For years, Chelsea Green has mastered the art of making the most out of every creative decision thrown her way, transforming what could have been a “jobber” comedy act into one of the most entertaining segments on SmackDown. Yet, despite her undeniable range and comedic timing, WWE remains hesitant to move her past the “always a bridesmaid” phase of her career.
Often pigeonholed as a high-effort gimmick meant to put others over, Green is frequently overlooked as a serious main event contender. This narrative ignores both her technical skills in the ring and evidence of surging fan support. She has officially outgrown her role as the division’s reliable mid-carder; it is time for WWE to stop viewing Chelsea Green as a reliable character actor and start treating her like the superstar she has proven she can be.
As evidenced during this past Friday’s episode of SmackDown, there is a clear uptick in fans who believe it is time for a Chelsea Green main title push. During her Triple Threat showdown against Tiffany Stratton and Lash Legend for the Elimination Chamber qualifiers, it was impossible to ignore that Green was the one getting the chants of the crowd.
Despite losing the match and being unfortunately sidelined for a period due to a severely bruised ankle, there were undeniable positives to take away from the match. With fans now vocalizing their support, it is clear that Green’s relentless hard work both in the ring and through her meticulous character development is finally paying off in a major way.
With this recent buzz, now could be the turning point where WWE creative finally capitalizes and pushes the red button on a Chelsea Green main title push. But before diving into the reasons why she should be elevated to that next level, it’s important to look back at her rise to stardom.
Back Story
Born in Victoria, British Columbia, where she spent the majority of her childhood, Green was actually forbidden from watching wrestling as a kid. While attending the University of Calgary to become a personal trainer, she caught a match on television and was immediately hooked. In 2014, she enrolled in the Storm Wrestling Academy, where she was trained by former WWE and WCW star Lance Storm.
Green made her wrestling debut that same year and quickly made a name for herself for what she is still known for today: her incredible adaptability and character work. She launched her career under the ring name Jaida while competing for Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling.
That same year marked her first WWE appearance, briefly appearing on Raw as Daniel Bryan’s physical therapist, Megan Miller. In 2015, she earned a massive opportunity to break into the company by competing in the sixth season of WWE’s “Tough Enough,” ultimately finishing in fourth place.
The next two years saw Green compete on the Indie circuit across Japan, Mexico, and India. She eventually found a new home in TNA in 2016, initially wrestling as Chelsea before transitioning to Laurel Van Ness, most notably capturing the Impact Knockouts Championship during her time with the company.
It was here that her talent for character development truly began to shine as she embraced a maniacal persona, appearing in a tattered wedding dress with smeared makeup and messy hair, and carrying a wine bottle to the ring.
After spending two years in TNA, she eventually made her way to WWE and started in NXT, where Robert Stone managed her. She made her main roster debut on SmackDown in 2020, though her run was cut short due to a wrist injury, and she was eventually released in April 2021.
Following her release from WWE, Green returned to TNA and competed under her real name, this time focusing on the tag team division. She formed a successful alliance with Deonna Purrazzo, and the duo eventually captured the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championship.
After departing TNA in late 2022, she made her return to WWE at the 2023 Royal Rumble, introducing a new dynamic to her character that many fans dubbed the “Karen” gimmick. Ever since her return three years ago, she has continued to improve not only in the ring but, most notably, in her brilliant character creativity.
