An unexpected title change on WWE NXT has reportedly led to some backstage frustration, following what many believe was a genuine in-ring mishap rather than a planned creative decision.

On the December 16 episode of NXT, Thea Hail captured the NXT North American Championship for the first time in her career, defeating Blake Monroe. While the moment came across as a big breakout win for Hail on television, multiple reports suggest the finish was not supposed to happen that way.

According to Fightful Select, the original plan called for Monroe to retain her championship. However, during the match, referee Felix Fernandez counted the three-count, officially crowning Hail as the new champion. Those close to the situation claim Monroe may have been injured prior to the pinfall, though the exact severity of the injury has not been confirmed.

The report notes that Monroe herself, along with members of her creative team, were unhappy with how the situation unfolded. Some criticism was directed toward Fernandez for completing the count, but NXT management reportedly sees things differently. Both Shawn Michaels and Matt Bloom are said to have praised the referee for following protocol and calling the match as he saw it, rather than stopping the finish mid-count.

The timing of the accidental title switch reportedly added to the frustration, as WWE had already filmed a significant amount of content ahead of the holiday season. An unplanned championship change can complicate storylines, especially when episodes are taped weeks in advance.

Despite the backstage noise, fans shouldn’t expect Blake Monroe to be kept out of the title picture for long. The former AEW standout has been heavily featured since arriving in WWE earlier this year, and the company appears ready to course-correct quickly. On this past week’s episode of NXT, Monroe confronted Hail and officially secured a rematch.

That rematch is now set for NXT: New Year’s Evil on January 6, 2026, where Hail will put her newly won North American Championship on the line against Monroe. Many expect the situation to be resolved there, potentially with Monroe regaining the title.

New Year’s Evil is shaping up to be a stacked show overall. WWE has also announced a Women’s Championship match featuring Jacy Jayne defending against Kendal Grey, as well as an NXT Championship bout between Oba Femi and Leon Slater.

Whether the accidental title win leads to longer-term plans for Thea Hail or simply serves as a brief detour remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: this unexpected moment has quickly become one of the most talked-about backstage stories in NXT heading into the new year.