Thea Hail Opens Up About Shock NXT Women’s North American Title Win; Before The Match, Matt Bloom Told Her To ‘Lay It In’ If She Hit Her Senton

Hail opens up about her shocking title victory.

It was on the December 16th, 2025, episode of WWE NXT that Thea Hail defeated Blake Monroe to capture the NXT Women’s North American Championship.

Hail did a springboard senton onto Monroe and landed directly on her opponent’s stomach. Monroe did not kick out until after the referee’s three-count. Soon after, it was reported by Fightful Select that Hail was not supposed to win the belt.

Hail guest appeared on Busted Open After Dark and spoke about the first title win of her pro wrestling career.

“So the funniest part of this all is that I never confine my friends or family in the crowd. That night was the first night I have ever made direct eye contact with my best friend Steve, and I hear the one, two, three. I look up, I see Steve — and he lives with me — and I’m like, ‘Steve, I’ve done it somehow. I’m walking back in our house tonight with the North American Title.’ I was like, ‘This is absolutely insane.’ I couldn’t believe it for myself, honestly, because after I’d been in the WWE for about three and a half years now, I’ve been pro wrestling for about five, and in that moment, I knew that I’ve changed the trajectory of the future of my career, and that’s one of the craziest things that — I’m 22 — I have accomplished what so many people have spent a lifetime trying to get and that’s a WWE championship.”

Hail is no longer the champion as she lost the belt to Izzi Dame at NXT New Year’s Evil. Looking back at her reign, she reflected on the negative reactions she saw on social media after she won the title from Monroe.

“I think people just have a lot to say for no reason, sometimes. Sorry guys, but, Thea Hail won. Thea Hail hit the ‘boing.’ One, two, three, and I think a lot of people were upset about that, and I don’t know why because I worked really hard and I think you guys have all seen me work really hard so, let a girl win.”

Further speaking about the bout, Hail said before the match, WWE Performance Center head coach Matt Bloom told her that if she was going to do her senton, she needed to ‘lay it in.’

“Yes,” Hail responded when asked if the springboard senton is a move she regularly does. She was then asked if that was her finisher, and she said, “No. The Kimura lock is my quote-unquote finisher, but, I got some advice prior to the match and they were like, ‘Hey, if you hit that senton, you gotta lay it in. You gotta hit that senton,’ and I was like, ‘Hmm.’” Hail was asked who gave her that advice, and she replied, “Matt Bloom. Matt Bloom is probably one of the most insane, influential coaches in my career, and he’s one of those people that’s like, ‘Thea, you’re little, you gotta hit ‘em. You gotta hit ‘em.’ I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ma hit ‘em. I’ma hit ‘em.’”

Hail will have an opportunity to regain the Women’s North American Title on the 2/3 NXT on The CW. She’ll be in a Triple Threat match with Lola Vice and the champion Izzi Dame.

If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Busted Open After Dark with an H/T to Fightful for the transcriptions.