Tag: Thea Hail

Tony D’Angelo vs. Ricky Saints, number one contender’s gauntlet part of next week’s WWE NXT lineup

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Following an event-worthy March 17 episode of WWE NXT and Booker T appreciation night, WWE has already announced another packed NXT episode for next week.

Next week’s March 24 episode of WWE NXT is scheduled to take place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

While this week’s episode has three title matches, next week’s will be more about a number one contender chance.

A Gauntlet Eliminator match has been scheduled to determine the number one contender for Myles Borne’s NXT North American Championship at the Stand and Deliver PLE on April 4, 2026. Ricky Saints, with Ethan Page in his corner, will also take on Tony D’Angelo.

Eli Knight & Elio LeFluer will also take on The Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance) in the Tag tournament match for the NXT Tag title shot. Below are several other matches announced.

Update lineup for next week’s WWE NXT

  • Ricky Saints (with Ethan Page) vs. Tony D’Angelo
  • Gauntlet Eliminator for a shot at Myles Borne’s North American title at NXT Stand and Deliver
  • Sol Ruca and Zaria to meet face-to-face
  • Eli Knight & Elio LeFluer vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance) – Tag tournament match for the NXT Tag title shot
  • Thea Hail vs. Kelani Jordan
  • Fatal Influence (Lainey Reid & Fallon Henley) vs. Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey

Speed tournament finals set for next WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Matches involving both men’s and women’s Speed titles are set for next week.

Wren Sinclair picked up the win over Nikkita Lyons on Tuesday, setting the stage for next week’s finals, where she’ll face Thea Hail. Sinclair picked up the win after submitting Lyons with the final wrench, aka Bryan Danielson’s cattle mutilation submission, with five seconds left to go. Whoever wins next week will go on to challenge current champion Fallon Henley.

Hail advanced on last week’s show, defeating Blake Monroe after Jaida Parker interfered. After their match for Vengeance Day was announced over the weekend, Parker and Monroe ended up brawling on this week’s show and later agreed to face off in a street fight this Saturday.

It was also announced on NXT that Jasper Troy will meet Eli Knight and Sean Legacy next week in a triple threat match, with the winner meeting new champion Elio LeFleur in a title match. This would be an unsual step to determine the next challenger for the men’s Speed title as tournaments are usually held to determine number one contenders.

Since moving to NXT, the Speed title tournaments have been moving along at a rapid pace. It was only one week ago that the men’s tournament finals took place, which saw LeFleur defeat champion Troy and Knight in the first-ever three-way Speed title match to become the new champion. Unlike most title matches, their match had a seven-minute time limit.

WWE NXT (March 10)

  • Women’s Speed tournament finals: Wren Sinclair vs. Thea Hail
  • Number one contender’s match for men’s WWE Speed title: Jasper Troy vs. Eli Knight vs. Sean Legacy

Thea Hail advances in WWE NXT Speed tournament 

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Thea Hail has done it and qualified for the next round of the WWE NXT Speed tournament.

On Tuesday, during the February 24th episode of WWE NXT, Hail faced off against long-time nemesis Blake Monroe in the NXT Speed tournament. In the short but interesting match, Hail reigned supreme after she defeated Monroe to qualify.

However, the win came after Jaida Parker, previously reported to be injured, interfered and caused Monroe to lose the match.

The match began with Hail charging and attacking Monroe even before the bell rang. Hail continued to dominate the match and maintain pressure before Parker interfered and hit her, causing Hail to take advantage and secure the win.

With her victory tonight, Hail has booked herself against the winner of a future Wren Sinclair vs. Nikkita Lyons match.

Additionally, Hail and Monroe’s history goes back a long way. Last year, in December 2025, Hail had defeated Monroe after hitting her with a springboard senton and a botched referee count.

Thea Hail: Matt Bloom told me to ‘lay it in’ with senton on Blake Monroe

Posted on by Ian Carey

Thea Hail discussed the night she won the NXT Women’s North American Championship during a recent appearance on Busted Open.

Hail defeated Blake Monroe for the title in a botched finish on the December 16, 2025 episode of NXT. Monroe was said to have had the wind knocked out of her after Hail hit a springboard senton, a move she refers to as, “The Boing.”

While Hail stays in-character for the most part during the interview, she says WWE PC head coach Matt Bloom told her before the match to really lay the move in if she hit it on Monroe.

Hail said:

“The Kimura lock is my ‘finisher’ but I got some advice prior to the match and they were like, ‘If you hit that senton, you gotta lay it in. You’ve got to hit that senton. And I was like, ‘hm.'”

“Matt Bloom is probably one of the most insane influential coaches in my career. And he’s one of those people that is like, ‘Thea, you’re little, you gotta hit him.’ And I’m like, ‘Alright, I’m going to hit em.'”

Hail also said she plans to put over “The Boing” now that she’s won a championship with it.

“That was the best Boing I’ve ever executed in my life,” Hail said. “So now, the Boing, you better believe this is going to be hit like that every single time.”

“I am throwing my entire body weight up in the air and then landing on you. I wouldn’t want to take that. I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of ‘the Boing.’”

While Hail and Bully never directly acknowledged that the title change resulted from a botched finish, Bully did ask her about the “controversy” surrounding the match. However, Hail says she doesn’t know why some were upset after the match.

“I think people just have a lot to say for no reason, sometimes. Sorry, guys, but Thea Hail won. Thea Hail hit the Boing, 1-2-3, and I think a lot of people were upset about that. I don’t know why. Because I worked really hard, and I think you guys have seen me work really hard. So let a girl win.”

