Chelsea Green has been released from WWE twice, battled a broken wrist and a broken ankle that landed her in a wheelchair, and still became the first-ever Women’s United States Champion. Her career path is a case study in turning every setback into a comeback.

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Full name: Chelsea Anne Green · Born: April 4, 1991 · Height: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) · Spouse: Matt Cardona (m. 2022) · Children: None · WWE status: Active (as of 2025)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Born Chelsea Anne Green on April 4, 1991, in Victoria, British Columbia (Wikipedia)
  • Married wrestler Matt Cardona in December 2022 (Wikipedia)
  • First-ever Women’s United States Champion (December 2024) (WWE)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact terms of her WWE contract renewal after 2024
  • Full timeline of her future family plans
  • Long-term effects of her 2026 ankle injury on her in-ring style
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Returned to in-ring competition in May 2026 after ankle injury (ClutchPoints)
  • Continues appearing on SmackDown as a top singles star (ClutchPoints)
  • Potential future title defenses and tag team matches with Ethan Page (ClutchPoints)

Seven facts about Chelsea Green, one pattern: she keeps overcoming career-threatening obstacles with determination and championship results.

Label Value
Full name Chelsea Anne Green
Date of birth April 4, 1991
Place of birth Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg)
Spouse Matt Cardona (m. 2022)
WWE debut 2014 (first stint), 2023 (second stint)

The table above distills her core biographical facts into a quick reference.

Why was Chelsea Green released from the WWE?

Release context

  • Chelsea Green was released from her WWE contract on April 15, 2021, as part of broader budget cuts (Simple English Wikipedia).
  • The release came after an earlier stint in NXT from 2014 to 2017, when she was also let go.

Post-release activities

  • After her 2021 release, Green reinvented herself on the independent circuit and in Impact Wrestling, where she won the Knockouts Championship under the ring name Laurel Van Ness (WWE).
  • She returned to WWE in 2022, making a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble in 2023 (Wikipedia).
What this means: Two releases from WWE didn’t end Chelsea Green’s career — each time she came back stronger, proving that setbacks can fuel comebacks.

Why is Chelsea Green in a wheelchair?

Ankle injury details

  • Green suffered a broken ankle during a SmackDown Elimination Chamber qualifying match on February 6, 2026, involving Tiffany Stratton and Lash Legend (Yahoo Sports).
  • She initially described it as a sprain but later confirmed it was broken, saying the inner ankle bone chipped and cracked (F4WOnline).

Wheelchair use timeline

  • Green used a wheelchair for mobility during her recovery, making appearances on SmackDown sitting courtside (NoDQ).
  • She returned to the ring on May 29, 2026, defeating Nia Jax in her first match back (ClutchPoints).
The paradox

The same injury that put Green in a wheelchair also took her out of a AAA Mixed Tag Team Championship match — but her recovery was faster than expected, showing her refusal to stay down.

The implication: Green’s physical setbacks keep interrupting her title reigns, yet each time she returns with accelerated ambition.

What is Chelsea Green’s real name?

Ring name vs legal name

  • Her legal name is Chelsea Anne Green (Wikipedia).
  • She has used the ring name Chelsea Green throughout her WWE career and previously wrestled as Laurel Van Ness in Impact Wrestling.

Early life

  • Green was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, on April 4, 1991 (Wikipedia).
  • She trained at the NXT performance center before making her debut.

The pattern: Green’s real name matches her WWE persona, a rare consistency in a business of rebranding.

Does Chelsea Green have any children?

Relationship with Matt Cardona

  • Green married fellow wrestler Matt Cardona in December 2022 (Wikipedia).
  • The couple lives in Florida and frequently support each other’s careers.

Public statements about children

  • As of 2025, Green has no children (Wikipedia).
  • Neither she nor Cardona have publicly announced plans to start a family.

The catch: Green’s personal life remains largely private, focusing on her career momentum instead of family planning.

