Blake Monroe recently revealed that she was carrying a serious hidden injury when she lost the NXT Women's North American Championship to Thea Hail and it prevented her from getting immediate revenge.
Speaking with Sam Roberts on Notsam Wrestling, Monroe disclosed for the first time that she damaged cartilage in her ribs around the time of the controversial title loss in December.
I actually got injured too," Monroe said. "I damaged all the cartilage in my ribs. I spent my Christmas break bandaged up like this, having to do rehab, thinking of all the things I would do to Thea Hail — and then never actually got to wrestle her. So there's a lot of feeling.
Monroe Blames the Referee
The controversial finish to that December NXT match caught nearly everyone off guard, including Hail herself. Monroe has been consistent in pointing the finger at the official, and she doubled down during the interview.
I feel like the ref was clearly in a rush to get home — he counted that quick," she said. "It was definitely very exciting and I'm going to get my revenge next week in under three minutes.
Monroe also acknowledged the double-edged nature of the situation, calling attention a form of currency in the wrestling business.
The theme of my career is: people will talk about me — and who are you if you're not talked about, to be honest.
Monroe has had a turbulent stretch since losing the title, but she closed the interview with characteristic confidence:
The glamour stocks are rising. We had a little dip, but we're going back up.
Monroe currently appears motivated, healthy, and very much ready to reclaim what she considers hers. She is scheduled to face Thea Hail on February 24th, 2026 edition of NXT in the first round of the tournament to determine the next challenger for the Women’s Speed Championship.
