Chelsea Anne Green (born April 4, 1991) is a Canadian professional wrestler and model. She is currently signed to WWE where she performs on the NXT brand under her real name. She is best known for her time with Impact Wrestling under the ring name Laurel Van Ness, where she is a former Impact Knockouts Champion; and Lucha Underground as Reklusa. Green also wrestled on the independent circuit under her real name. In 2015, she was a contestant on WWE’s Tough Enough.
Professional wrestling career
WWE
Early appearances and Tough Enough (2014–2015)
During the feud between Brie Bella and Stephanie McMahon, Green appeared on August 11, 2014, episode of Raw, portraying Daniel Bryan’s physical therapist Megan Miller, confessing that the two had been having an affair before an infuriated Bella stormed the ring and slapped her.
In 2015, Green reappeared under her real name, as a contestant on the sixth season of the re-launched Tough Enough finishing in fourth place for the females.
NXT (2018–present)
In 2018, Chelsea took part in the WWE tryouts and was signed on August 3, 2018. Chelsea started at the WWE performance center on October 8, 2018 and made her NXT in-ring debut at a live event on October 26, 2018, competing under her familiar “psychotic” gimmick. However, she suffered a broken wrist during her first TV match on the March 13, 2019, NXT TV tapings, and underwent surgery the following day on March 14 Green returned to the ring on June 29 at a NXT live event.
Green appeared on the December 23, 2019 edition of Raw, competing in a losing effort against Charlotte Flair. On January 8, 2020 she was announced as the first member of professional wrestling manager Robert Stone’s stable. On January 26, Green competed in the women’s Royal Rumble match at the pay-per-view of the same name, which was eventually won by Flair. On the March 4 episode of NXT, Green defeated Shotzi Blackheart to qualify for a Ladder match at Takeover Tampa Bay to determine the #1 contender for the NXT Women’s Championship. on the May 6 episode of NXT, Green defeated Xia Li. on the May 27 episode of NXT, Green and Charlotte Flair defeated Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai. After the match, she fired Robert Stone.
Lucha Underground (2018)
Green debuted during the fourth season tapings of Lucha Underground on February 25, 2018 under the name Reklusa. She was involved in a fatal four-Way with Jeremiah Crane, XO Lishus, and Marty “The Moth” Martinez. On October 10, Reklusa lost to Pentagón Dark in the main event.
Independent circuit (2014–2018)
Under the ring name Jaida, she wrestled on for Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling (ECCW). Her first match on May 31, 2014, at ECCW Better Than You. She teamed with Brady Malibu and MR2 in a losing six-man tag match against Billy Suede, Kenny Lush & Nicole Matthews. She next joined a Women’s title tournament, winning the first round against Kaitlin Diamond. On December 8, 2014, at the conclusion of the Women’s title tournament held at ECCW Payoff, she defeated Kate Carney in the semi-finals.
In 2016, Green toured Japan twice for World Wonder Ring Stardom (WWRS). Her first tour was three months long but was cut short by a broken collarbone while wrestling in India. Green’s second tour of Japan was in late 2016, where she teamed with Santana Garrett for the 2016 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League. During this tour, Green also challenged Wonder of Stardom Champion Kairi Hojo to a match but lost. Green was undefeated in singles bouts in Japan, prior to her loss to Hojo.
Queens of Combat 17 on February 18, 2017 saw the start of the QOC Tag Team Championship tournament to crown the first QOC Tag Team Champions. Van Ness teamed with Taeler Hendrix and defeated Aja Perera and Kiera Hogan in the first round. At Queens of Combat 18, also on February 18, they defeated Nevaeh and Rachael Ellering in the semi-finals. Hendrix and Van Ness defeated The Lucha Sisters (Leva Bates and Mia Yim) to become the first QOC Tag Team Champions.
At All In, Green wrestled Britt Baker, Madison Rayne, and Tessa Blanchard in a Four corner survival match in a losing effort.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling / Impact Wrestling (2016–2018)
On January 7, 2016, Green made her TNA debut under the ring name Chelsea, losing to Jade. The following night on January 8 at TNA One Night Only: Live!, she wrestled in a number one contender’s gauntlet battle royal match for the TNA Knockouts Championship, entering the ongoing match at number four before being eliminated by Awesome Kong.
In June, Green officially signed with TNA. She made her televised debut as a heel on the September 29 episode of Impact Wrestling under the new ring name Laurel Van Ness, defeating Madison Rayne. On the October 20 episode of Impact Wrestling, Van Ness attacked Allie which lead to a match between the two where Van Ness was victorious. She attacked Allie again the following week, which led to another match between the two on the December 8 episode of Impact Wrestling, Van Ness was defeated.
In late 2016, Van Ness formed an on-screen relationship with Braxton Sutter. On February 23, 2017, the two were set to marry-until Van Ness got rejected by Sutter during their wedding when he professed that he was in love with Allie (who is Sutter’s legitimate wife). The following week of Impact Wrestling, the Lady Squad quietly disbanded when former leader Maria’s contract expired.
In March, Van Ness started a maniacal gimmick, competing in her trashed wedding dress and make-up, wrestling barefoot and carrying a wine bottle. Grado tried to propose to her on July 27, however, he was interrupted by Kongo Kong.
On the August 24 episode of Impact, Van Ness came out all cleaned up, during Grado’s deportation farewell address. She then took out a ring, asked Grado if he wanted to marry her and he said yes, establishing herself as a babyface for the first time in her TNA career. After Grado found out that Van Ness was Canadian however, he called off the wedding on the September 7 episode of Impact. Van Ness began turning heel when she reverted to her psychotic gimmick, which later included going out in the crowd and campaigning for a husband. On November 5, at Bound for Glory, the evil Van Ness attacked Grado during his Monster’s Ball match against Abyss, cementing herself as a villainess once again, only to be on the receiving end of Rosemary’s mist.
On November 8, which aired on a tape delay on December 14, Van Ness defeated Rosemary in a tournament final for the vacant Impact Knockouts Championship. During that time she also returned to her normal ring gear leaving the wedding dress but continuing with her psychotic gimmick. Reportedly, after winning the title, Green asked for her release from Impact Wrestling, but the company refused to release her with the title. On January 15, 2018, Green was officially granted her release from the promotion after she finished out the television tapings, where she lost the Knockouts Championship to Allie.