Carmella (wrestler)

This article is about the wrestler who debuted in 2013. For the 2004 Diva Search contestant, see Carmella DeCesare.

Carmella
Carmella in 2019
Birth nameLeah Van Dale[1]
Born (1987-10-23) October 23, 1987 (age 36)
Spencer, Massachusetts, U.S.[2]
Alma materUniversity of Massachusetts Dartmouth[3]
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2022)​
Children1
FamilyPaul Van Dale (father)[4]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Carmella[5]
Billed height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[5]
Billed weight110 lb (50 kg)
Billed fromStaten Island[5]
Trained bySara Amato[4]
WWE Performance Center[1]
DebutJune 2013[1]

Leah Van Dale (born October 23, 1987) is an American professional wrestler, dancer and model. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs under the ring name Carmella. She is a former WWE SmackDown Women's Champion, WWE Women's Tag Team Champion and WWE 24/7 Champion. She is currently inactive due to maternity leave.

In June 2013, Van Dale signed a contract with WWE and was assigned to their developmental brand NXT in Orlando, Florida. In October 2014, she aligned herself with Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady,[6] becoming their manager.[7] In July 2016, she made her main roster debut on SmackDown.[8][9][10] In June 2017, Carmella became the winner of the inaugural women's Money in the Bank ladder match.[11][12] In April 2018, she became the first woman in WWE history to successfully cash-in her Money in the Bank opportunity, when she defeated Charlotte Flair to win the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship.[13] In 2019, Carmella won both the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal[14][15] and the WWE 24/7 Championship.[16] In November 2021, after being drafted to Raw as part of the 2021 Draft, Carmella formed an alliance with Queen Zelina and the two went on to win the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.[17]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference ReferenceA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sullivantele was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference patriots was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Varsallone was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c "Carmella". WWE. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  6. ^ Trionfo, Richard. "WWE NXT report: one move to win a match; a Diva debuts; Zayn versus Kidd; and an update on Mojo Rawley". PWInsider. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  7. ^ Trionfo, Richard (May 20, 2015). "LIVE ONGOING WWE NXT TAKEOVER UNSTOPPABLE REPORT: BAYLEY AND CHARLOTTE VERSUS DANA BROOKE AND EMMA". PWInsider. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  8. ^ Richard, Trionfo (July 19, 2016). "COMPLETE SMACKDOWN DRAFT REPORT: WHO WENT WHERE?, WHICH NXT WRESTLERS GOT PROMOTED?, WHO IS THE WWE CHAMPION GOING INTO BATTLEGROUND, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  9. ^ "2016 WWE Draft results: WWE officially ushers in New Era". WWE.com. July 19, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  10. ^ Richard, Trionfo (July 26, 2016). "WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: AMBROSE'S OPPONENT IS DETERMINED, A NEW FACE ON SMACKDOWN, SAY HELLO TO THE WOMEN'S DIVISION, A BATTLE ROYAL, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  11. ^ "Who emerged as the first-ever Ms. Money in the Bank?". Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  12. ^ "Carmella won the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match to become Ms. Money in the Bank". Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  13. ^ Konuwa, Alfred (April 10, 2018). "WWE SmackDown Live Results: Carmella Cashes In Money In The Bank Contract After Iconic Duo Debuts". Forbes. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  14. ^ "WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal Match". WWE. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  15. ^ Carapola, Stuart (April 7, 2019). "COMPLETE WRESTLEMANIA 35 KICKOFF SHOW COVERAGE". PWInsider.
  16. ^ Trionfo, Richard (September 23, 2019). "WWE RAW REPORT: THE SEASON FINALE, WHO FACES AJ NEXT WEEK?, A NEW TWIST FOR THE 24/7 TITLE, AND MORE". PWInsider.
  17. ^ Powell, Jason (November 22, 2021). "11/22 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of the Vince McMahon Cleopatra Egg whodunnit, Bobby Lahsley vs. Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio in a handicap match, Rhea Ripley and Nikki ASH vs. Queen Zelina and Carmella for the WWE Women's Tag Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 22, 2021.