The WWE universe erupted in jubilation as the company finally answered years of fan requests, introducing a mid-card title for its women’s division. On the November 8th episode of Friday Night SmackDown, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis unveiled the Women’s United States Championship, setting the stage for a tournament to crown the inaugural champion. This historic moment culminated at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14th, where Chelsea Green emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle against Michin, painting the championship gold in hues of red, white, and Green.
The final match was a testament to the talent and tenacity of both competitors. Michin, facing the combined force of Green and her tag team partner Piper Niven, displayed remarkable resilience and skill, briefly neutralizing the numerical disadvantage. However, Green’s cunning and in-ring prowess proved decisive. Capitalizing on a strategic opening, she transitioned off the turnbuckle and flawlessly executed her signature Unprettier, securing the pinfall and the coveted title.
The journey to the finals was an arduous one for both women, each navigating a challenging bracket filled with formidable opponents. Green’s path to victory included triumphs over Women’s Tag Team Champion Bianca Belair and rising star Blair Davenport in a triple threat match, followed by a semifinal victory against former WWE Women’s Champion Bayley. Michin’s road to the finals was equally impressive, marked by victories against Piper Niven and Lash Legend in the quarterfinals, and a hard-fought semifinal win against Ms. Money in the Bank, Tiffany Stratton. Regardless of the outcome, both Green and Michin were deemed the perfect choices to inaugurate the Women’s US Championship, not only for their exceptional wrestling abilities but also for their compelling, long-standing rivalry.
The history between Green and Michin stretches back years, adding a layer of personal intensity to their championship clash. Their rivalry first ignited in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2016, when Green, then competing under her first name, made her debut against Michin, who wrestled under the moniker Jade. Their paths continued to intertwine in WWE NXT, where they faced off in numerous tag team and singles matches. Green’s victory at Saturday Night’s Main Event marked her first singles win against Michin, shifting the overall score of their career encounters to 4-1 in Michin’s favor.
Chelsea Green’s journey to championship gold has been a testament to her perseverance and dedication. Starting her career in 2014 with Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling, Green honed her craft on the independent circuit, making sporadic appearances in WWE between 2014 and 2015 while also competing in TNA under the names Chelsea and Laurel Van Ness. In 2018, she officially joined WWE NXT, where she remained until 2020 before transitioning to SmackDown. Following a brief release in 2021, Green returned to WWE as a participant in the 2023 Royal Rumble. Though her Rumble appearance was short-lived, she quickly re-established herself as a prominent figure in the women’s division, showcasing both her in-ring talent and her comedic timing, particularly in her partnership with Piper Niven. The Women’s US Championship is a significant milestone for Green, representing her first singles title in WWE, adding to her previous accolades, including the Impact Knockouts Championship, the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championship, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
The establishment of the Women’s United States Championship signifies a pivotal moment in WWE history, addressing the long-standing desire for greater depth and opportunity within the women’s division. The championship’s introduction not only provides another prestigious title to be contested but also elevates the profiles of talented performers like Chelsea Green and Michin, allowing them to showcase their skills on a larger stage. The intense rivalry between these two exceptional athletes served as the perfect launchpad for this new era, promising a bright future for the Women’s US Championship and the continued evolution of women’s wrestling in WWE.
