The wrestling world was stunned when WWE’s massive talent cuts hit in April 2021, but Chelsea Green had a three-minute head start thanks to an unexpected phone call from her future husband. What could have been a career-crushing blindside became a calculated pivot, all because Matt Cardona somehow knew what was coming.
The Three-Minute Warning That Changed Everything
Picture this: you’re sitting in your kitchen having tea with a friend when your phone rings with news that your WWE career is about to end. That’s exactly what happened to Chelsea Green, except she got the ultimate insider tip from the most unexpected source.
Speaking on the “Lightweights Podcast,” Green revealed the surreal moment that prepared her for WWE’s axe. Her now-husband Matt Cardona delivered the news that would have otherwise caught her completely off guard.
“I got very lucky because Matt called me like three minutes before I was fired and said ‘You’re about to get fired. I don’t know how [he knew]. I’m so glad he did because it just gave me a split second in my kitchen – I was with Santana Garrett – to regroup and be like ‘How am I going to handle this?'”
An Awkward Kitchen Conversation
The timing couldn’t have been more uncomfortable. Green found herself in an impossible situation with fellow wrestler Santana Garrett sitting right there, creating a tension-filled atmosphere that would make anyone squirm.
Green painted the awkward picture perfectly, describing the internal chaos running through her mind as she waited for the official call. The uncertainty of whether she was flying solo or if her friend would join her in unemployment made those final moments even more excruciating.
“It’s awkward. I’m sitting there with one of my girl friends like is she going to get fired? Is it just going to be me? Either way, it’s awkward. If it’s just me, that’s awkward because now I’m fired in front of my friend who’s sitting there having tea with me. Or are we both going to get fired? That’s f***ing awkward too, then we’re both fired and we both don’t have jobs.”
From Pity Party to Power Move
When WWE officials made the official call, Green allowed herself exactly 30 seconds of disappointment before switching into business mode. This wasn’t about dwelling on what was lost – it was about seizing what could be gained.
Santana Garrett gracefully exited, giving Green the space she needed to process and plan. Within moments, Green was already strategizing her next career moves, proving that champions are made in how they handle adversity.
Green immediately created a target list of wrestling promotions she’d never worked for, including Ring of Honor and NWA. This wasn’t random wishful thinking – it was calculated career planning at its finest.
The Smart Money Play
Here’s where Green’s business acumen really shone through. Instead of sitting out WWE’s standard 90-day non-compete clause, she negotiated with the company to forfeit part of her remaining pay in exchange for immediate wrestling freedom.
This bold financial sacrifice paid off quickly when Green made her Ring of Honor debut just three months later in July 2021. By taking a short-term financial hit, she positioned herself for long-term career success across multiple promotions.
The move demonstrated that sometimes the best investment you can make is in yourself, even when it costs you money upfront.
Chelsea Green’s story proves that in wrestling, as in life, it’s not about avoiding the hits – it’s about how quickly you get back up and start swinging. Her three-minute head start turned what could have been a career setback into a launching pad for new opportunities. But the big question remains: how exactly did Matt Cardona know what was coming, and who else might have received similar warnings during WWE’s talent purge?
