Carmella, real name Leah Van Dale, is an American professional wrestler, model and dancer signed to WWE’s Raw brand. She has held titles such as WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, and WWE 24/7 Champion. She signed with WWE in 2013 and began her career on their developmental brand NXT in Orlando, Florida.
After debuting on the main roster in 2016, Carmella won the first-ever women’s Money in the Bank ladder match in 2017 and made history by becoming the first woman to successfully cash in her Money in the Bank contract. In 2019, she won the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal and the WWE 24/7 Championship.
In November 2021, she won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Queen Zelina after being drafted to Raw as part of the 2021 Draft.
Discover all there is to know about WWE wrestler Carmella in this comprehensive bio. Learn about her real name, age, height, career, awards, personal life, dating history, net worth, and salary. Get answers to frequently asked questions about Carmella and stay up-to-date with her latest achievements and matches.
Bio/Wiki Table
| Name | Leah Van Dale |
|---|---|
| Ring Name | Carmella |
| Born | October 23, 1987 (age 35) |
| Birthplace | Spencer, Massachusetts, United States |
| Profession | Professional Wrestler, Dancer, Model |
| Organization | WWE |
| Brand | Raw |
| Championship | WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion |
| Debut | June 2013 (NXT) |
| Main Roster Debut | July 2016 (SmackDown) |
| Money in the Bank | Winner of the inaugural Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match |
| First Women’s Wrestler to cash-in Money in the Bank opportunity | Yes |
| WrestleMania wins | Women’s Battle Royal (2019) |
| WWE 24/7 Champion | Yes (2019) |
Carmella Early Life
Leah Van Dale is an American professional wrestler, dancer, and model. She is currently signed to WWE. There she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Carmella. She was born on October 23, 1987 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Leah Van Dale resides in Tampa, Florida. She is the daughter of Paul Van Dale, who is a mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler, worked with WWE in the 80s and 90s. Apart from being a professional wrestler, Van Dale is a certified fitness instructor and a personal trainer.
Therefore, the younger Van Dale is a second-generation wrestler. She also has a younger sister, Breanna. Carmella decided to study at the University of Rhode Island and later opted to be transferred to the University of Massachusetts. She later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She began cheerleading immediately after graduation. Though her father was a professional wrestler, Leah’s first passion was dancing and she started dancing when she was as young as three.
Her career began early while she was a performer for the New England Patriots Cheerleaders. During this stint, she was working regularly in famous publications. Her dancing soon led her to bigger exposure in commercials and magazines. During her days as a dancer, she was a backup dancer for Rihanna for her World Tour. She got into wrestling through a developmental deal with NXT, a branch of World Wrestling Entertainment that trains for the WWE roster. She even managed the team of Enzo Amore and Big Cass during this period. Her performance in the NXT territory eased her journey. Geared for stardom with her athletic abilities, she soon became a professional wrestler from her debut on SmackDown in 2016. She has since achieved several milestones and awards.
Professional Wrestling Career (WWE)
NXT (2013–2016)
Leah Van Dale initially applied to be part of WWE Tough Enough in 2010, but withdrew from the selection process after becoming a Laker Girl and moving to Los Angeles. She signed a contract with WWE in June 2013 and was assigned to their developmental territory NXT in September. She adopted the ring name Carmella and made her debut on the September 4, 2014 episode of NXT, appearing in a segment with Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady.
Carmella made her in-ring debut on the October 16 episode of NXT, defeating an unnamed opponent called Blue Pants. She began a feud with Eva Marie and won a battle royal to become the number one contender to Bayley’s NXT Women’s Championship in January 2016. Carmella lost her match against Bayley and also lost a tag team match with Bayley against Eva Marie and Nia Jax in February 2016.
Carmella made her first appearance on WWE’s main roster in March 2016, accompanying Amore and Cassady for their match against The Revival for the NXT Tag Team Championship.
SmackDown Women’s Champion (2016–2018)
Following her debut on the main roster, Carmella achieved her first victory by defeating Natalya on the August 9, 2016 episode of SmackDown Live. She also participated in a six-woman tag team match at SummerSlam, which was won by her opponents. Carmella then turned heel and began a feud with Nikki Bella, which ended at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, where she lost in a no disqualification match.
