Candice LeRae Gargano, previously known as Candice Dawson, is a professional wrestler who is currently signed to WWE and performs on the Raw brand. She was a member of The Way and a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion.
LeRae started her wrestling career in 2002 with Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF) and later participated in various promotions on the independent circuit, such as Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), Shimmer Women Athletes, DDT Pro-Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG). In PWG, she made history by becoming the only female title holder as a one-time PWG World Tag Team Champion. She also held other championships such as the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship and the FWE Women’s Championship.
In 2017, LeRae competed in the inaugural Mae Young Classic and signed with WWE in early 2018. She debuted for the NXT brand and initially became involved in her husband Johnny Gargano’s feuds before transitioning to a singles competitor. In 2020, LeRae joined forces with Gargano, Indi Hartwell, and Austin Theory to form the villainous faction known as The Way, which disbanded the following year. She left WWE in May 2022 but returned in September of the same year.
Early Life
Candice LeRae was born on September 29, 1985, in Riverside, California. She grew up in the area and attended Riverside Community College before pursuing a career in professional wrestling. While in college, she studied theater and appeared in various plays and musicals. Her interest in wrestling was sparked when she attended a show with her father and was immediately drawn to the athleticism and storytelling in the ring. This led her to pursue a career in wrestling, which eventually brought her to the independent circuit and eventually to WWE.
Nationality
Candice LeRae is an American professional wrestler.
Professional Wrestling Career
2002–2016
LeRae began her wrestling career in 2002, training under Jesse Hernandez in California’s Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF) promotion. She continued to work for EWF until 2006, when she started branching out to other independent promotions in California and beyond.
Over the years, LeRae competed in various promotions on the independent circuit, including Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), Shimmer Women Athletes, DDT Pro-Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), among others. She also wrestled internationally, including tours of Europe, Canada, and Japan.
LeRae became a fan favorite on the independent circuit, known for her high-energy performances and willingness to take risks in the ring. She gained a reputation for being one of the toughest wrestlers on the circuit, often facing male opponents in intergender matches.
During her time on the independent circuit, LeRae won numerous championships, including the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, the Alternative Wrestling Show Women’s Championship, and the FWE Women’s Championship. However, her biggest achievement came in PWG, where she became the first and only female title holder in the promotion’s history by winning the PWG World Tag Team Championship with Joey Ryan in 2014.
LeRae’s success on the independent circuit caught the attention of WWE, and she was eventually invited to compete in the inaugural Mae Young Classic in 2017.
WWE Career
Early years (2017–2019)
In May 2017, LeRae made her televised in-ring debut on NXT but was unsuccessful in becoming the #1 contender for Asuka’s NXT Women’s Championship. In July, she participated in the Mae Young Classic tournament, defeating Renee Michelle and Nicole Savoy before being eliminated by Shayna Baszler in the quarterfinals.
LeRae signed with WWE in January 2018 and became involved in her husband Johnny Gargano’s feud with NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas and his manager Zelina Vega. She later defeated Vega in a match and began competing as an active wrestler, but suffered her first loss to Bianca Belair.
LeRae also competed in a #1 contender’s triple-threat match against Kairi Sane and Nikki Cross, which Sane won. Later, it was revealed that Gargano was the mystery attacker of Aleister Black, leading to a match between LeRae and Cross, which Cross won.
In early 2019, LeRae participated in her first women’s Royal Rumble match and the second WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal, both of which she was eliminated from. She also made her return to NXT, defeating Aliyah, and later aligned with Io Shirai to feud with Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, and Marina Shafir. However, the alliance ended after Shirai lost to Baszler for a second time, leading to a match between Shirai and LeRae at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, which Shirai won.
LeRae went on to win a fatal four-way match to become the #1 contender for Baszler’s NXT Women’s Championship but lost the title match. She also competed in the first-ever Women’s WarGames match as part of Rhea Ripley’s team, which they won, and was one of the survivors in the first-ever 5-on-5-on-5 Women’s Survivor Series elimination match as part of Team NXT.
The Way (2020–2022)
In early 2020, LeRae competed in the women’s Royal Rumble match and later helped her husband Johnny Gargano defeat Tommaso Ciampa, turning heel in the process. She debuted a new look and defeated Kacy Catanzaro before feuding with Mia Yim and Keith Lee alongside Gargano.
LeRae won a battle royal to become the #1 contender for Io Shirai’s NXT Women’s Championship and teamed up with Gargano for a “Champions vs. Challengers” tag team match, which they lost. She failed to win the title at NXT TakeOver 31 and also lost a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to Shirai at NXT: Halloween Havoc.