Hail’s full appearance on Busted Open Radio is available below:

WWE NXT Women’s North American title match set for next month

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Thea Hail gets another shot at the NXT North American title next month.

During Tuesday’s show, Lola Vice was in Ava’s office talking about a future title opportunity against Izzi Dame when Thea Hail walked in wanting the same thing, pointing out she wanted her rematch. The two proceeded to argue until Ava cut them off, saying she knew where this was going and arranged for a triple threat match on February 3, the same episode of NXT that will see a new NXT Champion crowned in a six-way ladder match.

Back at New Year’s Evil, Hail was originally set to defend the title against former champion Blake Monroe. However, Monroe jumped her before the match and was thrown out of the building as a result. Despite the attack, Hail decided to put the title on the line anyway in an open challenge. It seemed like -Tatum Paxley, who defeated Izzi Dame earlier in the show, would answer the challenge. However, Dame appeared from behind and jumped Hail to get the match started, and ended up scoring the win over Hail to take the title.

WWE NXT (February 3)

  • Ladder match for NXT Championship: Shiloh Hill vs. Sean Legacy vs. Ricky Saints vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA
  • Triple threat match for NXT Women’s North American title: Izzi Dame defends against Lola Vice and Thea Hail

Izzi Dame wins Women’s North American title on WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new Women’s North American Champion has been crowned.

Izzi Dame walked away with the Women’s North American title on Tuesday after Blake Monroe was banned from the building for attacking Thea Hail before their scheduled match. Despite the attack, Hail said she would defend the title in an open challenge. Izzi Dame answered the challenge, jumping Hail from behind after Paxley had come down to accept. Dame won the title after hitting the Dame Over off the turnbuckle.

NXT opened with Hail immediately being jumped by Monroe, who quickly threw Hail into the steel steps. She then grabbed a steel chair and started wailing Hail with it until the attack was broken up by security. Backstage, an angry Ava confronted Monroe and banned her from the building, ending any chance of a potential match.

The canceled match comes as Fightful reported on Tuesday that Monroe was being considered for a call-up to the main roster. 

Monroe inadvertently lost the Women’s North American Championship to Hail last month following a botch finish to their match led to a Hail win. A rematch had been built up in recent weeks on NXT television with a disheveled Monroe lamenting about her championship loss.

WWE NXT New Year’s Evil live results: Oba Femi vs. Leon Slater

Posted on by Jeff Moss

The first WWE NXT episode of 2026 has arrived with tonight’s live New Year’s Evil special from Orlando, Florida.

In the main event, NXT Champion Oba Femi defends against TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater. Femi appears to be main roster bound, but isn’t looking to lose his title anytime soon. This is his first TV appearance since December’s Saturday Night’s Main Event match with Cody Rhodes.

The NXT Women’s title will be on the line as Jacy Jayne defends against Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge winner Kendal Grey.

After an upset win to cap off 2025, NXT Women’s North American Champion Thea Hail defends against Blake Monroe in a rematch.

The show is capped off by rivals Izzi Dame vs. Tatum Paxley in a grudge match.

Our live coverage begins at 8 pm Eastern.

**********

Welcome to NXT New Year’s Evil (presumably to be followed next year by New Year’s Evil 2: Evil Harder) where the stakes are high, the parties are well, over, but the action remains hot and spicy, not unlike the Italian sausage I finished before getting started tonight.

Speaking of getting started, New Year’s Evil started with a quick recap package of some of NXT’s 2025 highlights, while t’ing up the night’s card. Vic Joseph and Booker T made a solemn and dignified pair as we saw what could be the first footage of wrestlers arriving to work in 2026.

NXT Women’s North American Championship Match: Thea Hail (c) vs. Blake Monroe

As 2025 came to a close, Hail won the Women’s North American Title from Monroe and she’s been soooooo bummed about it ever since. Monroe has been sulking around GM Ava’s office and Ava told her last week that she has to “bring the glamour” if Monroe expects to win back her title. But I still believe in Thea Hail.

Monroe attacked Hail on the entrance ramp as her music played and beat her up with a chair before tossing her through the barricade. Security arrived to try and get them back on track while the crowd chanted “Let them fight!”

That settled down just in time for Ricky Saints and his snakeskin pants (also my Velvet Revolver cover band’s name) to come sauntering to the ring? So the match…?

They then casually announced that the match wouldn’t take place tonight so:

Match Result: Thea Hail vs Blake Monroe was a no contest? or something?

Saints grabbed a mic and said that he was there to give the crowd a gift to start of 2026: him. The crowd did not like the gift and asked for it to be returned, but Saints said that “NXT needs” him now that Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams have gone off as “free agents” since they knew they couldn’t hang with him.

Saints said that he “ain’t going nowhere” and anyone who comes at him will be sent back where they came from. Saints said that it’s natural-born stars like him against “home-grown” stars that they are trying to make.

Saints then called out Oba Femi, saying that they are 1-1 against each other and regardless of who wins tonight, Saints will be coming for that title. And that, is absolute.

-Backstage, GM Ava sent Robert Stone to go find Monroe and grabbed a production headset. She told the team to play the Paxley/Dame video package because they were now on first!

-After a break, GM Ava was still stomping around backstage and ran into Blake Monroe. Ava rightly asked her “what the hell?” and Monroe said that she was just bringing the glamour! Ava then banned her from the building and threw her out.

Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame

So, yeah. The long and the short of this match is that Paxley and Dame used to be in the Culling together. Paxley had a cup of coffee with the NXT Women’s Championship, which drove Dame crazy and she convinced the rest of the culling to oust Paxley. So they don’t like each other. Like, at all.

