’s Wrestle Queendom 8 is set to take place at The O2 in London, England.
Shounak Chakrabarti is an experienced sports journalist with a lifelong passion for athletics and storytelling. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Journalism from the University of Leeds and joined F4WOnline in 2025.
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