Charlie Challenges Statlander for EVE Title in 2026 Return

Former WWE wrestler Dakota Kai, now competing under the name Charlie, will make her in-ring return on March 8, 2026, challenging Kris Statlander for the EVE International Championship at Pro Wrestling EVE's Wrestle Queendom 8 event in London.

The matchup was announced on December 5, 2025, by AEW performer Will Ospreay on social media. The bout is scheduled for the Indigo at The O2 arena, coinciding with International Women's Day. Statlander, who holds the title, will defend it against Charlie in what marks the challenger's first competition since her release from WWE in May 2025. Doors for the 18-and-over event open at 3 p.m. local time.

Charlie's WWE tenure spanned seven years, beginning with her full-time signing in 2017 after initial appearances in 2015. She returned from a brief hiatus in July 2022, joining the faction Damage CTRL with Bayley and Iyo Sky. The group achieved quick prominence, as Charlie and Sky won the Women's Tag Team Championship on two occasions, including a victory at the Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia. However, her career was hampered by multiple injuries, including a torn ACL in 2023, a meniscus tear in 2024, and a concussion in early 2025.