Dame actually came to the ring without her Culling stablemates, so it would be Dame and Paxley one-on-one.

Immediately off the bell, Dame tried to get Paxley on her shoulders, but the latter sllid off. They then traded punches in the corner with each one throwing some very agressive shots. You could really feal the animosity between these two.

Paxley got Dame in an ankly lock through the ropes, but Dame broke it off, rolling out and under the rope clutching her leg. Paxley dragged her back into the ring and smacked her right in the face. She put on an STF lock, pulling Dame’s leg back, then picking it up and slamming it.

Paxley hit a flipping leg drop on the ring apron (the evilest part of the ring!), but Dame caught her leg on the follow up and knocked her off the apron with a forearm. Dame then drove Paxley into the announce table and back into the apron. She picked her up by the throat and slammed her on the apron before throwing her back in.

Dame ragdolled the smaller Paxley from corner to corner, adding in some stomps and elbows for good measure. She then leapt off the second rope into a codebreaker for a two count.

Dame grabbed a headlock while the crowd chanted for Tatum. Paxley fought out of the headlock with some elbows and a chop block, but Dame took the momentum back and the headlock as well. Dame threw Paxley with a gutwrench, but a back elbow stunned her and Paxley got free.

The two started a slug fest in the middle of the ring until Dame landed a backbreaker followed byt a flapjack into the top rope and two knees to Paxley’s gut. She put Paxley in a Walls of Jericho -type hold, but Paxley was able to get to to the rope to break it.

Dame went up top, but Paxley managed to hit her with and insiguri. The crowd started singing the Addams Family theme at this point, but that didn’t distract Paxley from hitting a flipping bulldog from the top turnbuckle!

The two got to their feet and went blow for blow, letting it all come out, until Paxley hit a chinbreaker. She followed that with a snap German suplex and went for a kick, but Dame dodged and hit her with a gutwrench sit out powerbomb for a two count.

Dame sent Paxley into the corner, and Paxley came out swinging. Dame caught her with an up and over suplex, but Paxley kicked out. Dame then speared Paxley through the ropes and into the outside. She threw Paxley into the steel steps then back into the ring.

Paxley countered a suplex attempt and landed a Pele kick before going up top for a 450. She got about 440 and then nailed a Cemetery Drive to get the pin and the victory.

Match Result: Tatum Paxley defeated Izzi Dame

Next a hype video for French luchadore Elio LeFleur aired before heading to a commercial break.

-Back from break, GM Ava told Thea Hail that she would be pushing back her match with Blake Monroe because she was ejected from the building. Hail said that she wanted to revive the open challenge so she could have a match tonight. Jordynne Grace was there and she also approved. Ava said “whatever” and left.

NXT Women’s Championship Match: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey

Grey won the women’s Iron Survivor Challenge to earn the right to face Jayne in this match. Unlike Je’Von Evans, Grey had patience and waited just long enough for Jayne Fatal Influence to beat (up) her best friend Wren Sinclair last week. This match has some great potential as it’s champion vs champion and pits the future (NXT Women’s Champion Jayne) against the future future (Evolve Champion Grey).

During Fatal Influence’s entrance, I had but one thought: So much hair flipping.

After the bell rang though, Grey went right for Jayne, grabbing an armbar. Jayne kicked out of it and Grey threw it right back on. This time, Jayne was able to get to the ropes to break it. Jayne threw some kicks and chops and sent Grey to the corner.

Grey dodged the charge and ran circles around Jayne until delivering a dropkick that sent her out of the ring. Fatal Influence ran over to check on her and Grey did a crossbody from the top turnbuckle onto all three.

Jayne got to her feet first and picked up Grey and thew her into the plastic barricade. She then cannonballed her into the same plastic barricade. She threw Grey back into the ring for a senton and a two count.

Jayne hit a gnarly kick that sent Grey’s head spinning around and then threw some knees into the back of her head before hitting snakeyes on the turnbuckle. Jayne grabbed a chinlock, wrenching Grey’s neck. Grey dropped out of it though and started throwing hands.

Jayne shot Grey off the ropes, but Grey rolled through for a two count. Jayne then kicked her in the face and began mocking her. She tossed her head first into the turnbuckle and grabbed a tight headlock. Jayne pulled back, twisting Grey in half by the head.

Grey fought her way out of it, but left herself open for a neckbreaker from Jayne. Jayne went back to the headlock, but Grey pushed her into the turnbuckles to break the hold. Grey hit a high cross body and dodged a kick, but she and Jayne ran into each other in stereo crossbodys and were left laying.

They staggered up and Jayne’s talented feet peppered Grey with kicks. Jayne started mocking Grey again, but Grey interrupted with a headbutt and a series of kicks. She dropped the straps like so many Brons Breakkers and hit a top rope stomp and then a DDT on Jayne.

Jayne kicked out of the pin attempt and Grey went up top. Jayne knocked her off the turnbuckle though and hit another neckbreaker. Grey kicked out a two, and a frustrated Jayne resorted to punching.

Grey got up and caught her with three german suplexes. Jayne exploded out with a knee, but Grey kicked out at two. Both women crawled around the ring while “this is awesome” chants began around them.

Jayne went up top, but Grey scrambled up and pulled her down. Grey tried a rollthrough, but ended up putting on that armbar, with Jayne nowhere near the ropes. Fatal influence interferede behind the refs back causing Wren Sinclair to get up on the apron.