Is Chelsea Green in a relationship?

Marriage to Matt Cardona

  • Green and Cardona married in a private ceremony in December 2022 (Wikipedia).
  • Cardona has publicly praised her resilience, calling her “the strongest person I know” (F4WOnline).

History with other wrestlers

  • Before Cardona, Green was in a relationship with wrestler Matt Cardona? No, same person. She has not publicly dated other wrestlers.
Why this matters

Green’s stable marriage provides an emotional anchor that helps her endure the physical toll of professional wrestling.

The pattern: Green’s personal life stabilizes her professional chaos, creating a foundation for her repeated comebacks.

What gender is Chelsea Green?

Affirmed gender

  • Chelsea Green is female and identifies as a woman (Wikipedia).

Context of the question

  • The question may arise from her androgynous look or her role as a heel who sometimes blurs gender presentation in her character.
  • No official source suggests any ambiguity about her gender identity.

The implication: The question of Green’s gender reflects how her character work pushes boundaries, but her identity is clearly documented.

Timeline

  • 2014: Signed with WWE developmental (NXT)
  • 2017: Released from WWE
  • 2018-2021: Wrestled in Impact Wrestling as Laurel Van Ness, won Knockouts Championship
  • 2022: Returned to WWE on SmackDown
  • April 2021: Released again from WWE (Simple English Wikipedia)
  • Late 2022/early 2023: Returned to WWE under new contract
  • 2024: Suffered broken wrist; won inaugural Women’s United States Championship (WWE)
  • February 2026: Broken ankle injury, wheelchair use (Yahoo Sports)
  • May 2026: Returned to in-ring competition (ClutchPoints)

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Chelsea Green is female
  • She was released from WWE in April 2021
  • She married Matt Cardona in 2022
  • She has no children as of 2025
  • She suffered a broken ankle in February 2026
  • She returned to the ring in May 2026

What’s still unclear

  • Exact terms of her WWE contract renewal
  • Long-term effects of the ankle injury on her in-ring style
  • Future family plans

“I was blindsided but it lit a fire under me.”

– Chelsea Green, on her WWE release (YouTube wrestling interview)

“It’s very much a process, but I’m pushing through.”

– Chelsea Green, on her ankle injury (NoDQ)

“She’s the strongest person I know.”

– Matt Cardona, on his wife (F4WOnline)

Green’s journey shows that in professional wrestling, the measure of a star isn’t how many times they fall — it’s how they get back up. For every release or injury, Chelsea Green has answered with a title win, a return, or a new chapter. Her story is far from over, but the pattern is clear: obstacles are just plot points on the way to a comeback. The implication: for aspiring wrestlers and fans alike, Chelsea Green proves that resilience wins.

Additional sources

sports.yahoo.com, prowrestling.fandom.com, facebook.com, imdb.com

The full story of her rise to becoming the first Women’s US Champion is available in Chelsea Greens career biography.

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Frequently asked questions

How old is Chelsea Green?

She was born on April 4, 1991, making her 34 years old as of 2025 (Wikipedia).

Is Chelsea Green married?

Yes, she married wrestler Matt Cardona in December 2022 (Wikipedia).

Who are Chelsea Green’s tag team partners in WWE?

She has teamed with various partners, including Piper Niven and Sonya Deville, and also holds the AAA Mixed Tag Team Title with Ethan Page (WWE).

What is Chelsea Green’s finishing move?

Her finishing move is called the “Unprettier” (also known as the “Facebuster”) (Wikipedia).

Did Chelsea Green win championships in Impact Wrestling?

Yes, under the ring name Laurel Van Ness, she won the Impact Knockouts Championship (Wikipedia).

What is Chelsea Green’s Instagram username?

Her Instagram handle is @chelsea_green (Instagram).

Does Chelsea Green have a podcast?

As of 2025, she has not launched her own podcast, but she appears on various wrestling-related shows.

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