NXT TakeOver 36 - Star ratings for every match

Raquel Gonzalez vs. Dakota Kai for the NXT Women's Championship - NXT TakeOver 36

Former friends.Furious foes.@RaquelWWE defends the #WWENXT #WomensTitle against @DakotaKai_WWE right now at #NXTTakeOver 36! pic.twitter.com/37SDUZdAoO

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 23, 2021

The friendship between NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai finally came to a head at NXT TakeOver 36. The two ladies have been aligned since Raquel's re-debut back at TakeOver: Portland in February 2020. They became the best of friends, but the title and jealousy came between them after Gonzalez defeated Io Shirai at Stand and Deliver.

Dakota Kai's eventual betrayal felt like a culmination of a long-form story. It could have easily marked the end of Raquel Gonzalez's NXT Women's Championship reign here at NXT TakeOver 36. There was a great deal of animosity between the two women heading in, which was immediately felt.

Shades of @DaveBautista with that breathtaking POWERBOMB from @RaquelWWE!@DakotaKai_WWE#NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/peLK603dDa

— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2021

It was a very physical matchup with the two women not letting up on one another. The encounter felt like a fight and centered around Raquel attempting to hit her Chingona Bomb finisher. Kai came close to winning using her Kai-ro-practor signature move and a top rope double stomp for near falls.

Dakota finally looked to hit her corner Yakuza Kick to Raquel while she sat on the top rope, but Gonzalez caught her and hit the avalanche Chingona Bomb to retain the NXT Women's Championship. It was a brilliant contest that saw Dakota Kai bring her A-game and lead the way here at NXT TakeOver 36, while Raquel more than held her own and delivered an outstanding performance.

Star rating: ***3/4