Thea Hail has shocked the naysayers, and stunned the whole world. Tuesday’s “NXT” Women’s North American Championship match saw the electrifying Hail meet the stalwart, experience Monroe, and in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, Hail managed to pin down the champion to become the new “NXT” Women’s North American Champion.

Monroe seemed to still be feeling the aftershocks of last week’s wild assault, as Hail quickly overwhelmed the champion with an armbar attempt to open the match. Monroe quickly found her footing, but Hail was not to be denied. The match became a battle of experience and energy, with Monroe’s refined and sadistic moveset colliding against Hail’s zippy grappling and aerial offense.

Despite Hail’s early advantage, Monroe seemed to have her opponent squared away by the match’s halfway point, with Monroe flattening Hail with a clothesline after entangling the challenger in the ropes. A flash of second life, however, sent Hail gunning for the champion. She laid Monroe supine before bouncing off of the ropes to deliver a Springboard Senton. The referee’s hand slapped the mat for the three-count, but he failed to register Monroe’s shoulder rising just before the three count. Both Hail and Monroe looked shocked and confused, with Monroe gesturing her kickout to the official as Hail paraded around the ring with her title.

With this victory, Hail has ended Monroe’s 53 day reign with the Women’s North American title. Monroe first earned the title — her first singles championship in WWE — after defeating champion stand-in Zaria at “NXT” Halloween Havoc. Much like Monroe, the Women’s North American Championship is Hail’s first singles title with WWE. Hail is also now the youngest woman to hold the Women’s North American title, at 22 years old.

As of writing, there have been no announcements regarding the referee’s controversial count, nor have any new challengers stepped up to the young champion.

In the present day, GUNTHER has bragging rights as a two-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, WWE’s longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion, and the man who ended the career of “The G.O.A.T” John Cena. On a wider-scale, GUNTHER believes WWE itself has also enjoyed success in multiple areas.

“[Wrestling] is more popular than ever before right now,” GUNTHER recently told ESPN’s “First Take.” “It’s absolutely fascinating to see, especially when you follow the industry for such a long time. What happened in the last years is absolutely incredible. The opportunities for us as wrestlers are incredible right now to build up our lives. I think also for the fans, the amount of content that is out there that WWE produces, but also the diversity of Superstars we have. I think we’re in a very special time as well where we have a lot of those, I don’t want to say old, but the past Superstars that are still here.”

Among WWE’s current roster, GUNTHER pointed out that veterans such as Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, AJ Styles, Roman Reigns and CM Punk continue to flourish individually, while also boosting WWE as a whole. And when mixing established stars with the company’s up-and-coming ones, GUNTHER says the product can get even more interesting.

Following the latest edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, WWE’s main roster now shifts its focus to the 2026 Royal Rumble event, emanating from Saudi Arabia on January 31. En route, the company will hit the road for a holiday tour of live events in the United States, then a series across Europe.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “First Take” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Steve Borden Jr., son of WWE Hall of Famer and former AEW World Tag Team Champion Sting, made his debut in Tony Khan’s company in a dark match before “AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming” last week, and a new report revealed how those backstage reacted to the son of Sting’s match. According to Fightful Select, those backstage in AEW were very impressed with Borden, with many commenting on his impressive physique, with one source telling the outlet they expected Borden to be under AEW contract “before long,” if isn’t already.

Khan, AEW’s president, responded to Fightful’s request for comment and said he thought Borden was “excellent” and doing a great job. Khan said it was very exciting. Another AEW staff member also told the outlet they thought Sting’s son did great, as well as saying they’d sacrifice years of their NFL team winning to look like Borden. Fightful reported that comments on Borden’s physique and look were the most common responses they received.

Borden, a former University of Kentucky football player, made his in-ring debut in October at an Awesome Championship Wrestling event. He has been training with Darby Allin. His dark match ahead of “Dynamite” was against Nightmare Factory graduate Kiran Gray, who also trains with the former TNT Champion. Borden made his debut in DEFY against Gray back at the end of November. Borden emerged victorious in both matches against his fellow trainee.

Prior to the dark match, Borden had appeared in AEW during his father’s last match alongside Allin against the Young Bucks at AEW Revolution last March, where Sting and Allin retained the tag team championships. Both of Sting’s sons made appearances, dressed as their father in previous eras of his career.

Due to John Cena’s push for “WWE NXT” talent to share the ring with main roster stars at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, NXT Champion Oba Femi had the opportunity to wrestle Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Before a decisive victor could materialize, however, Drew McIntyre attacked Rhodes, forcing the referee to call for a disqualification.

Appearing on “Saturday Night’s Main Event Recap,” Femi noted that he felt wronged by McIntyre’s interference. Nevertheless, he doesn’t intend to dwell on it for too long.

“There is nothing personal between me and Drew right now, but he definitely robbed the fans,” Femi said. “He robbed me of my moment too. And me shoving him was me sending a message because I’ve said, ‘The future is here.’ That message is not just applicable to Cody Rhodes. It’s for every single 40-year-old veteran on this roster. The future is here. The future is now, and the now is me.”

As Femi alluded to, he initially responded to McIntyre’s involvement by shoving “The Scottish Warrior” to the mat. Rhodes then leveled McIntyre with a Cody Cutter, after which Femi followed with a chokeslam. With McIntyre eventually out of the equation, Rhodes showed Femi a sign of respect by raising his hand.

Femi regained the NXT Championship at “NXT” Deadline by defeating Ricky Saints. Three days later, he successfully defended the title against Je’Von Evans, the 2025 Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge winner. Looking ahead, he now prepares to put it on the line once again at “NXT” New Year’s Evil, with his challenger being determined in a four-way match later tonight.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Saturday Night’s Main Event Recap” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.’s live coverage for “WWE NXT” on December 16, coming to you from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida!

Oba Femi will be finding out who his next challenger for the NXT Championship is, as Myles Borne, DarkState’s Dion Lennox, TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater, and Joe Hendry will be colliding in a Fatal Four-Way Number One Contender’s Match. Femi most recently defended his NXT Championship against Je’Von Evans this past Tuesday after Evans had won the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge at “NXT” Deadline on December 6 and chose to have his New Year’s Evil match early, but Ricky Saints ultimately turned his back on Evans to cost him the match and inadvertently help Femi retain the title.

WWE Women’s Speed Champion Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid of Fatal Influence will be joining forces with one another to take on WWE EVOLVE Women’s Champion Kendal Grey and her ally Wren Sinclair. Not only will Grey be challenging Henley and Reid’s stablemate Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Championship at “NXT” New Year’s Evil on January 6, but Grey and Sinclair found themselves involved in a verbal altercation with all three members of Fatal Influence last Tuesday that ultimately resulted in Fatal Influence leaving Grey and Sinclair laid out.

Additionally, Blake Monroe will be putting the Women’s North American Championship on the line for the first time since retaining against Sol Ruca at Week One of “NXT” Gold Rush on November 18 as she defends against Thea Hail after Hail was among several women to answer Monroe’s open challenge from last Tuesday.