LeRae went on to lead a victorious team in the second-ever women’s WarGames match and later formed a stable with Gargano, Indi Hartwell, and Austin Theory called The Way. She and Hartwell made history by winning the first-ever women’s match on 205 Live and later won the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship. However, they lost the titles to Io Shirai and Zoey Stark after being attacked by Tegan Nox.
The Way dissolved after LeRae’s pregnancy, the expiration of Gargano’s contract, and Theory’s call-up to the Raw brand. LeRae remained under contract with WWE until her contract expired in May 2022.
Return (2022–present)
Candice LeRae made a comeback to WWE as a face on the September 26 episode of Raw. She secured a victory over Nikki A.S.H. during her return.
Candice LeRae Baby
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23255131/FL5CCcoXMAUeaQK.jpg)
On February 17th 2022, Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano delighted their fans by sharing a photo of their newborn baby on Twitter. LeRae had been in labor for almost a day before giving birth to their son. They named their baby boy Quill, inspired by Gargano’s love for Marvel, specifically the charismatic captain of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The photo shared on Gargano’s official Twitter page showed the adorable Quill wearing a onesie with his name on it and surrounded by memorabilia from the Guardians of the Galaxy, including a cassette recording, a comic book featuring Peter Quill, and a plush Rocket Raccoon.
Candice LeRae Husband
Candice LeRae’s husband is Johnny Gargano, whom she met several years ago while they were both competing in independent wrestling. Their first date took place at a Subway while they were working on an independent wrestling show, and their relationship grew from there.
In 2016, Gargano became a WWE Superstar and announced his engagement to LeRae, whom he affectionately called The Poison Pixie. The couple tied the knot eight months later at Disneyland.
LeRae followed her husband to WWE in May 2017, and together they achieved a lot in NXT.
Candice LeRae Wiki
Age
Candice Dawson, known by her ring name Candice LeRae, is a professional wrestler who has competed in various promotions such as Combat Zone Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. She gained popularity as one-half of The World’s Cutest Tag Team alongside Joey Ryan.
Born on September 29, 1985, Candice LeRae is currently 37 years old. Despite her relatively young age, she has already made a name for herself in the wrestling industry, thanks to her impressive in-ring skills and undeniable charisma. Fans of wrestling have been captivated by LeRae’s performances, both as a singles competitor and as part of various tag teams throughout her career.
As a wrestler, Candice LeRae has faced some of the biggest names in the industry, including Shayna Baszler and Kairi Sane. Her ability to adapt to different opponents and styles has made her a force to be reckoned with in the ring. With her talent, passion, and dedication to the sport, Candice LeRae has already accomplished so much at a relatively young age, and fans are excited to see what the future holds for this rising star.
Height
Candice LeRae, the American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, has a height of 5 feet 2 inches or 158 centimeters. Despite being relatively short compared to other wrestlers, LeRae has proven time and again that her size is not a hindrance to her success in the ring. In fact, her stature has become part of her unique identity and has contributed to her underdog persona, which has endeared her to many fans.
LeRae’s height may have posed a challenge in some matches, particularly against taller opponents, but she has always found a way to overcome it with her agility, speed, and technical abilities. Her high-flying moves and signature “Mrs. Gargano Escape” submission hold have become crowd favorites and have helped her secure numerous victories in the ring.
While height is often considered an advantage in wrestling, Candice LeRae has shown that it’s not the only factor that determines success in the sport. With her determination, skill, and unwavering spirit, she has proven that she can hold her own against any opponent, regardless of their size.
Net Worth
Candice LeRae, the American professional wrestler, is not only known for her impressive skills in the ring but also for her wealth. According to various sources, including Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider, LeRae’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million.
LeRae’s net worth comes from various sources, including her salary as a professional wrestler, brand endorsements, merchandise sales, and appearances in television and movies. Her success in wrestling promotions such as Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) and WWE has also contributed to her fortune.
Despite her wealth, Candice LeRae has remained grounded and focused on her craft, always striving to improve and take on new challenges. Her dedication to wrestling and her fans has made her a beloved figure in the industry, and her net worth is a testament to her hard work and talent.
Candice LeRae Return
During Candice LeRae’s stint in NXT, Candice LeRae made her final appearance on a WWE television programme. She and her husband Johnny Gargano would be part of The Way faction there. But she would eventually have to give up wrestling after finding out she was expecting their first child.
Her WWE contract would end while she was still sidelined due to pregnancy. She and her spouse chose against renewing in order for her to get more time off from wrestling.