Carmella later formed an alliance with Natalya and Tamina, known as The Welcoming Committee, and they feuded with Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Naomi. On June 18, 2017, she won the inaugural women’s Money in the Bank ladder match with the help of James Ellsworth. After a controversial ending, the briefcase was stripped and a second ladder match was set. Carmella regained the briefcase on June 27 with Ellsworth’s help once again.
Carmella then cashed in her contract on the April 10, 2018 episode of SmackDown Live, defeating Charlotte Flair to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship. She had a 131-day reign before losing the championship to Charlotte Flair at SummerSlam. Carmella later received a rematch but was unsuccessful in regaining the championship.
Alliance with R-Truth (2018–2019)
Carmella had a storyline with R-Truth at the end of her title reign. She turned face in September and started managing Truth. They teamed up for the Mixed Match Challenge and won the final against Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox. Carmella and Truth both earned the number 30 spots for their respective Royal Rumble matches. In February, Carmella teamed up with Naomi for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship but they were eliminated first in a six-team Elimination Chamber match.
Carmella won the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal and participated in the Money in the Bank ladder match in May. She also won and lost the WWE 24/7 Championship to and from R-Truth, respectively. Carmella and Dana Brooke were part of Team SmackDown at Survivor Series but lost to Team NXT.
Untouchable (2020–2022)
Throughout 2020, Carmella was a regular competitor in the women’s division of WWE, appearing in high-profile matches such as the Royal Rumble and a SmackDown Women’s Championship match against Bayley. However, she failed to capture the championship and went on a hiatus. She returned in September with a revamped character, now calling herself the “Untouchable,” and turned heel by attacking Sasha Banks. Carmella continued to feud with Banks and eventually challenged her for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs event in December, but was unsuccessful in winning the title.
In 2021, Carmella was drafted to the Raw brand as part of the WWE draft. She found success by teaming up with Queen Zelina and winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. However, their reign was short-lived as they lost the titles to Naomi and Sasha Banks at WrestleMania 38. The following night on Raw, Zelina turned on Carmella, attacking her and ending their partnership. Despite these setbacks, Carmella continues to be an active and popular wrestler in the WWE women’s division.
Return From Hiatus (2023–present)
On the January 30, 2023 episode of Raw, Carmella made her return with her previous gimmick from before 2020. The following week, she qualified for the women’s Elimination Chamber match at the pay-per-view by defeating Candice LeRae, Mia Yim, and Piper Niven in a fatal four-way match. Despite her efforts, Carmella was the last one pinned by Asuka during the match and did not come out victorious.
WWE 2K
Carmella has appeared in six WWE video games. She made her in-game debut at WWE 2K17 and appears in WWE 2K18, WWE 2K19, WWE 2K20, WWE 2K Battlegrounds and WWE 2K22.
Carmella joined Total Divas as a main cast member for the show’s seventh season in June 2017. Despite being a guest in the eighth season, Carmella returned to the show as a series regular in the ninth season, which premiered in October 2019. The season featured Carmella’s real-life relationship with Corey Graves
On February 3, 2020, Van Dale launched her own wine label called Capo Cagna. On June 11, 2020 Carmella and Matthew Polinsky (better known as WWE commentator Corey Graves) also launched a weekly podcast, Bear with Us, where the two discuss different issues regarding relationships including issues within their own. However, it is her first podcast as a host.
Personal Life, Boyfriend & Dating
Leah Van Dale was born on October 23, 1987 in Spencer, Massachusetts, U.S.A. She persuaded her graduation from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2010. Van Dale worked as a cheerleader for the New England Patriots for three seasons till 2010. She took part in dancing and appeared as a Laker Girl for the Los Angeles Lakers dance team in 2010-11. Leah Van Dale resides in Tampa, Florida. She is the daughter of Paul Van Dale, who is a mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler. He, however, worked with WWE in the 80s and 90s. However, apart from being a professional wrestler, Van Dale is a certified fitness instructor and a personal trainer. Carmella is currently dating WWE commentator and analyst Corey Graves. She was in a relationship with fellow wrestler William Morrissey, better known as Big Cass in WWE.
