The road to crowning the inaugural WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion began on Monday Night Raw, and it’s already delivering high-stakes drama. The tournament bracket was unveiled just before airtime, and Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL made her mark as the first competitor to advance.
In the night’s triple-threat match, Kai took on Katana Chance (making her Raw singles debut) and Shayna Baszler, representing the New Fusion Collective. It was a fast-paced and unpredictable bout that showcased all three women’s strengths. Baszler nearly secured victory with her signature Kirifuda Clutch on Kai, but the Damage CTRL member narrowly escaped. The turning point came when Chance attempted a stunning 450 Splash, inadvertently taking out Baszler. Ever the opportunist, Kai capitalized, landing her GTK (Go To Kick) on Chance for the pinfall.
Kai’s victory means she could face her former tag partner Raquel Rodriguez in the semifinals, depending on Rodriguez’s performance in her upcoming match. Tensions between Damage CTRL and Rodriguez have already been high after Rodriguez and Liv Morgan defeated Kai’s teammates in the opening match of the night. With Morgan set to defend her Women’s World Championship against IYO SKY at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Damage CTRL’s plate is full.
The tournament continues next week with another triple-threat match featuring Zelina Vega, Lyra Valkyria, and Ivy Nile. The action is heating up as the women of Raw compete for a brand-new championship that could redefine the division.