WWE NXT Ref Praised Backstage After Accidental Thea Hail Title Change Forces Major Rewrites

The unexpected title switch involving Thea Hail on the December 16 episode of WWE NXT just got even more revealing — and the latest update shifts the spotlight backstage.

While it was already reported that Hail’s NXT Women’s North American Championship win over Blake Monroe was the result of a botched finish, Fightful Select has now confirmed that the referee involved was actually praised for doing his job correctly, even though it caused chaos behind the scenes.

According to the update, NXT referee Felix Fernandez received credit internally for calling the pinfall exactly as instructed, despite the finish not being part of the plan.

Fightful Select explained that referees are trained to treat pinfalls as legitimate unless explicitly told otherwise, and Fernandez followed that directive to the letter.

“NXT referee Felix Fernandez got props backstage for counting the Thea Hail vs. Blake Monroe match as a shoot and doing the title change.”

The ripple effects were immediate. With the championship changing hands unexpectedly, WWE’s production team was forced into damage-control mode. Fightful Select noted that the situation escalated beyond simple rewrites.

“NXT sources confirmed people had to physically come back to the venue to re-tape materials after the Thea Hail/Blake Monroe match.”

That scramble came after Monroe had the wind knocked out of her late in the match, preventing her from kicking out in time. WWE even briefly played Monroe’s entrance music — since she was supposed to retain — before stopping it and switching to Hail’s theme once the mistake became clear.

The unplanned title change forced last-minute creative adjustments across multiple segments, as future plans had already been structured around Monroe continuing her reign. What was meant to be a routine retention instantly became a full-on production headache.

Now, with NXT preparing for upcoming tapings at the Performance Center, there’s growing speculation about whether WWE will reverse the title change or pivot creatively around Hail’s sudden reign. Regardless of what happens next, the referee’s decision to call the match straight may end up being one of the most consequential moments of the night.

Do you think WWE should keep the title on Thea Hail since the pinfall was counted clean, or should Blake Monroe get the championship back quickly? Let us know your thoughts and drop your feedback in the comments.