The opening matchup of last night’s WWE NXT episode featured Thea Hail defeating Blake Monroe to become the new NXT Women’s North American Champion. The victory came during a moment of confusion when Hail attempted a pin on Monroe. The referee counted the pin after Monroe failed to lift her shoulder. However, there was a mix-up; the bell did not ring immediately, and Monroe’s music played initially before switching to Hail’s theme as she was announced as the winner. It appears that this outcome was not intended.
According to Fightful Select, Monroe was supposed to retain the championship. Sources indicated that there was a “scramble backstage” after the botched finish and following the match. This unexpected change disrupted creative plans that had been specifically designed around Hail not being champion. The report noted that adjustments were being made immediately, resulting in changes to several people’s creative directions over the coming weeks.
Additionally, steps were taken as early as last night to address the situation. Later in the episode, a segment featured Hail, who was emotional about her win. Jordynne Grace arrived to congratulate her, mentioning that it seemed Hail figured things out before she did. Monroe then reappeared, asserting that she deserved a rematch to reclaim the title. She blamed the referee for the incident, suggesting that the referee should face fines. While Monroe expressed her frustration, it remains unclear who, if anyone, was specifically blamed for the mix-up, as most were focused on making necessary adjustments to the creative direction.
