Thea Hale faced a tough night defending the NXT Women’s North American Championship on Tuesday. Despite her efforts to reinforce her reign by reviving former champion Blake Monroe’s open challenge, Hale was ultimately ambushed and defeated by the cunning Izzy Dame. When Hale declared the open challenge, various wrestlers appeared, but Tatum Paxley, coming off a previous match with Dame, scared them off with a chainsaw and a grin. The crowd’s excitement quickly turned to shock as Dame interrupted Paxley, attacked Hale from behind, and with assistance from Shawn Spears and Nico Vance, the match officially started. Dame quickly took control, but Hale fought back fiercely, breaking Dame’s hold and managing to stay strong mid-match. The pivotal moment came at the top rope—after surviving a chokeslam through the announce table and attempting a top-rope armbar, Hale’s slow move left her vulnerable, allowing Dame to hit “Dame Over” and claim the championship. Hale’s reign ended after just 21 days, with Dame becoming the new champion following her earlier loss to Paxley that night. Hale was Dame’s only challenger, and her title win, which stemmed from an unusual mistake in WWE’s typically precise production, has drawn some criticism. So far, no fresh challengers have emerged to contest Dame’s new title.
Fan Take: This title change is a big shake-up for WWE fans, highlighting how unpredictable and thrilling NXT can be. Dame’s win opens new storytelling opportunities and could spark fresh rivalries that keep the fans hooked on the evolving women’s division.
