Former WWE Women’s Champion Layla believes Chelsea Green should have been allowed to celebrate her SummerSlam victory without the “interim” label attached to her championship.
Green became the Interim WWE Women’s Champion at SummerSlam after winning a five-way ladder match against Tiffany Stratton, Charlotte Flair, Jade Cargill and Lash Legend. WWE introduced the title while Rhea Ripley remains sidelined following knee surgery.
Speaking on TMZ’s Inside The Ring, Layla questioned WWE’s decision to complicate what she felt should have been a straightforward championship moment.
“I don’t get it. The champion or not the champion? Just make a choice.”
Layla made it clear that her issue was not with Green being elevated to the championship. In fact, she praised the 34-year-old and said she deserved the opportunity after spending years building her career.
“I’m a fan of Chelsea Green,” Layla said. “She reminds me of the Diva era. She’s so entertaining and well deserved. She deserved this moment.”
The former champion particularly took issue with the distinction between Green being a champion and an interim champion.
“I don’t like the fact that they put interim and then they put Chelsea Green as a champion. Why can’t they just say she’s the women’s champion? Just let her have her moment,” Layla added.
Nick Aldis gave Chelsea Green 30 days to recover from any injury
(Photo by Michael Owens/WWE via Getty Images)
Chelsea Green will have an opportunity to remain WWE Women’s Champion despite her recent injury.
On the August 14 episode of SmackDown, General Manager Nick Aldis initially told Green that she would have to relinquish the championship after WWE medical personnel determined that she could not compete with her broken orbital bone. The situation changed after an emotional plea from Green.
Green suffered the injury one week earlier during a tag team match with Tiffany Stratton against Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid. She was taken to the hospital following the match and later confirmed that she had fractured the orbital bone around her right eye.
When Aldis confronted her on SmackDown, Green argued that she had worked too hard to reach the top of WWE to simply surrender the championship. She eventually handed the title to Aldis, appearing to accept the decision.
However, Aldis stopped her before she left the ring.
The SmackDown General Manager reversed course and gave Green 30 days to recover, receive medical clearance and defend her championship.
