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Arguably the most shocking moment of Survivor Series weekend came right at the very start of festivities.
It came during the women's WarGames match at NXT TakeOver where Dakota Kai proceeded to attack her best friend Tegan Nox, taking her out of the match and splitting Team Kick in the process.
To some, it was a disappointment to see the popular duo torn apart just as they were building momentum as a tag team. However, others would agree that a heel turn is what Kai needed to revitalize her WWE career which had floundered since her run to the Mae Young Classic quarterfinals in 2017.
The turn was perfectly executed, but now it's all about the follow-up. In the past, WWE has been criticized often for failing to take advantage of a hot start to their feuds. At other times, feuds conclude hurriedly without the necessary build in-between (think CM Punk's return after Money in the Bank 2011).
To make stars out of both ladies, they need to hit all the right notes with this rivalry. In this article, we analyze 4 ways NXT should book Dakota Kai vs Tegan Nox.
#4 The explanation
In theory, the reason for Dakota Kai's betrayal is obvious. She was excluded from Rhea Ripley's WarGames team, so she wanted to make sure they regretted that choice by attempting to cost them the match.
However, whilst her actions indirectly affected Rhea, it wasn't The Nightmare she attacked, it was Tegan Nox. Kai, therefore, needs to address her actions as soon as possible. Doing this at the first available opportunity would allow here soak up the heat she will undoubtedly receive from the NXT crowd.
If WWE waits too long to have Kai address the audience, they risk minimizing the crowd reaction, so this needs to be done as soon as possible.
#3 Keep Tegan Nox off WWE TV
As a Tegan Nox fan, having her spend more time off TV given her past injury struggles wouldn't be the ideal option. However, it is that history that makes it vital we don't see her for a few weeks.
Lady Kane suffered both physical and emotional distress at the hands of her former partner in crime. To make the feud more believable, Tegan needs to take time away from NXT TV to sell her injuries.
By doing this, it will increase the crowd reaction when she does come back to revenge what Kai did.
It would be much like what WWE did with The Undertaker in a build to his WrestleMania 14 match-up with Kane, as he was out both from getting burnt alive by his brother and being betrayed by his flesh-and-blood.
#2 Keep the physicality to a minimum
In the modern era, it can be hard for a heel to generate proper heat. For this feud to work, NXT must do everything to make Dakota Kai hated. Therefore, when the time comes for Tegan Nox to return, we shouldn't get an immediate head-on-collision between them.
What Kai did at TakeOver was very cowardly. She should employ similar tactics to avoid facing the consequence of her actions. It could be running away through the crowd or using other wrestlers to do her dirty work, either way, NXT needs to build up the moment when Nox gets her hands on Kai. Creative should wait until at least the NXT before their eventual TakeOver clash.
#1 Don't book the match on the next NXT TakeOver
The best feuds are the ones given time to build. Granted, quick culminations can work on occasion, for example when Io Shirai and Candice Le Rae stole the show at NXT TakeOver: Toronto 2019.
However, let's analyze the arc of the greatest feud in NXT history: Johnny Gargano vs Tommaso Ciampa. The time difference between Ciampa's turn and the eventual clash was 10 months. Granted much of this was down to Ciampa's injury, and the original scenario would have seen the pair face off in Brooklyn. However, it demonstrates what can be achieved if NXT displays patience.
The next TakeOver event in February will most likely focus on Rhea Ripley's inevitable dethroning of Shayna Baszler. If NXT decides to also put Dakota Kai vs Tegan Nox on that card, it is at risk of being quickly forgotten about. If that were to happen, then all the momentum built by the pair would go to waste.
The matchup should take place during WrestleMania weekend's TakeOver instead, as such a platform would do wonders for the feud.
Now you can vote for your favorite matches from the past WWE episodes here!
