Chelsea Green Defends Michael Hayes, Credits Michael Hayes for Her Interim WWE Women’s Title Win

During a recent interview with Shakiel Mahjouri for CBS Sports, newly crowned Interim WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green discussed her title win and criticism toward WWE producer and creative team member Michael Hayes. Fans will recall how Hayes infamously stated on WWE: Unreal that Green’s job was to build to other stars rather than become one herself.

Green came to Hayes’ defense, crediting Hayes’ comments for lighting a fire under her and being the reason that she’s champion right now. She also claimed that Hayes is bluntly honest and spoke the truth. Below are some highlights of Green’s comments from CBS Sports:

Chelsea Green on Michael Hayes

“That clip on ‘Unreal’ is part of why I’m sitting here with this title on my shoulder right now. But I want to make sure everyone knows Michael Hayes has supported me since the minute I got to WWE. He’s the only person that is so blatantly honest, so blunt that he always, always provides the truth, whether I want to hear it or not.”

On Dedicating Her Title Win to Hayes

“He can dish it, but he can also take it. I sent him a text this morning, ‘Have you seen that I dedicated the title to you?’ He loved it. He was laughing. He is such a good sport. And I wish that what he said wasn’t cropped and edited to make it seem like that’s all he said because I know in my heart that he probably had a million kind things to say about me. At the end of the day, what he said was the truth. It was the truth in that moment. It was his truth. It was Creative’s truth. It might have been Triple H’s truth, I don’t know. I’m totally glad he said it. No regrets.”

On Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton Hanging Back and Applauding Her Win as She Celebrated

“When I saw that angle. It was very sweet because, at the end of the day, I love the love and support I get from my fans, but what really matters is the love, support, and respect that my coworkers and peers have for me because if I wasn’t a good person, if I hadn’t lifted them when they needed it, if I wasn’t bumping for them and helping their storylines progress, I don’t think they would be doing that for me. I’m so glad that a fan caught that moment for me and that I was able to see it because there’s so much that was going on in that moment. But what really matters is that people in this business like me enough to stick around and watch me win the title.”

Chelsea Green on Being Interim Champion

“It feels like the real deal to me, and you know why? It’s because of the reaction I got when I pulled the title down. That is a moment I cannot wait to tell my future kids about. It’s a moment I know my mom, my dad, and my sister will replay in their heads forever.”

WWE held a Ladder Match to crown an interim champion as reigning WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is currently sidelined with a knee injury. The bout also featured Charlotte Flair, Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, and Lash Legend.