Fans have probably figured this out already and it’s now confirmed that a fan favorite faction has been disbanded.
A new report from Fightful Select has confirmed that an internal decision was made to end Damage CTRL, a move that was put into motion several weeks ago. The decision to dissolve the faction was made internally in early May, coinciding with the official WWE release of original member Dakota Kai. At that time, a note was reportedly handed down to no longer announce the remaining members as “representing Damage CTRL,” effectively ending the group from an on-screen presentation standpoint.
The dissolution came as the group was already fractured. Bayley, the group’s founder, had been kicked out of the faction leading into her championship victory at WrestleMania earlier this year. At the time of Kai’s release, both Asuka and Kairi Sane were sidelined with injuries, leaving IYO SKY as the only active member. The report notes that by the time Kairi Sane returned from her injury, the decision to end the group had already been made internally.
With Asuka also recently returning to television, Fightful inquired if this meant the group still had life. They were reportedly told that creative for Asuka’s return was developed with the understanding that Damage CTRL was already finished as a unit.
Damage CTRL first formed at SummerSlam 2022, with Bayley returning from injury alongside Dakota Kai and IYO SKY. The trio went on to hold the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships on two occasions. The group expanded in late 2023 with the additions of Asuka and Kairi Sane, further bolstering their power.
While the faction is no more, the report concludes that this does not mean the former members could not end up teaming again in various combinations in the future. It was also noted that the “Damage CTRL” name could eventually be revived if creative plans call for it down the line.