That left Jayne open and Grey grabbed another ambar and went for a DDT. Fallon Henley reached through the ropes though and grabbed Jaynes tights holding her up, sending Grey to the mat alone. That gave Jayne a few seconds to set up and hit a rolling encore on Grey and get the pin to retain the NXT Women’s Title.

Match Result: Jacy Jayne defeated Kendal Grey

-Back from break, GM Ava was subjected to Ethan Page being in her office. Page reminded her that he had a record setting 12 title defenses in the last year. Page said that since Ava was having a good day, he was going to the ring to finish his thoughts. That gave The Vanity Project a chance to enter. They want to talk 2026 with Ava and the segment ended.

NXT Women’s North American Title Open Challenge: Thea Hail (c) Vs…?

Hail limped to the ring, holding her wrist, obviously not in prime condition. She grabbed a mic and sat in the middle of the ring. She said she was devastated that she wasn’t going to get to fight Blake Monroe, but she promised everyone a championship match and she re-opened the open challenge!

The women’s locker room then emptied out as everyone tried to get to the ring first. Suddenly Tatum Paxley arrived with a chainsaw, only to get taken out by the Culling. Izzi Dame appeared in the ring and Spears made the timekeeper ring the bell!

NXT Women’s North American Title Open Challenge: Thea Hail (c) vs Izzi Dame

Dame absolutely dominated Hail for a few minutes with elbows and scoop slams. She hoisted Hail to her shoulders, but Hail worked out of it. Dame grabbed her, but Hail rolled through it. Dame grabbed Hail and threw her into the turnbuckle before hitting a powerslam for a two count.

Dame then stomped Hail and threw her into the corner. Dame stood on Hail who wailed in pain. Dame continued throwing elbows, stomps, fists and anything else she could think of at Hail. Dame hit a backbreaker but Hail came up swinging. Dame dodged it and grabbed a headlock.

Hail managed to stand, but Dame put a knee in her stomach and went right back to the headlock. Hail fought back, but couldn’t get the upper hand on Dame. Hail got a DDT on Dame that surprised even her and then put a kick to her midsection.

Hail hit a few takedowns and rolled through a charge from Dame, but Dame regained control with a scoop slam and an elbow. Hail fought back with a senton and went off the ropes, but Dame put her knees up. Dame then hit a big boot, but only got a two count as Hail kicked out.

Hail went for a kimura lock, but Dame powered out of it. Hail hit an exploder out fo the corner and Dame slid out of the ring. Hail dove through the ropes at her, but Dame caught her in midair and chokeslammed her onto the announce table.

Dame got back in the ring, but forgot Hail! She quickly grabbed her and threw her back into the ring to avoid the countout. Dame went up to the top turnbuckle, but Hail met her there with some punches. Hail tried to put on the kimura, but that left her open for a Super Dame Over and bam. 1-2-3 and Izzi Dame is your new NXT Women’s North American Champion.

Match Result: Izzi Dame defeated Thea Hail

-Backstage, The Vanity Project left Ava’s office and ran into Lola Vice. They tried hitting on her, but Hank and Tank arrived to shoo them away. Hank, Tank and Vice discussed what they just saw and Vice’s feud with Kelani Jordan. Jordan then teleported into the scene and a brawl broke out.

They decided not to bore us with a finish to that segment and moved back to Ava’s office where Joe Hendry asked for a match against Dark State. Ava said that she knew Dark State would just jump Joe 4-on-1, so Hendry said that he would find some friends to watch his back. Ava said that sounded good and Hendry left.

-Back from break, NXT North American Champion Ethan Page was in the ring. He said that he wanted to celebrate himself being so great in 2025. He said that proved time and time again that he is the greatest North American alive.

Page declared his North American title the most prestigious title in all of WWE. He said that he thought it was funny that Femi only defended his “world” title in North America while he has defended his title all over the place.

Suddenly, Speed Champion Jasper Troy appeared. Troy said that he is out here to prove that he’s the Monster of NXT. He said that the Speed title wouldn’t be the last title he held and looked at Page’s belt.

Then, Sons of Anarchy cosplayer Josh Briggs showed up and said that Page and the crowd were delusional.

Then, because why not, TNA International Champion Stacks and Arianna Grace appeared and added themselves to the crowd of people who think they are more important than Ethan Page.

Not to worry though! The Promo Parade continued as Shiloh Hill came down to the ring to call out Stacks. Hill announced that Santino and Ava had decided that Hill would get a shot at the TNA International title next week.

Then, Tavion Heights showed up and challenged Jasper Troy to a match for the Speed Title. A frustrated Page then told Heights that the last time he was near a championship, he dropped the ball. That caused a brawl to break out with everyone spamming finishers and Hill dancing with Arianna Grace until his tooth fell out.

TL;DR: An Ethan Page promo resulted in a Speed Title match, a TNA International Title Match and a mid-card brawl that ended with someone losing a tooth and as we all know, it’s all fun and games until someone loses a tooth.

-After a break, Joe Hendry was shown trying to recruit OTM to be his backup against Dark State. Hendry convinced them just as Fatal Influence walked by and nearly into Zaria and Sol Ruca. Jayne made fun of Ruca for not having any titles. Ruca said she was coming for Jayne’s title and she said “oh, I thought you were a tag team” and then Fatal Influence left.

-Ethan Page stomped through backstage and yelled at Miles Borne for not being there to back him up even though he didn’t ask. He ended it with “can you hear me now, Miles?” which is a pretty low blow, even for Page.

-It was announced that next week Joe Hendry will take on Dark State’s Dionne Lennox. Jasper Troy and Tavion Heights will fight over the Speed title and Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan will got one-on-one.

NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs.TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater

This title shot was supposed to belong to Je’Von Evans for winning the Iron Survivor Challenge. However, Evans forced Femi’s hand and forced him to defend it early in a match that Evans lost in one hell of a match. But then he bounced and signed to RAW, so no one really feels too bad for him. Similarly bouncy TNA X-Division Champion Slater (Evans tag team partner) then won a Fatal 4-Way Match against Dion Lennox, Joe Hendry and Myles Borne to become the No. 1 Contender to Femi’s NXT Title.

Slater was almost as tall as Femi, but could not escape Femi’s strength. Off the bell, Femi picke dup Slater and threw him clear across the ring. Femi grabbed a wristlock and Slater tried to get out of it with speed. Femi wasn’t letting go though and the ref broke it up.

Femi laid some big potatoes on Slater’s skull and then knocked him to the mat. Slater got up to take an elbow, but started throwing shots back. Femi put an end to that with a single chop, sending Slater to the ring with astonishment on his face.

Slater managed to sneak in a high kick, but Femi was right there to counter with a backbreaker. Femi then whipped Slater into the corner so hard he bounced out of the ring to the floor. Femi floolwed him and bounced Slater’s head off the ring apron (the near yearsiest part of the ring!). Femi then dropped him on the apron and rolled him back into the ring.

Femi continued to dominate, countering everything Slater threw at him. Femi hit another backbreaker, trying to take away Slater’s high flying abilites. Slater got in a couple of punches, but Femi threw him into the corner before they could have an affect.

Slater managed to hit a codebreaker, stunning Femi. He then went for a headscissor, sending Femi out of the ring. Slater ran the apron to get Femi, but Femi swatted him down to the mat like a fly. Femi drove his knees into Slater, but Slater moved on the last one and Femi’s knee hit the ring post.

Slater took advantage and sidestepped a lariat and shoved Femi into the steel steps. He then threw the champ back into the ring and hit a crossbody from the top rope. Femi kicked out of the pin at two. Slater went right back to work, trying to take out Femi’s knees. He left himself open for a clothesline and a chokeslam though and Femi went for the pin. Slater kicked out at 2.75.

Femi looked to finish Slater off with a series of elbows, but his knee gave out. Slater took advantage and scooped him up for a body slam! Slater went for a pin but only got a two count. Femi shoved Slater off and rolled to the apron to recover.

Slater hit an insiguri that sent Femi to the floor. Slater leapt over the ring post and right onto Femi. He dragged him back to the ring and went up top for a swanton 450, but Femi got his knees up. Femi crawled over for the cover and Slater rolled through into ta two count.

Femi grabbed Slater before he could recover and hit a Fall From Grace. He pinned Slater but there was no kickout and Femi got the win and retained the NXT World Championship.

Match Result: Oba Femi defeated Leon Slater

Femi posed and celebrated in the ring and backstage, Ava addressed the Evolve Roster about the potential for them to be called up to NXT. Robert Stone then burst into the room saying “did you see what Oba Femi just did?!?!”

The scene cut back to the ring where Femi was nowhere to be found and the NXT Title belt was left behind, sitting in the middle of the ring as the show ended.

Report: Blake Monroe ‘injured’ & ‘unhappy’ after NXT title loss incident

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Latest update on the Blake Monroe-Thea Hail situation states that Monroe was reportedly ‘injured’ and ‘unhappy’ after the incident.

New details have now emerged on the botched finish to the NXT Women’s North American Championship bout between Blake Monroe and Thea Hail on the December 17 episode of NXT. As per a previous report, the title change was not planned. Monroe had the wind knocked out of her after Hail’s springboard backwards drop, making her unable to kickout in time. According to Fightful Select’s new report, Monroe later claimed that she got injured after that spot.

People involved with Monroe’s creative were specifically not happy with how things ended and quickly added the decision to have a title rematch. Although the report from Fightful Select failed to note the severity of the injury.

The previous report noted that the match referee, Felix Fernandez, received praise backstage for his way of handling the situation. However, sources close to Fightful Select recently noted that there was ‘heat’ on Fernandez for not checking on Monroe when she was hurt. The report further claimed that Shawn Michaels, Matt Bloom, and other referees communicated to Fernandez that he had handled things the right way.

Thea Hail and Blake Monroe are now set for a rematch on NXT New Year’s Evil on January 6th, 2026.

Women’s North American title rematch set for WWE NXT New Year’s Evil

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A match for the Women’s North American title is set for the first NXT of 2026.

During Tuesday’s taped show, Thea Hail came out and celebrated her championship victory that took place one week ago. The disheveled former champion Blake Monroe interrupted and claimed Hail’s win was a fluke and mistake, demanding her title back. Hail refused but granted Monroe a rematch at New Year’s Evil. Monroe laid out Hail with a cheap shot in response and both women brawled around the ring until officials broke it up.

Hail inadvertently won the title last week during the final live edition of NXT of 2025. She went for a springboard senton and followed with a cover, but Monroe did not kick out before three as expected. After some initial confusion, NXT went ahead with the unplanned title change and awarded the match to Hail, who celebrated with the title.

Here is the updated lineup for New Year’s Evil:

NXT New Year’s Evil (January 6)

  • NXT Championship: Oba Femi defends against Leon Slater
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne defends against Kendal Grey
  • NXT Women’s North American Championship: Thea Hail defends against Blake Monroe

WOL: Thea Hail title switch, NXT TV, Cena’s Last Match

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including the Thea Hail accidental title change on NXT, the full NXT TV report, more on John Cena’s final match and Gunther’s response to fans who are upset, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Report: Creative plans changing due to inadvertent title win on WWE NXT

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Thea Hail’s inadvertent championship win on the latest WWE NXT episode has reportedly caused several creative changes.

