WWE superstar undergoes surgery after decade-long health battle

Chelsea Green, one of WWE’s most vibrant in-ring performers, recently opened up about a major health milestone.

The 35-year-old underwent heart surgery this week to treat a condition she has quietly battled for a decade. The news came direct from Green herself, who shared a candid update from her hospital bed as she begins recovery.

It’s a rare moment where the wrestling spotlight shifts from storylines and championship belts to a very real and personal health challenge.

For years, Green lived with a heart rhythm disorder called supraventricular tachycardia, or SVT, a problem that sometimes sent her heart racing uncontrollably. Recently, the condition surged into dangerous territory and pushed her to seek definitive medical treatment.

The moment that changed everything

Green’s latest bout with SVT occurred during one of WWE’s biggest events of the year. At WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, her heart rate spiked to an alarming 228 beats per minute and stayed there for almost 15 minutes.

That episode was not only intense and frightening, it marked the turning point for doctors to finally diagnose her condition after ten years of unexplained episodes.

Green described the experience in her own words online, recalling how the sudden surge felt and how it drove her and medical professionals to take action.

For someone who has spent her career training her body to perform at peak athletic levels, feeling her heart race out of control must have been unsettling.

In response, she underwent a three-hour procedure this week aimed at correcting the irregular electrical signals in her heart. The surgery was performed by a cardiologist identified as Dr. Girgis, and Green revealed that she remained awake for the final hour of the operation.

It was described as minimally invasive, and doctors are optimistic about a full recovery and her return to wrestling.

Through her updates, Chelsea Green expressed gratitude for the support of her husband, WWE wrestler Matt Cardona, who was by her side.

Pictures from the hospital also showed several gifts and flowers from friends and fans, a reminder of how warmly she is regarded by those in and out of the wrestling world.

A decade in the shadows

Supraventricular tachycardia isn’t a name most people know, but it’s a condition that can deeply affect daily life. SVT refers to episodes where the upper chambers of the heart start beating much faster than normal.

For a healthy adult, a resting heart rate typically stays between 60 and 100 beats per minute. In SVT, that number can jump dramatically, sometimes exceeding 200 beats per minute like it did for Green.

The Mayo Clinic describes SVT as an arrhythmia an abnormal rhythm and symptoms can include palpitations, chest discomfort, dizziness, shortness of breath and, in some cases, fainting or weakness.

These episodes can be frightening and unpredictable, especially for someone who needs precise physical control and endurance during performance.

Green had lived with these symptoms for years before doctors pinpointed the underlying issue. There were ups and downs, shifts in symptom severity, and long stretches where episodes were hard to predict or manage.

The breakthrough diagnosis came only after a particularly severe incident at WrestleMania, highlighting how testing and monitoring in medical settings may finally have captured what had eluded diagnosis before.

This struggle puts into perspective how athletes often push through pain or discomfort and why underlying health issues can remain hidden for years. For Green, the path to diagnosis was long, but the outcome now gives her and her medical team hope for a future where SVT doesn’t control her life or career.

Back on the mend with eyes on the ring

Recovery is now Green’s central focus.

She shared that the surgery went well and that early signs point to success in treating the arrhythmia. WWE fans and peers alike have responded with messages of encouragement, underscoring her popularity and the genuine concern her situation inspired across wrestling communities.

Despite this serious health episode, Green’s spirits appear intact. She used humor in her pre-surgery hospital posts and showed strength in sharing the process so openly.

That transparency is rare for public figures, and it helped shine light on the reality of living with a chronic condition like SVT.

The surgery followed a separate setback earlier this year  a fractured ankle that kept her out of action in the lead-up to WrestleMania 42.

That injury alone paused her momentum in WWE storylines and left fans wondering when she would return. Now, between recovery from surgery and rehabilitation for her ankle, she’s facing a period of healing rather than wrestling.

WWE has a long history of performers overcoming adversity, whether that comes from in-ring injuries or conditions that affect them outside the squared circle.

Green’s situation adds to that narrative, showing both the vulnerability and resilience of athletes who give so much physically and emotionally to entertain fans around the world.

Doctors described the procedure she underwent as minimally invasive, a term that suggests smaller incisions, reduced recovery time and less stress on the body compared with traditional open surgery.

This gives optimism that Green could return to professional wrestling sooner than some might expect, provided she completes a careful rehabilitation plan.

Chelsea Green’s openness about her health journey has already helped bring attention to supraventricular tachycardia, a condition many people might not understand or recognize in themselves.

Increased awareness could encourage others experiencing similar symptoms to seek medical evaluation.

What this means for her career

At 35, Green is in the prime years of her wrestling career. Her title history includes being a former two-time WWE Women’s United States Champion and notable stints across WWE, Impact Wrestling, and independent promotions.

Overcoming this health obstacle could be a defining chapter that adds to her legacy.

Fans have long admired her for her charisma and in-ring skills. Now, that admiration has grown deeper as many watch her recovery and look forward to her return.

The wrestling world often celebrates comebacks, and this one carries both physical and emotional weight as Green works toward stepping back into the spotlight.

While timelines for returns are never set in stone, especially for health reasons, early signs suggest Green’s competitive days may not be over. Her positive outlook and transparent updates have kept supporters engaged and hopeful for what comes next.

In the end, Chelsea Green’s journey from a decade of undiagnosed health issues to a successful surgery is a story of persistence, courage and community support.

It stands as a reminder that even the strongest performers can struggle privately, and that addressing health head-on can open the door to a stronger comeback than before.