13 years within the making

Chelsea Green shared an emotional reaction to her victory at WWE SummerSlam 2026. The Hot Mess won a ladder match to become the interim WWE Women’s Champion.

The veteran shared a video on her Instagram story and reacted to her title win at the PLE. Chelsea Green noted that her title win was 13 years in the making and that she was very grateful to be able to hold the title.

“I am so overwhelmed with emotion. I feel like this is 13 years in the making, and I’m very grateful that you guys have all kind of come on this journey with me, and that you gave me the reaction that you did in Minneapolis yesterday. It is definitely a moment that I am never going to forget, and I can’t wait to tell my future children about it,” she said.

Green was the inaugural Women’s United States Champion but had never won a major title in the promotion before SummerSlam. Rhea Ripley defeated Jade Cargill to become WWE Women’s Champion at WrestleMania 42 but is out of action with an injury, and the company decided to name an interim champion while she recovered.

Chelsea Green delivers message after WWE SummerSlam win

SmackDown star Chelsea Green boasted about her victory after the ladder match at SummerSlam 2026.

The champion cut a promo on the entrance ramp following her win and claimed that she was the underdog in the match. The 35-year-old also noted the incredible reaction she got from the WWE Universe after the victory and claimed that they were all cheering for the underdog in the ladder match.

“Told you. It was a win win for me, no matter what happened. I am the underdog. Nobody believed in me, except for seventy thousand people in that arena. Look what happens when you cheer for the underdog,” she said.

Chelsea Green is married to Matt Cardona, formerly known as Zack Ryder, in real life. Cardona returned to the promotion in January 2026 but was not booked for a match at SummerSlam over the weekend. It will be interesting to see when Rhea Ripley returns to confront Green in the weeks ahead.