Chelsea Green’s First Post-WWE Interview: Speaks On Release, Meeting With Vince, Injury, Future Plans

Chelsea Green Breaks Her Silence Following WWE Release

This past Thursday, WWE released 10 wrestlers from its roster, one year after massive cuts were made in the company amid the ongoing health crisis.

Days after her release from WWE, Chelsea Green her first interview since leaving the company.

In an interview with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Green spoke on a number of topics, including her release, being called up to the main roster, waiting several weeks to meet with Vince McMahon, plans to have a storyline with Mickie James, and what her future holds.

Below are some notes from the interview, which is available to watch or listen to at Fightful Select (subscription required)

Being Called Up To Main Roster From NXT

• She said she took a wild guess at Paul Heyman’s email, then asked him to be put on the main roster, and it worked.
• She was originally called up in December 2019, but it was “kind of a weird call-up” due to a miscommunication between NXT and the main roster. Triple H then pulled her aside in April or May, and was told she was officially called up.
• She heard rumblings that she would either be teaming with Charlotte, or be her protege on the main roster, but was not specifically told creative plans.
• She would continue to show up to television, but was then told they didn’t have any specific for her.
• One day she got a call on her way to Epcot, and was told she was going to be “the Mickie James to Mickie James”, throwing back to Mickie James’ storyline with Trish Stratus years before.
• She said she and Mickie James spoke about many ideas, and actually filmed a match during RAW, but it did not air. She didn’t know the exact reason why it didn’t air, but did hear the match may have not been approved by Vince McMahon.
• She said once the Mickie James storyline was no longer being discussed, she began showing up to television again, and sat outside Vince McMahon’s office for four weeks to try and get a meeting.
• The company then had plans for her to debut as part of a trio, in a “Charlies Angels meets Pussycat Dolls” type group. The trio would have consisted of Vanessa Borne, Santana Garrett, and Chelsea Green. She met with writers about this group, but wasn’t able to meet with Vince McMahon.
• When waiting for Vince McMahon, she said she would show up at 1:30 pm, and wait next to Vince’s security guard, and be there until 5 pm.
• Every time she went, she took a photo with Vince’s office in the background, which she says she will post one day.
• Once the trio’s idea was no longer being discussed, she waited an additional three weeks to get a meeting with Vince, and was eventually able to speak with him. She said she and Vince had a 30-minute chat. She said she pitched 15 ideas to him, which he wrote down. They discussed which ones would work. Two weeks after that she was in the Survivor Series qualifying match.
• She was asked about any interactions with other WWE executives, including Bruce Prichard and Kevin Dunn. She said Bruce Prichard would answer her emails, and meet with her when she asked. She had no interactions with Kevin Dunn. She said he was like “God”, as everyone would speak about him, but he was never seen.
• She said there are a few people in her career that should be like to thank, Lance Storm, Billy Gunn, Gail Kim, and Paul Heyman. She doesn’t know what she did to get so lucky to get praise from Paul Heyman. She recalled cutting a promo in front of him at the WWE PC, and him reacting with “Wow! You live up to all the hype”.

Injury During SmackDown Debut Last Fall

• She confirmed the name she was given at one point was Victorious, and when she debuted on SmackDown she was surprised they called her by her real name as she walked down to the ring. Due to her being injured in the match, she was unable to do a post-match promo, which is when she was going to reveal her name was Victorious. She was given this news when she was being tended to by medical personal in the back.
• She said she was confused about what to do immediately after her injury on SmackDown. She attempted to get back into the match, but Tamina didn’t let her. Tamina relayed the injury to a cameraman, who relayed it to a ref, who then got the message to the medical team.
• She believes if that injury didn’t happen, she would have not got released, but she doesn’t want to dwell on “what ifs”.
• She said she was offered her new 3-year deal with WWE before she was injured, but needed to think about it before signing the contract.
• She also mentioned she signed a contract with NXT before she was called up.

Being Backstage In Recent Weeks

• When asked about her being backstage at SmackDown a few weeks back, she said she’s “one of the most annoying people in talent relations history”, because she shows up when not being booked. She e-mails ideas every week, and never stops bugging them. She says she’s been emailing for several years, even before joining the WWE roster.
• She said she was not at Wrestlemania, and did not push to be there, especially due to the current health crisis.
• She noted there is “so much amazing talent sitting in the back every week, dying to get on tv”.

Chelsea Green On WWE Release

• Says she’s kind of emotionless following release, it’s very overwhelming
• Says she was totally shocked by the news, she understands it because she wasn’t used.
• Says she knows her potential in the company, promo skills.
• She said she was given a little warning prior to the releases that they were cutting people. She said she was mentally able to prepare herself just in case. If she wasn’t given the heads up prior, she believed the phone call regarding her release was going to be about her debut.
• She confirmed John Laurinaitis called her, citing budget cuts as the reason for her release. He was “very sweet” to her when speaking. She likes how straightforward he was, and just “doesn’t bullshit”.
• She did mention how he mentioned they may use her in the future, saying she was told ‘WWE’s a revolving door”. She cited Jinder Mahal being released, then being brought back and becoming WWE Champion.

Her Future In Wrestling, Speaking With Other Promotions Following Release

• She said she has spoken to people in other companies since she has a lot of friends in the wrestling business. She noted she has friends in AEW, ROH, IMPACT, Japan, and Mexico. The day she got released she spoke with people in other companies, and began taking bookings the next day.
• She said she’s fine with the 90-day non-compete clause, because she is guaranteed a WWE paycheque, and can save as much money as she can to prepare herself, especially during this time. She said she is very fortunate to have money coming in during the pandemic.
• She will revive her Youtube channel, and get a podcast up in running in the near future. She wants the podcast to be hosted on Barstool Sports, but doesn’t have any contacts there.
• She notes she was offered a movie role last year for a film shooting in Canada that had to shut down due to the pandemic.

The full interview is now available to watch below.

Interview Credit: Fightful Select / Notes By HeelByNature.com