Zelina Vega has been crowned as the new Women’s United States title holder after defeating Chelsea Green on SmackDown Friday, ending the inaugural reign of the championship. The LWO member scored non-title victories against Green in recent weeks, and as a result, she was given a shot to compete for the title. Vega made the most of the moment in the biggest win of her wrestling career.
Green’s Secret Hervice was kicked out from ringside, readying for a move when Vega hit the Code Red. She got the pin to win her first WWE singles championship and was visibly emotional as she held up the title. Green–the first winner of the title after winning it at Saturday Night’s Main Event back in December–had her reign end at 142 days.
Ahead of the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, Vega told USA TODAY Sports she hoped the Women’s United States Championship was in her future after, having spent the majority of her career falling just short of gold. After she was briefly let go by WWE in November 2020, she has been with the company for nearly eight years.
The former Women’s Tag Team Champion said she loved that WWE decided to introduce the mid-card championship because of how much it benefited the stacked women’s division.
“It’s a nice feeling when you have something else to chase, it’s a nice recognition for the other women, giving them other stories that they get to mix it up with in a way that they haven’t before.” Vega said. “I think it’s amazing.”