After that, in 2019, she began a relationship with fellow WWE employee Matthew Polinsky, better known as Corey Graves. The two tied knots on April 7, 2022. Van Dale is a certified fitness instructor and a personal trainer. Van Dale is a lifelong fan of professional wrestling, and idolized Miss Elizabeth as a child.
On February 3, 2020, Van Dale launched her own wine label called Capo Cagna. On June 11, 2020, Van Dale and Matthew Polinsky (better known as WWE commentator Corey Graves) also launched a weekly podcast, Bear With Us, where the two discuss different issues regarding relationships including issues within their own.
Carmella Awards and Achievements
The female wrestler has bagged several awards and achievements during her time in the ring. These are:
- 2-time WWE 24/7 Championship
- WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal winner (2019)
- Mixed Match Challenge winner (season 2) with R-Truth
- Money in the Bank ladder match participant (2018, 2019)
- Queen’s Crown tournament semi-finalist (2021)
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship (with Queen Zelina)
Carmella Age
Carmella, whose real name is Leah Van Dale, was born on October 23, 1987, in Worcester, Massachusetts, making her currently 35 years old. She was raised in Spencer, Massachusetts, and attended David Prouty High School where she was a cheerleader. After high school, Carmella attended the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she majored in marketing and also played soccer for the school’s team.
Carmella Height
Carmella, whose real name is Leah Van Dale, is a professional wrestler from the United States. She is well-known for her time in WWE, where she has held various championships and has competed in high-profile matches. One of the most notable physical features of Carmella is her height, which is often commented on by fans and commentators.
Carmella stands at 5 feet 5 inches tall, which is approximately 165 centimeters. This puts her on the shorter side compared to many of her fellow wrestlers in the women’s division. However, it is worth noting that height is not always a determining factor in wrestling success, as many smaller wrestlers have achieved great success in the industry.
Despite her height, Carmella is known for her athleticism and agility in the ring. She is able to perform high-flying moves and acrobatic maneuvers with ease, often surprising her opponents with her speed and precision. Additionally, her smaller stature can be an advantage in certain situations, such as when she needs to slip out of a hold or move quickly to avoid an attack.
Carmella Net Worth
Leah Van Dale is an American professional wrestler, dancer and a model who wrestles under the ring name of Carmella for WWE. She is the first woman to have ever cashed in the Money in the Bank contract. However, Carmella’s net worth, as of 2023, is estimated to be $1 million. As per her WWE contract, she earns a basic salary of $300, 000. Apart from that she does merchandise sales and PPV appearances. It also adds into her income.
Carmella Social Media
Leah Van Dale is an American professional wrestler, dancer, and model signed with WWE. She is a former SmackDown Women’s Champion and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. The female wrestler is therefore very popular on social media. She has over 1 million followers on her Instagram and half a million on Twitter. She also appears on Facebook and TikTok, where also she has quite large fan following.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarmellaWWE/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarmellaWWE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmellawwe/
F.A.Qs
Who is Carmella?
Leah Van Dale, popularly known by her ring name Carmella, is a female American professional wrestler, working with World Wrestling Entertainment for the Smackdown brand. Carmella is the current WWE 24/7 Champion for the second time.
Where was Carmella born?
Leah Van Dale was born on October 23, 1987 in Spencer, Massachusetts, U.S.A. She persuaded her graduation from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2010. Van Dale worked as a cheerleader for the New England Patriots for three seasons till 2010. She was in dancing and appeared as a Laker Girl for the Los Angeles Lakers dance team in 2010-11.
What nationality is Carmella?
Carmella by nationality is American.
Who is Carmella’s father?
The name of Carmella’s father is Paul Van Dale. He is a former independent circuit wrestler. He worked as a jobber/ talent enhancer on WWE (then WWF).
Is Carmella in a relationship?
In 2019, Carmella began a relationship with fellow WWE employee Matthew Polinsky, better known as Corey Graves. However, the two got married on April 7, 2022.
What does the name Carmella mean?
Carmella is a feminine name of Hebrew origin. It means “garden” or “orchard.” This name has biblical roots and it is derived from Mount Carmel in Palestine. It is a place of worship featured in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Garden of God.
What is the salary of Carmella?
Carmella earns a basic salary of $300, 000 from her WWE contract, and has a net worth of $1 million.
