Chelsea Green was among the wrestlers who competed at the historic All In PPV in 2018, and we're sure you remember that Fatal Four-Way match featuring her, Madison Rayne, Tessa Blanchard, and current AEW Women's Champion Dr. Britt Baker. Of course, it was shortly after that Green made the decision to sign with WWE, but there's more to the story than meets the eye.
"I had actually signed my WWE deal in June or July of that year, and All In was coming up in September," Green said on her Green With Envy podcast. "I knew I was not going to miss this opportunity of a lifetime to be on the show. So I told WWE that I couldn’t start at the Performance Center until October. Now, I didn’t tell them why and I just didn’t make it a big deal...it was because I was booked for All In and I refused to give up my spot."
Unsurprisingly, Green would go on reveal that WWE talent had been banned from attending the show or any events associated with it due to a mandate sent out by those in WWE Talent Relations.
As a result, her fiancé Matt Cardona was unable to attend. "Everyone at WWE who had a spouse or a partner that was on All In got a text the week or two out from talent relations at WWE, saying they were not allowed to be at All In," Green recalled. "So, originally, Matt and people like Deonna and Adam Cole, and so many people, were going to be at All In, just backstage watching us."
"And when they sent that text, I mean, it was way too risky for any of them to be there, especially after being told not to. It was such a bummer, but it still feels like yesterday when I came back from my match to a hundred texts from Matt saying how awesome it was."
Little did WWE know at the time what All In would lead to, but it just goes to show that they wouldn't allow their talent anywhere near a show like this one even before AEW became a threat to them. It's understandable in some ways, but to not even allow spouses backstage seems a little OTT!
After being released by WWE, Green is now working with IMPACT Wrestling.