5 main roster WWE stars who are married to wrestlers outside the company
Many couples are currently active in WWE, including Jimmy Uso and Naomi, Tiffany Stratton and Ludwig Kaiser, and Bianca Belair and Montez Ford. While some duos work on the same brand, others are split between different shows.
Some WWE main roster superstars are also married to wrestlers who do not work for the Stamford-based company. One of the promotion's biggest names is the wife of a current AEW star. A top champion is also wedded to a top name on the independent circuit.
Check out five main roster stars who are married to wrestlers outside the company below:
#5. Nikki Cross
Since 2016, Nikki Cross has been part of WWE. The 35-year-old is now a member of The Wyatt Sicks on the Monday Night RAW roster. Meanwhile, she is married to independent wrestler Big Damo (FKA Killian Dain).
Damo spent five years in the Stamford-based company. However, the 39-year-old was released from his contract in 2021. He has since been active on the independent circuit. The former SAnitY member also made a few appearances on AEW and TNA.
#4. Michin
Michin officially signed with WWE in 2018, a few months after her husband, Keith Lee, joined the company. The couple remained together in the promotion until 2021, when they were both released from their contracts.
While the former TNA Knockouts Champion returned to the Stamford-based company in November 2022, her husband did not. Instead, he joined AEW earlier that same year. The 40-year-old has since held the AEW World Tag Team Championship once. However, he has been out of action for nearly a year due to injury.
In a recent interview with Zaslow Show 2.0, the former O.C. member pointed out that her husband continues to support her as he recovers from his injury at home:
"So, he has been out for a while now with an injury. So, I haven't been able to watch any of his stuff recently but will always me, well, like, 'Hey, when are you on? I wanna make sure that I can get home and watch your match. He'll always give me feedback," she said. [15:08 - 15:29]
Michin disclosed that her husband waited for her to return home to watch her Women's United States Championship match against Chelsea Green together to give her feedback, claiming his pointers help her to become better.
#3. Zelina Vega
Like Michin, Zelina Vega is married to an AEW star. The former Women's Tag Team Champion's husband, Malakai Black, had a five-year run in WWE between 2016 and 2021. After getting released from his contract, the former NXT Champion joined Tony Khan's promotion four years ago.
In an interview with Seconds Out last year, the 33-year-old LWO member expressed her desire to see her husband return to the Stamford-based company:
"[Would you want him back in WWE?] Absolutley. Yeah, absolutely. I mean any extra time that I can spend with my husband is the better," she said.
While Black has not competed in nearly a month, his wife recently lost a Triple Threat Match in the first round of the Women's Intercontinental Championship tournament on RAW.
#2. WWE Women's United States Champion Chelsea Green
Despite playing a heel character on-screen, Chelsea Green is arguably one of the most popular female superstars currently on the WWE main roster. She recently became the inaugural Women's United States Champion after beating Michin at Saturday Night's Main Event.
The 33-year-old is married to former superstar Matt Cardona (FKA Zack Ryder). The former Intercontinental Champion spent about 15 years in the Stamford-based company before getting released in 2020. He has since had massive success on the independent circuit, becoming The Indy God.
Last August, Green disclosed in an interview with Gabby AF that she would like her husband to reunite with her in WWE:
"I mean, I definitely want him in WWE. We've had the craziest two years. I've been on the road so much, so busy, and he's been the busiest he's ever been. We're not even seeing each other that much, which is also crazy. But, at the end of the day, I know where his heart lies and his heart lies in WWE. He always wanted to be a WWE Superstar; he didn't want to be anything else. He didn't grow up wanting to be an independent wrestler, he didn't grow up wanting some other job. He grew up wanting to be a WWE Superstar. He wanted to be Macho Man [Randy Savage], he wanted to be Hulk [Hogan], he wanted to be Booker T," she said. [H/T: WrestlingInc.]
Cardona has not closed the door on a potential return to the company. He recently claimed he would make a difference if he made his comeback.
#1. Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley started dating former WWE Superstar Buddy Matthews in 2022, a year after the latter was released from the Stamford-based company. The former Cruiserweight Champion had a seven-year stint in the promotion. He has since joined AEW.
In June 2024, the former Women's World Champion and her real-life partner tied the knot. In a recent interview with TV Insider, Ripley spoke about her husband's reaction to her romance storylines:
"There is a level of respect. Luckily for me, [my husband] Buddy [Matthews] is in the business, so he knows what goes on and is needed from us. He understands my schedule, storylines, everything. He gets it. He was in the same sort of thing with Aalyah Mysterio. I feel like us keeping communication of what is going on is the level of respect that is needed between an actual relationship and an onscreen relationship. He knows I love him, and I feel safe with him. And he feels safe with me, nothing will change that." [H/T: TVInsider]
Buddy Matthews recently addressed the rumors suggesting he may be returning to WWE. He claimed social media speculations do not impact anything.