September 25, 2019. Full Sail. Winter Park, Florida. WWE NXT was now Live for two hours each week on USA Network as the eyes of the pro-wrestling world tuned to Wednesday nights across two networks for in-ring heavy programming. Dakota Kai had fully recovered from the legitimate injury she suffered back on December 7, 2018 at an NXT House Show. Prior to the event, Our Captain of Ecstatic hung out backstage with her best friend Tegan Nox. During an interview being filmed for a digital piece, Mia Yim greeted her BRE sister with a squeeze.

Later that evening, High Ground blasted for the first time since December 2018. Dakota Kai made her way to the ring, breaking down in tears as she held her hand over her heart and gazed out at the crowd warmly welcoming her back. Many of these fans had followed her career since she made her NXT debut in June 2017, some even across the Coconut Loop Shows. Others had followed her work since Evie, even attending SHINE events she competed at in Florida. These were her people and she appreciated their love and support, always giving it back.

Dakota's opponent for the evening was a foe from her past in Taynara. Kai had previously defeated the Brazilian judoka in an NXT television match back on November 9, 2018. Taynara had come a long way since that battle, yearning to ruin Kai's comeback with a defeat. The judoka talked trash at the opening bell, even pie-facing Kai. The Captain of Team Kick fired back with a nasty pump kick to the face that sent Taynara to the canvas in a heap. Kai intended to make quick work, ascending to the top rope for Coup-de-Kai. But Taynara cut her off with a rope shake.

Taynara sent Kai toppling from the ropes to the canvas with a kick to the face. Like Our Captain, the judoka was well-versed in the artistry of the kick, having even learned the pump kick from Kai during their training at the WWE Performance Center. Kai held onto the ropes as Taynara tried to pull her to the center of the ring. The judoka forced her off the hard way, lacing into her arm with a brutal sounding kick. After a failed pin attempt, Taynara gripped Kai's wrist and brushed her with Kawada kicks.

Dakota tried to break free with a right hand but Conti who still had a grip on Kai's wrist ducked, bringing her opponent to the canvas with a judo toss. Taynara kept her seamless grip on Kai's wrist, rolling over her. Kai ducked a spinning kick to the back but Taynara caught her with a waffling second while finally letting go of the wrist. Taynara went for a another pin but Kai got her shoulder up at two. The frustrated judoka pie-faced Kai once more then talked trash in her face as she forced her to her feet by the chin. Kai pushed Taynara off her.

From this point, it was all The Captain kicking ass. A kick to the arm followed by the Scorpion Kick. Kai whipped Taynara to the ropes, slipping out to the apron and clocking the judoka with a forearm as she turned around. Dakota dropped to the floor, pulling Taynara down to the canvas by the legs. The judoka got spun around, skull-struck with a charging pump kick. Kai slid back into the ring, delivering an ax kick to Taynara's back. Kawada kicks. Kaio-kick. Dakota said TTYL Taynara with Go to Kick, securing a welcome back victory.

Dakota's bestie Tegan watched on backstage overjoyed for her friend. Kai took a few moments to soak in all the love from the crowd, in return forming her hands in the shape of a heart. In a post-match WWE Digital Exclusive, Josiah Williams asked Kai if this was the return she was hoping for. Kai was all smiles, adamant it was. She reflected on the last nine months of grinding away in rehab, happy to finally be back home in front of the NXT Universe again. Kai got no respite, returning to the house show loop, securing a series of tag team wins alongside Nox.

Fateful decisions by others to come would eventually lure Our Captain to reflect back on the past nine months in a different, darker light. But for now, everyone was in their happy place. The fans. Dakota. Tegan. Doggies were dancing. Team F'N Kick was back and all was right in the world.

Additional Information | Dakota Kai defeated Taynara (2:42) on the September 25, 2019 episode of WWE NXT at Full Sail in Winter Park, Florida.