Michael Hayes recently expressed doubts about Chelsea Green’s potential to reach the top in WWE during the second season of WWE: Unreal, sparking strong reactions from fans and Green alike. Despite Hayes’ critical remarks, Green disclosed that he later apologized to her, addressing the controversy directly. This revelation came during her appearance on the Nikki & Brie podcast, where she shared insights about the incident and the support she has received from influential figures in wrestling.
Chelsea Green Discusses Hayes’ Apology and The Undertaker’s Support
Green explained on the podcast how Hayes’ words felt limiting but that they had since resolved their disagreement. She also highlighted the encouragement she has received from The Undertaker, a legendary wrestler who has supported her career:
“Everyone got so upset about what Michael Hayes said about me. Was he putting me down? Was he putting a ceiling on me? Yes. Michael Hayes has already apologized to me, and we talked about it. I know Undertaker has had my back for a long time. He even booked me to win the AAA Mixed Tag Team Titles, so he believed in me long before Michael Hayes made those comments.”
— Chelsea Green
Green also reflected on the rarity of female wrestlers gaining sustained fan favoritism, citing names like Rhea Ripley and Stephanie Vaquer as examples. She described how meaningful it was to hear The Undertaker defend her:
“Looking The Undertaker say my name and stick up for little old me, and say it with that much conviction, meant a lot. He had even told me the same thing in a text. I feel like he really went out of his way to show how he felt.”
— Chelsea Green
Insights Into Chelsea Green’s Alternate WWE Character That Was Never Used
During an interview on the Ghost of Hollywood podcast, Chelsea Green revealed that WWE initially developed an alternative character for her, designed to be an edgy, grunge-inspired persona from LA’s Silverlake neighborhood. This creative concept was crafted with input from Rob Fee, a WWE creative employee with strong ties to the Los Angeles film scene. Green described the character as a dramatic departure from her true self:
“We actually had this really cool grunge alternative character planned. We have a creative genius, Rob Fee, who is an LA guy and very much into the movie scene in LA. He works for WWE, and he helped me flesh out this character. I was going to be an LA girl from Silverlake. Grungy, smokes cigarettes. It was so cool and so different from who I am because I do feel like I’m a nerd wrapped in a different package.”
— Chelsea Green
However, this planned character was abandoned just before her Royal Rumble debut. Instead, Green was asked to appear as herself, which left her uncertain about how to proceed. On short notice, she was assigned a “Karen” character, a portrayal she initially approached with humor and spontaneity:
“When I came back, they were like, ‘Actually, today, you’re not going to that. Today, you’re just going to be (you).’ I’m like, ‘Oh s***. Who am I? What’s me? I’m just a white girl from Canada who wears sparkles.’ I was panicking. I was about to go to the Royal Rumble, and I read on the shirtsheets, right before I was about to go out for the Royal Rumble, maybe two hours before my debut, that they had talked about doing a Karen character for me.”
— Chelsea Green
“‘This is not what we had spoken about, but this is something I can do.’ I spoke to them and asked, ‘Can I just be in there for a record time?’ ‘Yeah, run in, and Rhea will toss you out.’ I looked at Rhea said, ‘If you don’t get me out in record time, I’m going to be so upset with you.’ It was our funny thing. When I went in, we looked at each other like, ‘Let’s f****** go.’ She tossed me out, and I played up the Karen character. That snowballed into what it is now.”
— Chelsea Green
“That is how I am who I am now. The camera came on me after Rhea tossed me out, and I went into autopilot of who I thought this Karen character might be. I didn’t really have time to flesh that out. Week by week, we built on that, and nobody ever told me what they wanted out of it.”
— Chelsea Green
Context on Michael Hayes’ Wrestling Legacy
Michael Hayes, known by his ring name Michael P.S. (Purely Sexy) Hayes, is widely recognized as a foundational member of The Fabulous Freebirds, a highly influential wrestling group. His role in the industry, particularly within WWE’s history, has been significant, and his criticisms often resonate within the wrestling community. Despite this, his apology to Green demonstrates a willingness to address disagreements personally.
Implications for Chelsea Green’s Career and Wrestling Fans
Michael Hayes’ public apology and Green’s openness about it illustrate the complexities faced by wrestlers navigating both internal dynamics and fan perception. Green’s experience underscores how wrestlers can shift personas and overcome obstacles, including criticism from established figures. The support from The Undertaker further reinforces the importance of mentorship and belief in a wrestler’s potential.
Looking ahead, Green’s candid reflections and evolving character portrayals contribute to ongoing discussions about representation and growth within WWE, signaling potential new directions for her and other performers seeking to leave a lasting impact.
