Raquel Gonzalez: Dakota Kai Is The Only Person Who Initially Believed In Me In WWE

Raquel Gonzalez has hailed the influence of Dakota Kai on her career so far in NXT, saying she is the only person who believed in her when everyone else told her she wasn't ready.

Gonzalez was originally supposed to make her NXT debut in 2019 but ended up making her first showing on the black-and-gold brand last year. She has enjoyed one of the best rookie years in NXT ever, winning the NXT Women's Championship from Io Shirai at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.

The reigning champion has now spoken of how her tag-team partner, Dakota Kai, has helped to build her into the star she is today.

Speaking to Newshub, Gonzalez said: "Dakota Kai has been a huge influence on my rise. Dakota is the only person who believed in me when everyone else said I wasn't ready.

"If it wasn't for Dakota Kai I wouldn't have made the impact I made in my debut and I wouldn't have become one half of the women's tag team champions or one half of the very first women's Dusty Cup winners. We have made history together. I wouldn't be standing here as the NXT women's champion.

"Dakota Kai has my back and I have hers - 100 percent."