Despite her not being seen in WWE for over a year now, there is still no doubt that Carmella was one of the most underrated wrestlers in the company at the time that she was competing. She began her career first as a manager in NXT, but she grew to outdo the tag team that she was managing.
From there, she grew into her own on the main roster of WWE. Whether as a heel or a babyface, Carmella showed that she had everything it takes to be a major star. There is no doubt that she will eventually be back, but here is her story so far.
| Birth Name | Leah Van Dale |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | October 23, 1987 |
| Age | 36 |
| Birthplace | Spencer, Massachusetts, USA |
| WWE Run | 2013-Present |
| WWE Accomplishments |
|
She Spent Three Seasons With The Patriots
Before she even stepped foot into a WWE ring, Carmella was focused on another career. She was pursuing cheerleading and actually found a lot of success for herself.
For about three years, she was a part of the New England Patriots’ cheerleading team. Her tenure there ended in 2010, but she looked towards another team in a whole other league.
She Was A Laker Girl In 2010-11
She Almost Joined WWE Years Before Her Debut
After her time with the New England Patriots, Carmella did dabble with possibly joining WWE. She even applied to be on Tough Enough, the now defunct reality TV series where WWE searched for their next big star. However, Carmella withdrew from the program due to an offer from the NBA.
Carmella joined the Los Angeles Lakers as a Laker Girl. She lived in LA for a while and was a part of the cheerleading team from 2010-2011. However, eventually, she found her way to WWE in 2013.
Carmella Got Her Start In NXT
She Was The Queen Of Staten Island
Carmella joined WWE in September 2013 and was quickly brought onto television in NXT. She debuted as a hairdresser from Staten Island. She also drew inspiration for her character of Carmella Soprano who was portrayed by Edie Falco from HBO’s The Sopranos.
The character worked perfectly when paired up with Big Cass and Enzo Amore, one of NXT’s biggest and most popular teams at the time. She was their valet and was also carving out her own place in the NXT women’s division. It was a great start to her career.
Her Feud With Nikki Bella Helped Establish Her
It Was Her First Major Rivalry
After three years in NXT, WWE called up Carmella to the main roster. However, Carmella ended up actually being a solo act on SmackDown. There, she was able to truly grow on her own and establish herself as a legit threat to anyone on the roster.
This time in Carmella’s career was also highlighted by an underrated feud against Nikki Bella. The two put on some great matches against one another, which even saw them battle in a No DQ match at TLC 2016.
Carmella Became The First Ms. Money In The Bank
She Won The Match Twice
2017 ushered in new opportunities for Carmella. Despite a controversial end to the first-ever Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match, Carmella ended up being the one to secure the briefcase and won it twice. She held the briefcase for a good while at 287 days, which is the longest it has been held by any star. However, in the aftermath of WrestleMania 34, Carmella finally reached the peak of her career.
Carmella’s Run As SmackDown Women’s Champion
The Biggest Accomplishment Of Carmella’s WWE Career
On the episode of SmackDown after WrestleMania 34, Carmella cashed-in on Charlotte Flair. Thanks to some help from The IIconics, Carmella won the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Her reign was not too bad as well.
Carmella successfully held the title for 131 days and made defenses against Asuka and Charlotte Flair. She later lost the title at SummerSlam 2018 back to Flair, in a triple threat match that also involved Becky Lynch.
A Dance Break With R-Truth
They Were An Underrated Duo
After losing the title, Carmella entered into a partnership with R-Truth. The pairing, which might seem random on paper, actually produced some fun comedic moments between the two of them. They were both actively chasing the 24/7 Championship, which they both held.
While they both still pursued their own achievements, Carmella and Truth continued to be paired up together until the 2019 Draft. After spending her time as a babyface with Truth, Carmella explored a new character on SmackDown.
The Untouchable Era Of Carmella
It Was Not Her Best Gimmick
In 2020, Carmella rebranded herself as “Untouchable.” She went on to pursue the SmackDown Women’s Title, which was held by Sasha Banks (now known as Mercedes Moné in AEW). But, she never captured the title.
As time went on, Carmella pursued both singles and tag team opportunities. She proclaimed herself “The Most Beautiful Woman in All of WWE.” However, it was not until she teamed with Zelina Vega where she got some gold around her waist. The two captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship from Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H.
Carmella Goes On Maternity Leave
She Had A Child With Corey Graves
Vega and Carmella lost the titles at WrestleMania 38. Later on Carmella got injured for a period of time. Upon her return, she returned to her old gimmick prior to 2020. However, Carmella was again gone the same year that she returned. In 2023, she announced her pregnancy and was going on maternity leave.
As of writing, Carmella is still absent from WWE television as she takes care of her child. She and Corey Graves had a son on November 8, 2023. She still has not made her return to WWE television yet.
