Dakota Kai's 15-year pro wrestling journey hits a crescendo on August 23, when the Aucklander looks to create history.
Kai (Cheree Crowley) will contest for the NXT women's championship at Takeover 36, where victory will see the 33-year-old become the first-ever New Zealander to wear a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) singles title.
The proud Kiwi will take on champion, her former storyline best friend, Raquel Gonzalez, in Orlando, in a much-anticipated bout.
And it was Gonzalez who created a piece of New Zealand pro wrestling history with Kai earlier this year when the pair won the NXT women's tag team titles.
Not since Tony Garea wore tag team championship gold in 1981 had a New Zealander been called a champion in the mecca of sports entertainment.
For Kai, WWE is her All Blacks, and being crowned a champion is the equivalent of a Bledisloe Cup or Rugby World Cup victory, and the former Impact Pro Wrestling NZ women's champion tells Newshub she wears her colours proudly.
"I always have home in my mind," Kai tells Newshub from her home in Florida.
"Everyday I sort of go into that space of being the only Kiwi in this company and that comes with a bit of pressure, but I just want to make Kiwis proud.
"That's family, friends, fans - everyone back home in Aotearoa. I want to represent that flag and silver fern proudly and I can't wait to go home sometime soon and eat a mince and cheese pie."
Kai's storyline alongside Gonzales has been what sports entertainment nerds call a "slow build".
Gonzalez made her debut in January 2020, assisting Kai in defeating popular fan-favorite Teagan Knox at Takeover Portland.
The pair were put together to elevate each other - and elevate they did.
Kai and Gonzalez have featured prominently on NXT's weekly television show across the last 18 months and achieved two remarkable firsts together.
In February, Kai and Gonzalez won the first women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and then a week later were crowned the inaugural NXT women's tag team champions.
Kai was by the side of Gonzalez when she captured the NXT women's title in June, before the devious Kiwi turned on her bestie in the quest for gold.
Speaking to Newshub, Kai says without Gonzalez by her side, she wouldn't be on the cusp of achieving a lifelong goal - but she says it's her time to be champion.
"She has elevated me as much as I have her.
"She has helped my confidence grow to such a high level that when I turned on her it was believable - it was a great story and that was due to both of us.
"We have helped each other so much in the last 18 months and now there is a high level of responsibility heading into a programme with her to maintain the integrity of the NXT women's title and the reputation the division has earned.
"...but this is my time. I have done everything I can to prepare myself for this moment and I feel like my time is definitely now.
"I have never felt as confident in myself as I do now and I need to and I know I will walk out of Takeover the first Kiwi singles champion in WWE history - fate has to make this a reality."
Dakota Kai challenges Raquel Gonzalez for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver 36 live on Monday, August 23 from 12pm (NZ time) on WWE Network
The pressure of being a WWE superstar has been evident recently with more than 200 talent cuts since March 2020. A high level of performance is a must - from in-ring to the microphone - a WWE performer has to be on their game.
But in a world where mental wellbeing is at the forefront of everyone's mind, Kai says it's important to have a support network to rely on for advice, love and understanding.
That's intensified for Kai who is the only New Zealander on WWE's roster, so the people she surrounds herself with at work are her pseudo family.
"Having a support group within this business - and especially so in the last 18 months with COVID - is so important. Having a group of people that you are incredibly close to, is so important in this company.
"You have to have people who will listen to you, and be there for you. This business is hard - it was hard enough before COVID, so it's essential you have that really close knit group of people that you can lean on and vice versa.
"That's the main thing. You don't want to be stuck alone in your own thoughts - you need that support. Especially for me, being so far away from my family.
"Everyday I wish I could come home and see my sister, so I try to talk to her everyday. It's hard - that's why I need my people."
A win on August 23 and Kai might just find that her support network has grown by five million.