Earlier tonight on the December 16th edition of NXT, fans witnessed Thea Hail defeat Blake Monroe to win the Women’s North American Championship. Following the controversial finish and Bryan Alvarez’s report that the finish was indeed a botch, Fightful Select has now released a report on the immediate aftermath of the title change.

As per it, Hail was not supposed to win the championship tonight. Fightful Select confirmed with its NXT sources that the win was not intentional and Monroe was supposed to retain it. The surprising title change caused “backstage scramble”. It also caused issues because there were creative plans in place with Hail not winning the title, which is now being immediately changed.

The championship win has also affected several people’s creative plans that were set for the next couple of weeks. Fightful Select also noted that there have been steps taken as early as tonight to make those creative adjustments. Although no one has been blamed yet for the incident.

The final moments of the match saw Hail hit a springboard senton off the middle rope on Blake Monroe and go for the cover. Despite Monroe getting her shoulder up in time, the referee continued to perform the three-count pinfall, leading to the botch and confusing title win for Hail.

Botch causes inadvertent title change on WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A botch led to a new champion on NXT.

Thea Hail walked away with the Women’s North American title on Tuesday, with Bryan Alvarez reporting it was not planned and only happened due to a botched spot. The finish had Hail hit a springboard senton off the middle rope on Blake Monroe, then going for a cover. The referee counted three, with Monroe getting her shoulder up right after the referee counted to three. After a bit of confusion and Monroe’s music played, Hail’s music then started and she was announced the winner.

When the show returned from commercial break, a replay was shown with announcers affirming Monroe didn’t get her shoulder up until after three. She had held the title for 51 days, defeating Zaria at NXT Halloween Havoc. Zaria was a substitute for Sol Ruca, who in storyline was injured and unable to compete in the scheduled title match.

On last week’s NXT, Monroe insisted on holding an open challenge for her title, causing many of the NXT talent to come out and accept. But it was Hail who attacked from behind with a kimura, leading Monroe to tap out. Despite this, the bell never rang and Monroe escaped with her title. Later in the show, Ava made a title match for next week.

WWE NXT live results: Two title matches, Nia Jax in action

Posted on by Chris Aiken

A pair of championship matches are scheduled for WWE NXT tonight.

Sol Ruca has an NXT Women’s North American Championship defense set, putting her title on the line against Tatum Paxley. It’s a title shot that Paxley earned when The Culling defeated Zaria, Ruca, Hank Walker & Tank Ledger — though Izzi Dame didn’t seem too happy about Paxley getting the shot instead of her.

Hank & Tank will be defending their NXT Tag Team title belts against the Chase U duo of Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors tonight.

After making her return to NXT last week by attacking Lash Legend, Nia Jax takes on Thea Hail.

Blake Monroe will also be in action against Kelani Jordan, Myles Borne continues his rivalry with Lexis King, and Yoshiki Inamura goes one-on-one with Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo.

Plus, the build to Heatwave continues with the PLE now less than three weeks away.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

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The show opens with the entrance of Blake Monroe. Her new entrance includes a mirror. It was cool enough I think if The Narcissist had the camera shot as part of his act in 1993, he might have gotten over better.

The entrance of Kelani Jordan is next, and she rushes into the ring, and the opening match is quickly under way. Maybe they were born with it. Or maybe it was Maybelline, which is a sponsor with their brand name on the center of the mat.

Blake Monroe vs. Kelani Jordan

Jordynne Grace returns during the match wearing a neck brace. Monroe flees the ring and Jordan wins via countout.

The bout itself was rather short, but it was more of a vehicle for an angle. More on vehicles later, as Monroe would speed away in an SUV to escape Grace. Monroe with heat on Jordan early in the match. Jordan with a comeback, and she locks in a half crab. Monroe gets a rope break.

Jordan leaps off the top rope, but Monroe cuts her off with a headbutt. Running knee strike by Monroe and a near fall on Jordan. Monroe goes to follow up when the theme music for Jordynne Grace blares on the speakers.

Out comes Grace wearing a neck brace, and Grace walks straight into the ring like she is on a mission. Monroe powders, and she runs for her life. Monroe gets into the back of a waiting SUV, and the automobile speeds away. Meanwhile, the referee is counting out Monroe. After a ten count, Jordan wins the match.

Match result: Kelani Jordan defeats Blake Monroe via countout

— In a backstage skit ahead of the next bout, Andre Chase is giving Chase U students Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon a pep talk. Chase did not like their odds in the tag title match, and they did the “so you’re saying there’s a chance” bit from Dumb & Dumber.

NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Uriah Connors & Kale Dixon (with Andre Chase)

Hot match, even with babyfaces on both sides. Connors & Dixon get to shine some, and Dixon does a flip dive over the top rope. He misses and rolls through a leap off the top rope. Dixon is then in the crosshair of Hank & Tank. Connors pushes Dixon to take a bullet for his partner.

Hank & Tank with a high/low powerslam combo on Dixon, and Hank covers Dixon while Tank blocks Connors from breaking the count. The ref stops the count anyway, and he claims Dixon got his shoulder up. The live studio audience was not buying it, and rightly so. Not sure it that was a botch, but it certainly was a bad spot.

