As the cracks within Damage CTRL continue to deepen, a Royal Rumble win for Dakota Kai would not only catapult her to WrestleMania, but also likely result in a dramatic change in leadership for the “WWE SmackDown” faction.

Heading into the 2024 Royal Rumble event, Bayley, the long-time faction leader, has vehemently expressed her desire to secure all of WWE’s championship gold on the waists of Damage CTRL. As IYO SKY continues to reign as the WWE Women’s Champion, Bayley looks to dethrone WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley while Asuka and Kairi Sane chase after the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Meanwhile, Dakota Kai remains on the sidelines, recovering from a torn ACL she sustained last May.

Despite Bayley’s eagerness to elevate her stablemates to the next level, recent months have seen Kai emerge as a spokesperson for SKY, Sane, and Asuka –- a striking contrast from the dynamic that fans saw in the early days of Damage CTRL. On last week’s episode of “SmackDown,” Bayley faced Bianca Belair in singles action, and as usual, “The Role Model” attempted to use some sneaky tactics to gain an advantage. Unfortunately, Bayley’s plan didn’t go quite as expected, as Kai, SKY, Sane, and Asuka stood in place as the referee’s back was turned, allowing Belair to shift the tide back in her favor and eventually win the match.

Following her loss, Bayley confronted her allies, to which Kai claimed that the referee was looking in their direction at ringside, hence why the quartet hesitated to interfere at ringside. Much to Bayley’s dismay, Kai then informed her that in order to fulfill her portion of the vision, Bayley would have to win the Royal Rumble on her own accord, without the help of Damage CTRL.

While Kai was initially portrayed as a supporting character for Damage CTRL following her ACL injury, her recent actions suggest that she may be looking to take over the reins of the stable. And assuming she is cleared to compete at the end of January, a surprise win at the Royal Rumble certainly increases her odds of achieving that (in addition to throwing a wrench in Bayley’s Royal Rumble aspirations). A Kai-Rumble win would also boost a new face into the spotlight, allowing Kai to build up her stock and finally pursue a singles championship on the main roster.

So, in the words of former WWE Women’s Champion Mickie James: Watch your back, Bayley.

Written by Ella Jay