The developmental landscape of professional wrestling has always been a volatile environment where the hierarchy can shift in the blink of an eye, and the current state of the NXT women’s division is a testament to that unpredictability. At the heart of this recent upheaval is the NXT Women’s North American Championship, a title that has quickly become a focal point for some of the most intense rivalries in the promotion. The prestige of this secondary championship has grown exponentially since its inception, providing a platform for rising stars to showcase their grit and personality outside the shadow of the main title scene. Recently, the atmosphere surrounding this gold has reached a fever pitch, fueled not just by the physical encounters inside the squared circle but by a digital war of words that has captivated the wrestling world. The tension between the newly crowned champion Izzi Dame and her predecessors, Blake Monroe and Thea Hail, has transitioned from the ring to the public forum, creating a narrative that is as personal as it is professional.
To understand the current vitriol, one must look back at the seismic shift that occurred during the New Year’s Evil special. This event, which has become a cornerstone of the NXT calendar, is designed to kick off the calendar year with high-stakes matches and unexpected outcomes. It was here that Izzi Dame seized her moment, capturing the NXT Women’s North American Championship in a result that sent shockwaves through the Performance Center. Her victory was not just a win; it was a statement of intent, signaling that a new force had arrived to dominate the division. However, the nature of her ascent has been met with significant pushback from those she bypassed on her way to the top. The transition of power in wrestling is rarely smooth, and when a championship changes hands under shocking circumstances, the fallout is inevitable. Dame’s reign is still in its infancy, yet she already finds herself embroiled in a multifaceted feud that threatens to boil over during her first major televised address as champion.
The catalyst for the most recent explosion of animosity was the official announcement that Izzi Dame would be given a live microphone on the January 13 episode of NXT. For any champion, the first promo following a major title win is a career-defining moment. It is the opportunity to set the tone for their tenure, establish their motivations, and address the challengers circling like sharks. Dame, never one to shy away from a confrontation, used the announcement of her upcoming segment to strike preemptively at her rivals. Taking to social media, she directed her ire toward both Thea Hail and Blake Monroe, accusing them of clinging to the past. Her comments centered on the idea that both women were still presenting themselves as though they held the championship, sharing images of themselves with the belt that Dame now possesses. By labeling them as being obsessed with their former status, Dame effectively drew a line in the sand, separating her current era from their previous ones.
The response from Blake Monroe was swift and cutting, highlighting the deep-seated resentment that exists between the two athletes. Monroe’s perspective is colored by the unique and frustrating circumstances of her own title loss. In a previous encounter with Thea Hail, Monroe’s reign came to an end in a finish that remains a point of contention among fans and analysts alike. The match concluded when Monroe failed to beat the referee’s count, a lapse in fundamental execution that saw her shoulders pinned to the mat for the three-count despite her attempts to escape. This "failure to kick out at two" has become a recurring theme in the criticism leveled against her, casting a shadow over her technical proficiency. Adding to her frustration is the fact that she was barred from competing at New Year’s Evil, forced to watch from the sidelines as the title she once held was contested by others. Currently dealing with an injury, Monroe finds herself in a position of vulnerability, unable to reclaim her prize physically and relegated to defending her legacy through verbal rebuttals.
In her response to Dame’s taunts, Monroe took aim at the champion’s perceived lack of legitimacy. She mocked the official promotional materials, suggesting that the hands holding the title in the photographs weren’t even Dame’s, and followed up with a biting remark about the lack of custom sideplates on the belt. In the world of modern wrestling, custom sideplates are more than just a decorative element; they are a symbol of a champion’s permanence and the company’s investment in their reign. By suggesting that Dame needed to start a crowdfunding campaign to afford these plates, Monroe was essentially calling her a placeholder champion—someone who hasn’t earned the right to have her name etched in the annals of the title’s history. It was a calculated strike intended to undermine Dame’s confidence and remind the audience that the new champion is still an unproven entity in the eyes of the veteran locker room.
