Chelsea Green Reveals Backstage Details On Matt Cardona’s Return And John Cena’s Influence
Chelsea Green is currently enjoying a prominent run in WWE, holding the United States Women’s Championship while navigating a busy schedule. During a recent interview, she opened up about her husband, Matt Cardona (formerly Zack Ryder), returning to WWE programming to interact with John Cena, and how the moment came to be.
Speaking on the Unlikely podcast, Green revealed that Cardona’s return was not something that had been locked in for a long time. She explained the chaotic nature of professional wrestling booking, noting that plans often come together at the last minute. According to Green, Cardona found out he was needed for SmackDown the very same day the show was taking place.
“We didn’t really know what was happening until the very last moment,” Green said. “It can be in talks for months, or it can be in talks for 24 hours. Either way, when they call you, you pick up the phone and then you get on a plane. And it’s the same with Ethan Page coming to Smackdown. Ethan found out that day, the day of SmackDown, that he needed to fly in, and he literally had enough time to gather his suit and come. That was the same with Matt… We figured it out last minute he was coming.”
The “Perfect Storm” For A Return
Green noted that despite the suddenness of the booking, Cardona has maintained contact with WWE leadership throughout his five years away from the company. She credited a combination of persistence from herself, Cardona, and John Cena for making the on-screen reunion happen. Green emphasized that Cardona’s personal history with Cena made the interaction logical for the storyline.
“He’s been in contact with WWE constantly the whole five years,” Green explained. “He’s always making sure that Triple H knows what he’s doing, or that he’s available for a Rumble and things like that. And so I just think it was a perfect storm of like this made the most sense, because he does have a personal friendship and relationship with John Cena. So why wouldn’t he want to be John Cena’s final opponent? And so it worked perfectly. Between me pestering WWE, between John Cena pestering WWE and Matt pestering WWE, they caved, and it worked.”
John Cena’s Influence And Advice
Beyond the recent television angle, Green spoke highly of the advice and support she has received from John Cena during his current run. She highlighted the value of his feedback, noting that the 16-time World Champion is intentional with his words and does not offer praise or critique lightly.
“This run for me, in particular, his run and my run, it’s been really special because I have been able to be there at so many of his shows, and vice versa,” Green said. “I’ve been able to come back and have him watch my match and talk about it… One thing about John Cena is he doesn’t waste his breath on anyone. So when he gives you advice, it’s thought out, and it’s articulated in a way where he is not wasting his time or your time… For him to just take that moment to tell me how he feels, it’s game changing.”
Green also confirmed her intentions regarding Cena’s eventual retirement match, stating simply, “I’m going to be there for his final match.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Unlikely with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can watch the full interview on the Unlikely YouTube channel.
