Chelsea Green: WWE Career, Injury, OnlyFans, and LGBTQ

Few wrestlers manage to turn a WWE release into a career reinvention quite like Chelsea Green. Released in 2021, she rebuilt her character on the independent circuit and returned to the Royal Rumble in 2023.

Born: April 4, 1991 (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) ·
WWE Debut: 2023 (current contract) ·
Major Championship: Women’s United States Champion (December 2024) ·
Previous Gimmick: Laurel Van Ness in Impact Wrestling ·
Spouse: Matt Cardona (Zack Ryder)

Five key details about Chelsea Green, drawn from WWE’s official profile and wrestling databases:

Why was Chelsea Green released from the WWE?

Details of her 2021 release

According to Wikipedia (wrestling biography), Chelsea Green was released by WWE on April 15, 2021, as part of broader budget cuts. The release came after a first stint that included a broken wrist and limited main-roster time. A later report from BodySlam (independent wrestling analysis) described the period as a “reinvention” that sharpened her charisma and character work.

The implication: The release gave Green the space to rebuild a character that WWE ultimately valued enough to re-sign.

Her return and re-signing in 2023

WWE’s official profile states that Green made a surprise return in the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble Match. She was re-signed after WWE’s sale to Endeavor later that year, and by late 2023 she was a regular on SmackDown. The pattern: a release that looked like a setback became a catalyst for a stronger comeback.

The implication: WWE’s willingness to bring back a previously released talent suggests that Green’s independent run built enough value to justify a second contract.

Why is Chelsea Green in a wheelchair?

Injury timeline and diagnosis

In February 2026, Bleacher Report (sports news outlet) reported that Green announced an ankle injury sustained during a SmackDown triple‑threat match against Tiffany Stratton and Lash Legend. She posted images of herself in a walking boot and a wheelchair. The same article noted conflicting reports about whether the ankle was broken or severely bruised.

Current status of her ankle recovery

Green described the injury on social media and wore a walking boot for several weeks, according to Bleacher Report. By late 2024 she had returned to in‑ring action, and as of early 2025 she is wrestling regularly on SmackDown. The trade‑off: ankle injuries carry recurrence risks, but the timeline suggests a full recovery.

Who is the transwoman in WWE?

This article focuses on Chelsea Green. For information on transgender wrestlers in WWE, please refer to external sources such as Wikipedia (Gabi Tuft).

Who left WWE to do OnlyFans?

Chelsea Green’s OnlyFans presence

According to BodySlam, Green launched an OnlyFans account after her 2021 release, joining a growing list of wrestlers who use subscription platforms to supplement income during periods without a major contract. The move drew attention because of the platform’s adult content reputation, though Green’s page has not been officially verified by WWE sources.

The pattern: Wrestlers who leverage subscription platforms during contract gaps can maintain fan engagement and financial stability.

Other wrestlers who joined the platform

Green was not the first. Mandy Rose reportedly earned millions on the platform after her 2022 release. The question “who left WWE to do OnlyFans” typically points to a group that includes Green, Rose, and Evans. No single WWE statement confirms these accounts, but multiple media reports and the wrestlers’ own social media make the connection plausible.

What is Chelsea Green’s real name and background?

Early life and training

Born Chelsea Anne Green in Victoria, British Columbia, as confirmed by the WWE Superstar profile, she trained at the Storm Wrestling Academy in Alberta. Wikipedia reports that she signed with WWE in August 2018 after a tryout and reported to the Performance Center in October 2018.

Impact Wrestling as Laurel Van Ness

Before her second WWE stint, Green wrestled as “Laurel Van Ness” in Impact Wrestling (then TNA). She won the TNA Knockouts Championship in 2019 and, according to BodySlam, held the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championship with Deonna Purrazzo in August 2022. The “Hot Mess” gimmick became a fan favorite for its over‑the‑top blend of vulnerability and chaos.

Return to WWE

Green returned to WWE in the 2023 Royal Rumble, entered at number 20, and was eliminated in five seconds – a Women’s Royal Rumble record, per Wikipedia. That brief moment became a meme but also opened the door to a full‑time role. The pattern: a quick elimination that played perfectly into her “dramatic, unlucky” character.

Timeline: Chelsea Green’s career milestones

• 2014–2019: Independent circuit and Impact Wrestling as Laurel Van Ness (Wikipedia).
• 2019: Won TNA Knockouts Championship (reported) (BodySlam).
• 2019–2021: First WWE stint (NXT and main roster) (Wikipedia).
• April 15, 2021: Released from WWE (Wikipedia).
• Late 2023: Re‑signed by WWE after Endeavor merger; returned in Royal Rumble.
• February 2026: Ankle fracture and wheelchair usage reported (Bleacher Report).
• December 2024: Became first Women’s United States Champion (WWE Superstar profile).

The timeline shows a clear pattern of setbacks followed by comebacks, with each injury and release paving the way for a stronger return.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

The distinction between confirmed and unclear helps readers gauge the reliability of each claim.

“I’ve always believed that the best way to get back at someone is to succeed. Being released gave me the chance to rebuild and come back stronger.”

— Chelsea Green, as quoted by Bleacher Report (paraphrased from post‑release interviews)

For wrestlers facing a release, the lesson from Green’s story is clear: use the gap to refine your persona, build an audience on independent platforms, and stay ready for a call that may come when the company’s priorities shift. For WWE, the decision to bring her back signals that character charisma – even a “hot mess” one – can outweigh past injury histories.

For more biographies, see Gucci Mane: From Legal Battles to Sobriety and Advocacy and Kate Moss: Rise, Controversy, and Legacy – Complete Biography.

After her sudden WWE release in 2023, she rebounded by launching an OnlyFans account and working her way back to the ring, as detailed in Chelsea Greens career timeline.

Frequently asked questions