WWE To Introduce Policy Change Following Botched Thea Hail-Blake Monroe Title Switch

Changes are being made within WWE NXT following the botched title change that saw Thea Hail capture the NXT Women's North American Championship from Blake Monroe on December 16.

Blake Monroe was scheduled to retain her title and creative had already been worked out with this in mind, but she ended up dropping the belt to Hail after a springboard senton from Thea knocked the wind out of Monroe.

Hail instantly made the pin following the move, and the former Mariah May was unable to recover in time. As WWE officials are told to call matches like a shoot, the referee counted the 1-2-3 as Monroe didn't get her shoulder up in time to kick out.

Fightful Select has reported that one NXT staff member noted the botched title change took place at the worst possible time due to NXT finishing up for the year ahead of the Christmas break. This meant weeks of creative had already been finalised and filmed, and the title change meant segments already filmed had to be corrected in order for everything to make sense.

An NXT higher up also noted the botched title switch meant there would be a policy change that wrestlers booked on the show would be required to stay until the end of tapings moving forward. Pre-taped segments for WWE NXT are often filmed on Mondays before the show on Tuesday night, but even talent just featured in these segments will likely be required to stay until the end of Tuesday's shows.

WWE taped the December 23 and December 30 episodes of NXT on Wednesday night and the company will resolve the botched title change with a singles match between Thea Hail and Blake Monroe for the Women's North American Championship at New Year's Evil.