Chelsea Green has firmly established herself as a prominent figure in WWE, yet the company seems to neglect an important aspect of her personal life. Despite her rising status and significant presence on WWE programming, the connection to her family, especially her marriage to former WWE star Matt Cardona, remains largely unacknowledged by WWE.
Chelsea Green, alongside her stablemates Piper Niven and Alba Fyre known as the Secret Hervice, is a consistent performer on SmackDown, with appearances on Raw and NXT as well. Green’s versatile character offers both humor and intensity, captivating WWE audiences regularly. Her Women’s US Championship victory in December 2024 was highlighted in the WWE Unreal documentary on Netflix, which followed her career journey and included moments of her dismay for being left out of the Survivor Series roster despite the event taking place near her hometown of Vancouver.
However, the documentary omitted any mention of Green’s husband, Matt Cardona. Cardona, a former WWE star known widely as Zack Ryder, was with WWE for 15 years before his release in 2020. Since then, he has thrived in the independent wrestling circuit and appears frequently on TNA without an official contract. WWE’s lack of acknowledgment of Cardona during the coverage of Green’s career has sparked frustration from him. When Green won the Women’s US Title at a Long Island event—Cardona’s hometown—he was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts but noted that his family was there to support her.
“I was so grateful that my family got to be there for her because I was working in California, actually in LA for GCW, you know, like our schedules are so busy, you know, we support each other, but we can’t be at each other’s shows, we’re actually wrestling. But to see her featured on that Unreal show, super proud of her. It’s weird because if you watch it, it seems like she does not have a husband at all there. Like I brought my whole family over. If you pause one of the scenes, though, when she’s in her closet, you can see my entrance vest in the background.”
—Matt Cardona, Former WWE Superstar
Cardona expressed his appreciation for his family’s support during Green’s title win while acknowledging their hectic schedules as professional wrestlers, which often prevent them from attending each other’s matches. Yet, he found WWE’s omission of his involvement in Green’s life surprising, noting the subtle presence of his entrance vest in a closet scene as the only clue of their relationship in the documentary.
Chelsea Green’s Upcoming Match at WWE NXT Heatwave
Green continues to maintain a demanding schedule in WWE. Recently seen at ringside during SmackDown in Dublin, Ireland, she assisted Piper Niven in a victory over Charlotte Flair by covertly targeting Flair’s eyes, leading to a surprise win for Niven. Green is preparing for her next appearance at <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wwe/nxt/”>WWE NXT Heatwave, held in Lowell, Massachusetts, where she will team up with fellow Canadian and NXT North American Champion Ethan Page. They will face the team of Tavion Heights and Tyra Mae Steele.
The full card for WWE NXT Heatwave includes several prominent matches:
1. NXT Championship Bout: Oba Femi versus Je’Von Evans
2. Jordynne Grace against Blake Monroe
3. TNA Knockouts Championship Triple Threat: Jacy Jayne (c) versus Ash By Elegance versus Masha Slamovich
4. NXT Tag Team Championships: Hank and Tank versus two members of Darkstate
5. Tag Team Match: Ethan Page and Chelsea Green versus Tavion Heights and Tyra Mae Steele
The NXT Heatwave event will stream live on Sunday, August 24, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Peacock in the United States and on Netflix internationally.
Additional Developments in WWE and AEW
Meanwhile, WWE and AEW continue to make news with several significant updates. CM Punk has addressed a long-standing question that fans have been eager to hear about, providing clarity after intense speculation. AEW appears ready to progress without Chris Jericho, indicating a shift in the company’s future plans.
WWE saw a major Raw star make a surprise appearance on SmackDown, adding intrigue to the ongoing storylines. Additionally, an unusual incident involving Roman Reigns’ driver—who recently earned “Driver of the Year”—sparked notable discussion within wrestling circles.
Veteran wrestler Cody Rhodes shared insights into how advice from Paul Heyman has influenced his rise within WWE’s ranks, emphasizing the impact of mentorship from industry leaders. In a revealing personal story, Charlotte Flair disclosed her past desire to date Randy Orton, a revelation that ended in heartbreak.
Offstage dynamics among WWE stars also came to light, with an unpopular wrestler expressing ambitions to replace John Cena as the locker room leader. Meanwhile, an iconic WWE tag team is contemplating retirement—contingent on the outcome of an upcoming pivotal title match.
WWE’s Overlook of Chelsea Green’s Family Amid Rising Career
The ongoing disregard for Chelsea Green’s familial ties, particularly her marriage to Matt Cardona, underscores a broader disconnect between WWE’s portrayal of its talent and their personal lives. While WWE celebrates Green’s achievements and charisma, overlooking her connection to Cardona, a respected veteran of the wrestling world, diminishes a full understanding of her background and support system.
Highlighting this gap becomes especially important as Green’s career gains momentum, including critical matchups like the upcoming NXT Heatwave appearance. Cardona’s vocal response to WWE’s silence may spark more attention to how the company addresses wrestlers’ off-screen relationships moving forward.
With Green and Cardona both active in prominent wrestling circuits, and WWE strengthening key event storylines, this family oversight could become a talking point among fans and insiders, potentially encouraging WWE to provide a more comprehensive narrative in future coverage. As WWE continues to feature Green prominently, acknowledging her family connections may add depth to her story and appeal.
