February 24, 2025. Heritage Bank Center. Cincinnati, Ohio. WWE Monday Night RAW. Dakota Kai earned another shot at the Women’s Intercontinental Championship by defeating Ivy Nile on WWE Monday Night RAW February 17, 2025. Singles WWE championship gold has eluded The Captain since she arrived in NXT. Lyra Valkyria holds two previous wins over Dakota, including recently in the Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Finals. Would the third time be the charm for Dakota Kai?

Kai got the better of Lyra in the early going, blocking her wrecking ball dropkick with a catch of the feet. Dakota took to the apron, rolling down Lyra with a cannonball. It was back and forth when the action returned to the ring. Kai with two armdrags and a dropkick. Valkyria with a headbutt to the midsection followed by a bridging northern lights suplex for two. Kai proved she not only kicks, but suplexes too, tossing Lyra over her head with an explosive German suplex.

Dakota climbed to the top rope. Lyra followed, forearms knocking her into tree of woe position. Dakota intended Coup-de-Kai only for Lyra to snatch control, canvassing Dakota in a heap with a delayed superplex. Once they collected themselves, it was a series of near-falls between both. Things took a brutal turn when Lyra smashed Kai to the canvas with a powerbomb for two. Valkyria went to the top rope, flying down at Kai for an offensive move which Dakota cut off with a superkick.

Valkyria was struck silly by the charging Kaio-Kick followed by the Kairopractor for two. Kai got Lyra over the middle rope for the Dakota Stomp, but Valkyria evaded. Lyra climbed to the top rope again, cut off this time with a gamengiri. Before Kai could make another offensive move, Lyra slipped under her and smashed her to the canvas with Nightwing to score the pinfall victory, retaining the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.

Dakota embraced Lyra before taking her leave. Seconds later, Ivy Nile blindsided Dakota with an attack at the entrance gate before doing the same to Valkyria in the ring. An unsporting end to what otherwise was a competitive duel between Kai and Valkyria.

Another setback. But the campaign, the dream remains the same. The King Kota Movement will not rest until Dakota Kai finally wins her first singles WWE championship gold. And even then, the work will have only just begun. It's the dream of Dakota Kai and all her fans. A dream we remain hopeful will someday become a reality.

Additional Information | Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria defeated Dakota Kai (7:35) to retain the championship on WWE Monday Night RAW February 24, 2025 at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.