Big news coming out of the start of this week's episode of WWE NXT, as we have a new NXT Women's North American Champion. Thea Hail has defeated Blake Monroe to capture the title—even if that may have been a complete accident, as this was either a botched finish or an incredibly awkward segment with a confusing ending that makes it seem like such.
How did this go down tonight, what led to this, and what could be on the horizon? Let's break it all down!
How We Got Here:
Given how this all started, maybe there's a weird curse going on right now with this title and feud. I say that because this only goes back to last week, wherein Blake Monroe had a backstage segment at NXT Deadline with NXT General Manager Ava where she volunteered herself for an open challenge. Ava tried to warn her not to put her title on the line in that scenario, but Monroe wanted to, anyway.
That segment was one of the most important things advertised for last week's NXT, only for it to not actually even result in a match. Instead, Monroe went to the ring and panicked when around a dozen other women came out to potentially answer the challenge. Thea Hail ran into the ring from another angle, locked a submission on Monroe, and then celebrated when she made her tap, despite how a referee wasn't there. No match began, and they moved to the next segment, with Ava later announcing Hail would get a title shot for this week.
Match Details:
Cut to this week's opener and the match ends after Hail jumps backward onto Monroe, which may have winded the champion. They rolled back and forth (in what I can only interpret as it being planned for Monroe to roll Hail to the side for a pin that she couldn't execute), only for Hail to go for a pin instead. Monroe attempted to get her arm up, but the referee counted to three anyway. That may be a wrong interpretation, but that's at least what it comes across as.
Everyone seemed off-kilter from that pinfall, including Hail's surprise, Monroe looking upset and confused, the referee staring like a deer in headlights, Mike Rome announcing the wrong title changing hands, Monroe's theme being played instead of Hail's, and an overall sense of awkwardness.
WWE doubled down on this after a commercial break, though, saying Monroe didn't get her shoulder up. That would have been their chance to say there was some confusion and to undo the finish, if that wasn't planned.
Personal Reactions & What Happens Next?:
If this WAS the plan, they surely went about it in a strange way, or this wasn't what was supposed to happen even with Hail becoming champion. I fully expect to find out that this was a botch, though. That was far too weird for it to be what was written on the paper earlier in the night. I don't know if this was Monroe's fault for not getting her arm up, or if she's injured in some way and we'll find out she was knocked loopy, or if this was indeed just what they had planned, but tin foil hat or not, I'm going with the idea Hail wasn't supposed to win.
With that being said, I'm a fan of Hail. Having her win the title is awesome. Maybe the universe was just throwing her a bone. Hopefully, Monroe is okay, and this doesn't lead to any problems. If the plan was just for Monroe to retain, they can always have Hail lose the title. But why not turn into the skid and just see where this Hail title reign will go?
Tell us what you think about this title change by leaving a comment below! Who do you think will be the next in line to challenge for the title, or possibly even win the belt next? Keep the discussion going!