As the inaugural Women’s United States Champion in WWE, Chelsea Green is enjoying the pinnacle of her wrestling career. However, her journey to the top wasn’t a smooth one. Before her rise in WWE, Green tried her luck on Tough Enough, the reality competition show that has launched many WWE careers.
In an interview with The Wrestling Classic, Green opened up about her experience on the show, acknowledging her struggles during the competition. “I did terribly,” she admitted with a laugh. “It only took me ten years to actually, like, get retribution, but we’re fine.”
Reflecting on her time on Tough Enough, Green shared her admiration for her fellow competitors, especially in terms of their wrestling abilities and appearance. “They had this like ‘je ne sais quoi’ about them,” Green said. “They were just so much more grown up in America.” She humorously added that she learned things like lip filler and Botox from the women, which she claimed Canadian women didn’t know at the time.
Despite her early struggles on the show, Green recognized the potential of her fellow competitors. “I knew while I was in it — these girls are meant to be stars,” she said. “So I wasn’t surprised when I left and a bunch of them got called back.”
Her Tough Enough experience was a formative one, helping her mature and understand the business. After her appearance on the show, Green honed her craft by working with promotions like TNA, Lucha Underground, and Ring of Honor, before eventually landing her WWE contract, where she has truly made her mark.
Credit: The Wrestling Classic (h/t Wrestling Inc. for transcription)