Hank & Tank sandwich Dixon with a double standing splash, and they follow by once again doing their combo finisher. Hank then scores a pinfall on Dixon as the referee counts to three this time.

Match result: Hank & Tank defeat Connors & Dixon to retain the NXT Tag Team titles

Suddenly, the lights in the sound stage go dark. Darkstate is running in, and they jump everyone in the ring. They lay waste to Connors and Dixon. Darkstate with triple team moves on Hank & Tank. Darkstate stand pose under strobe lights over their fallen prey.

— The Personal Concierge cuts a promo on behalf of Ash by Elegance. He delivers message to WWE NXT/TNA Knockouts Champion Jacy Jayne, with The Personal Concierge vowing that Ash will win the title Thursday on Impact.

— Myles Borne and Tavion Height chat in a backstage skit, which plays off their past in the No Quarter Catch Crew. They remain buds in this skit.

— Vic Joseph voices over a plug that advertises bull riding on CW. Professional Bull Riders (PBR) is part of TKO Group Holdings alongside WWE, hence the cross-promotional. PBR recently inked a deal to air their team series bull riding events on CW.

— Izzi Dame gives Tatum Paxley a pep talk on behalf of The Culling.

— Thea Hail gets coffee in a skit posted on social media. She cuts a promo on Nia Jax, and Hail is go wound up over Jax that she almost forgets her coffee.

Myles Borne vs. Lexis King

The match goes through a split-screen commercial break. Before picture-in-picture, Borne slingshots himself over the top rope with a plancha on King. During the commercial break, King cuts off Borne. King targets Borne’s ear, which plays on Borne’s backstory.

Borne eventually makes a comeback with Saito suplexes, and then he strikes with Borne Again (which is the name for what was formerly called the Zig Zag finisher). Borne then covers King for a three count.

Match result: Myles Borne defeats Lexis King via pinfall

— Darkstate as a group cut promos saying they are focusing on getting the tag titles. Despite being played as a serious promo, they included a crude joke for comedy. So much for taking them seriously.

Nia Jax vs. Thea Hail

The match goes through a commercial break. Jax played the monster heel and Hail was the babyface in peril. Hail fought valiantly, but Jax was merciless. Jax with a Bonsai Drop, and she sits on Hail as the referee counts three.

Match result: Nia Jax defeats Thea Hail in the in-return of Jax to NXT

Kelly Kincaid is the ring for a post-match interview. Jax snatches the microphone out of Kincaid’s hands, and she cuts a promo on Lash Legend.

Out comes Legend to confront Jax. Legend flubs a line and then rushes into the ring for a pull-apart brawl with Jax. Security and officials pour in to separate them. Good thing security was there, unlike when Darkstate runs in.

— Jordynne Grace was pacing in the office of NXT General Manager Ava. Still in a neck brace, Grace ensures she will be cleared by the time of NXT Heatwave, where Grace meets Blake Monroe in a singles match.

Moose makes surprise appearance and a melee ensues

NXT Champion Oba Femi enters the ring for a monologue. He is soon interrupted by TNA Champion Trick Williams. Trick confronts Femi in the ring and they face off while cutting promos on each other. Soon comes another interruption as Je’Von Evans joins the party. The bickering continues, but with three people instead of two.

Moose from TNA makes a surprise appearance, and he cuts a promo on Trick. Moose vows to win the TNA title from Trick. Suddenly, the lights go dark on the sound stage. Darkstate runs and a schmoz ensues and everyone brawling in the dark.

— More cross-promotion as Vic Joseph voices over a plug for the Canelo vs. Crawford boxing match that TKO is co-promoting.

— Arianna Grace and Heritage Cup Champion Stacks flirt with each other as Nia Jax and Lash Legend brawl in a backstage pull-apart.

— Wren Sinclair is in a kitchen lounge with Charlie Dempsey. She sings the Joe Hendry song, and Hendry appears. Hendry pops out of a refrigerator. The skit sets up a match between Dempsey and Hendry. Dempsey is referred to as a “sourpuss”, which Sinclair repeats for comedic effect. Dempsey storms off, and Sinclair asks Hendry to take a picture with her. 1`

Yoshiki Inamura vs. Heritage Cup Champion Stacks in a non-title match

Stacks ambushes Inamura before the bell. Stacks gets heat on Inamura. Comeback by Inamura and he runs wild. The fight spills outside the ring, where Inamura gives Stacks a stiff slap. Arianna Grace runs down to ringside and slaps Inamura across the face. The referee ejects Grace from ringside, but not before another run-in.

With the referee distracted by Grace, Josh Briggs rushed into the ring on the far side. Briggs ambushes Inamura with a big boot. Stacks then covers Inamura to win the match.

Match result: Stacks defeats Inamura via pinfall

— Vic Joseph reads a voiceover that plugs NASCAR on CW.

Tavion Heights confronts North American Champ Ethan Page and Chelsea Green appears

NXT North American Champion Ethan Page is in the ring for a monologue. Page cut a promo bragging on his victory over Santion Marella. Page then talks about the greatest Canadians, and Page puts himself at the top of the list.

Page then does the Nikolai Volkoff gimmick of singing a foreign national anthem. So, Page begins singing “O Canada” to a chorus of boos. Tavion Heights interrupts the anthem and confronts Page in the ring. Heights insults Page and challenges Page to a title match. In doing so, Heights mentions he is an Olympian.

The live studio audience chants “YES” while Page tries to dismiss Heights. Suddenly, they are interrupted by the entrance of Chelsea Green and Secret Service. Green is flanked by Piper Niven and Alba Fyre as she storms the ring and confronts Heights.