Not to be outdone, Izzi Dame fired back with a retort that cut to the very core of Monroe’s professional pride. Dame leaned heavily into the "kick out at two" narrative, suggesting that while she focused on her supposed financial needs for sideplates, Monroe should spend her time in the gym practicing the most basic requirement of a professional wrestler. This insult is particularly potent because it attacks Monroe’s fundamental skills. In the psychology of the business, there is perhaps no greater embarrassment than being told you lack the instinct or the ability to prevent a pinfall. By bringing this up, Dame effectively weaponized Monroe’s most high-profile failure, turning her injury-induced hiatus into a period of remedial training rather than recovery. The exchange showcased the stark contrast in their characters: Monroe as the bitter, established star fighting to maintain her relevance, and Dame as the arrogant, opportunistic newcomer who is more than willing to twist the knife.
This digital skirmish has added a layer of intrigue to the upcoming January 13 broadcast that a standard wrestling match often cannot achieve. When personal grievances are aired so publicly, the line between the scripted television product and the real-life competitive drive of the performers begins to blur. This is a hallmark of successful modern storytelling in NXT, where the "fourth wall" is frequently nudged to create a more immersive experience for the viewers. The inclusion of Thea Hail in this equation only complicates matters further. As the woman who was directly involved in the controversial finish that cost Monroe her title, Hail remains a pivot point in this three-way rivalry. While she has been less vocal in the recent social media exchange, her presence looms large over the division, and many wonder if she will make her presence felt when Dame takes the ring to speak.
The significance of Izzi Dame’s upcoming live segment cannot be overstated. In the Performance Center, where the crowd is intimate and highly vocal, a wrestler’s ability to command the room with a promo is just as important as their ability to execute a suplex. For Dame, this is her chance to prove that her victory at New Year’s Evil was not a fluke. She must navigate the potential interruptions from her rivals and the skepticism of a fanbase that saw her rise to the top so quickly. If Monroe is healthy enough to appear, or if she finds another way to disrupt the proceedings, the segment could devolve into chaos. The wrestling world has seen many "state of the union" addresses by champions interrupted by returning stars or bitter rivals, and the volatile nature of the current NXT roster suggests that January 13 will be no different.
Beyond the immediate conflict, this feud highlights the depth and competitive nature of the NXT women’s roster. The North American Championship was introduced to provide more opportunities for a division that is arguably the most talented in the world of developmental wrestling. By creating a title that carries its own weight and history, the promotion has ensured that there is always a high-stakes narrative unfolding, even when the main title is not on the line. The battle between Dame, Monroe, and Hail is a perfect example of how a secondary title can become the most talked-about prize in the company through effective character work and the utilization of every available platform, including social media.
As the clock ticks down to the next episode of NXT, the questions continue to mount. Will Blake Monroe’s injury keep her from physically confronting the woman who is mocking her career? How will Thea Hail respond to being caught in the crossfire of this heated exchange? And perhaps most importantly, can Izzi Dame back up her words when she is no longer protected by the safety of a digital screen? The transition from online bickering to a live television environment is the ultimate test of a performer’s mettle. Dame has proven she can win the gold, and she has proven she can hold her own in a battle of wits on the internet. Now, she must prove she can lead a division that is more divided and more hostile than ever before.
The narrative of the "obsessed ex-champion" is a classic trope in wrestling, but the current execution involving Monroe and Dame feels fresh because of the specific technical insults being traded. It isn’t just about wanting the belt back; it’s about the perceived loss of respect. For Monroe, the "two-count" jab is a stain on her reputation that she can only wash away by defeating Dame and proving her resilience. For Dame, the "sideplates" comment is a reminder that she is still viewed as an outsider by the establishment. These are the kinds of stories that resonate with the modern wrestling audience—stories that are built on a foundation of reality, athletic pride, and the relentless pursuit of greatness. When the red light goes on this coming Tuesday, the NXT Women’s North American Championship will be at the center of a storm that shows no signs of dissipating, and the fallout will likely define the division for the months to come.