The “Poison Pixie,” like Gargano, made the decision to finally make a comeback. Also, WWE promptly brought her up to the main roster. Together with her husband, she has been given the Raw brand.
Nikki A.S.H. would be as astonished as the audience when she learned that Candice LeRae would be her opponent. In that contest, LeRae quickly and easily defeated A.S.H. without breaking a sweat.
Fortunately for her, the commentary team had more than enough time to remind viewers of LeRae’s identity and the impact she had on the NXT brand before departing from WWE.
Candice LeRae Matches
Bayley
After defeating Bayley on the Oct. 10 broadcast of Raw, Candice LeRae is back in the winner’s circle. Since joining the red brand and rejoining WWE, she had competed in three matches.
In a backstage interview before their bout, Damage CTRL discussed Bayley’s defeat by Bianca Belair at Extreme Rules. Bayley sought a way to vent her resentment and attempt to defeat LeRae.
Bayley attempted to use her Rose Plant finisher in the dying seconds of the match, but LeRae successfully reversed it into a pin to win.
A three-on-one onslaught broke out following the contest until the Raw Women’s Champion sprinted to the ring.
Despite LeRae’s best efforts, Bayley and the Women’s Tag Team Champions would come out on top to close the segment.
Joey Ryan
Joey Ryan and Candice LeRae teamed up, and on October 19, 2013, the two unsuccessfully challenged The Young Bucks for the PWG World Tag Team Championship. In a Guerrilla Warfare match on July 27, 2014, Ryan and LeRae triumphed over The Young Bucks to win the title of PWG World Tag Team Champions.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10062769/WCTT.png)
In a three-way match on August 29, 2014, Candice and Joey—now known as the World’s Cutest Tag Team—defeated The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) and the Inner City Machine Guns to successfully defend the PWG World Tag Team Championship. The World’s Cutest Tag Team defeated Johnny Gargano and Chuck Taylor on October 17, 2014, to successfully defend their title once more.
Bianca Belair
Candice LeRae might not be present for Bianca Belair’s WWE Survivor Series WarGames match since The Poison Pixie is allegedly dealing with an ailment.
LeRae was supposed to join Belair’s team for their War Games contest, but Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer recently pointed out that her sudden absence might be a sign that she is actually hurt.
A few weeks ago, it was mentioned during the Raw commentary that LeRae was dealing with a shoulder injury as a result of Damage CTRL’s ambush and subsequent beating of her. This seems to be the explanation for her present absence, thus she might not show up at WarGames.
Candice LeRae Instagram
The famous WWE wrestler is quite active on Instagram. So, she has 315 thousand followers, but she follows back only 452 people. Also, her Instagram id is @candicelerae. Moreover, she has 848 posts.
Candice LeRae Injury
LeRae hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since October 17th, when she tagged with Bianca Belair and lost to Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky. This has led to speculation that she may have sustained an injury.
LeRae’s participation in Survivor Series has not been announced, according to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, raising the possibility that she is injured and unable to compete. LeRae has a history of competing in WarGames contests while she was a member of NXT, and Belair’s team is still missing one player. The perfect match would have been LeRae.
Is Candice LeRae still in WWE?
LeRae’s contract was slated to expire in the spring, according to a story from earlier this year, but owing to her time away with injuries and her first pregnancy, there was speculation that WWE would decide to extend the contract. It was formerly anticipated that she would work with the corporation through the beginning of 2023.
Update: This morning, WWE added LeRae to their official Alumni list, and Fightful Select has verified that her contract had run out.
Together with her spouse Johnny Gargano, LeRae is currently a free agent.
Since leaving WWE in December, Gargano hasn’t competed in any matches. Although he has begun to sign contracts, it is unknown at this time whether he is prepared to sign one and resume competing in the ring.
After LeRae and Gargano had their first child in February, it was anticipated that Gargano would take some time off to spend with his family before going back to work.
Candice LeRae FAQs
What is the real name of Candice LeRae?
Candice Gargano aka Candice Dawson who she really is.
Who is WWE’s Candice LeRae?
LeRae, a pioneer of the independent women’s wrestling scene for many years, became well-known for her incredible endurance and never-ending tenacity.
What kind of wrestler is Candice LeRae?
Because intergender wrestling doesn’t occur frequently in WWE, many fans might not be aware that Candice LeRae is an authority in this area. LaRae used to frequently compete in wrestling matches with males before she joined the business.
Was Candice LeRae in the Mae Young Classic?
The fact that Candice LeRae participated in the first Mae Young Classic may be something that many people have forgotten about.