Green points out she was a United States Champion as a Canadian. Green was going to sing the Canadian anthem, but Heights interrupted that. Green insults Heights for being American, but she says even a “rude” and “ignorant American” would not hit a woman. Heights says she is right, and he decks Page instead. Green jumps into the arms of Niven for comedy. Heights then vows to find a woman that will hit Green for him.

— The Fatal Influence trio insults Kelani Jordan and Lola Vice in a backstage skit. Dual champ Jacy Jayne joins Fallon Henley in cutting promos on Vice and Jordan. In walks Jazmyn Nyx, and she hands Jayne the NXT and TNA women’s title belts. Nyx informs them all she talked Ava into booking a tag match next week, much to the chagrin of Jayne. Vice and Jordan team up next Tuesday against Jayne and Henley.

— Sol Ruca and Zaria are chatting backstage when Lash Legend and Nia Jax brawl their way into the skit. Amidst the pull-apart brawl, Ava comes in to announce Legend and Jax meet next week in a singles match.

— Ricky Saints sits down with Kelly Kincaid for an interview in a segment sponsored by an insurance company. Saints talks about Jasper Troy, which builds up a match between the two.

— Triplemania gets a plug, as does NXT live in Philadelphia.

NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca (with Zaria) vs. Tatum Paxley (with The Culling)

Ruca retains after interference by The Culling and a doll. Lash Legend and Nia Jax also continue their ongoing brawl, which led to a stunt at ringside.

The title match goes through a split-screen commercial break. Before the break, Sol Ruca does a moonsault to the floor off the top turnbuckle. In setting up the spot, Shawn Spears interferes in the match. Zaria makes a save, causing Izzi Dame to get involved by arguing with Zaria. As they huddle together to argue, Ruca leaps into the moonsault.

During the break, Paxley cuts off Ruca. Paxley works the neck after targeting Ruca with a neckbreaker. Ruca with a comeback and rally. Ruca superkicks Paxley, and Ruca delivers a Rude Awakening neckbreaker. Ruca follows up with a running knee strikes. That sends Paxley out of the ring to regroup. Paxley then cuts off Ruca with a kick.

Paxley springboards into a Whisper in the Wind for a near fall. The studio audience chants “this is awesome” in admiration of the match. Ruca and Paxley tease a superplex, only for Ruca to instead catch Paxley with a sunset bomb.

Ruca post herself when she misses a charge into a corner. Paxley with a roll-up for another near fall. Ruca counters Paxley’s finisher into a pinning combination, but Paxley kicks out. Ruca lands on her feet after flipping off the ropes, and Ruca Spears Paxley in a corner.

Ruca slips on the top rope going for a springboard. They recover from the botch and they execute an avalanche neckbreaker. Double down after Paxley gives Ruca the neckbreaker. Meanwhile, Spears tries to slip Paxley her doll (seemingly to use as a weapon). Izzi Dame chides Spears for doing so, while Paxley picks up the doll.

Nia Jax and Lash Legend brawl there way onto the sound stage, which interrupts the match. They brawl at ringside, and they crash through a gimmicked section of the barricade.

Paxley is preoccupied with her doll, which allows for Ruca to deliver the Sol Snatcher. Ruca then hooks a leg and covers Paxley for a three count.

Match result: NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca defeats Tatum Paxley to retain her title

Alba Fyre to challenge for WWE Speed Women’s title

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Alba Fyre has the chance to bring some gold to the Secret Hervice.

Next Wednesday, Fyre will challenge Sol Ruca for the WWE Speed Women’s Championship. The title match was confirmed with Fyre prevailing over NXT wrestler Thea Hail in the finals of a number one contender’s tournament on Speed this week. The energetic Hail started strong and seemed poised to win in the closing moments after getting her knees up on a Swanton attempt. But when Hail tried to follow that up with a springboard, Fyre caught her in mid-air with a Gory Bomb for the victory.

Ruca became Speed Champion in April and has made one defense so far — a victory over Ivy Nile. Ruca also currently holds the NXT Women’s North American Championship.

Fyre is part of the SmackDown roster, where she and Piper Niven are aligned with Chelsea Green as the Secret Hervice. To earn this title shot, Fyre defeated B-Fab in the first round of the contender’s tournament before advancing to face Hail.

After next week’s Ruca vs. Fyre match, we should get some clarity on what’s going on with the men’s WWE Speed Championship. Chad Gable — who holds the title as El Grande Americano — underwent shoulder surgery this week. There was a backstage segment on Monday’s Raw where Ludwig Kaiser briefly appeared as the Americano character.

Thea Hail defeats Nikkita Lyons in WWE Speed debut

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Two NXT wrestlers made their WWE Speed debuts today with Thea Hail prevailing over Nikkita Lyons.

A jackknife pin earned Hail the victory over her larger opponent with 21 seconds remaining on the three-minute clock. In the final stretch of the match, Lyons was able to get to the ropes after Hail applied a Kimura. She then hit a spin kick and tried for a sunset flip powerbomb, but Hail rolled through and reversed the pin for the win.

Hail vs. Lyons was taped last Friday at SmackDown and was a number one contender’s tournament first-round match. With her victory, Hail advances to face Alba Fyre in the finals on Speed next Wednesday. The winner of that match earns a Speed Women’s Championship shot against Sol Ruca.

Ruca is a double champion at the moment, holding both the WWE Speed Women’s title and NXT Women’s North American title. She dethroned Candice LeRae for the Speed Women’s title this April and has made one successful defense of the belt so far in her reign, defeating Ivy Nile.