Carmella (wrestler)

Carmella

Carmella in March 2015
Birth name Leah Van Dale
Born (1987-10-23) October 23, 1987[1]
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[1]
Residence Orlando, Florida, United States
Alma mater University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Family Paul Van Dale (father)[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Carmella[3]
Billed height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Billed weight 110 lb (50 kg)
Billed from Staten Island, New York[3]
Trained by Sara Amato
WWE Performance Center
Debut June 2013[2]

Leah Van Dale[2] (born October 23, 1987)[1] is an American cheerleader, dancer, fitness trainer, model, professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager currently signed to WWE under the ring name Carmella,[3] performing on the SmackDown brand.

In June 2013, Van Dale signed a contract with WWE, and was assigned to their Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. In October 2014, she aligned herself with Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady,[4][5] thus also becoming their manager.[6]

Early life

Van Dale grew up in a small town outside of Worcester, Massachusetts. She attended the University of Rhode Island and later transferred to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing. After graduating, she became a cheerleader for the New England Patriots for three seasons, ending in 2010.[2] She successfully auditioned for the Los Angeles Lakers dance team, appearing as a Los Angeles Laker Girl from 2010 to 2011.[2]

Professional wrestling career

WWE

NXT (2013–2016)

In June 2013, Van Dale signed a contract with WWE,[2] and she was assigned to the company's developmental territory WWE NXT in late September.[2] In December, she announced that her new ring name was Carmella.[3]

Carmella made her debut on the September 4, 2014, episode of NXT, portraying a hairdresser in a segment with Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady.[7] Two weeks later on NXT, Carmella appeared in another segment with Amore and Cassady at the WWE Performance Center, announcing that she had lost her job as a hairdresser due to Amore and Cassady's actions, and asked for a job at NXT.[8] She made her in-ring debut on the October 16 episode of NXT, fighting a local wrestler, whom Amore and Cassady dubbed Blue Pants.[4][5] Carmella defeated Blue Pants on two occasions, while portraying a villainous character despite her alliance with Amore and Cassady, but lost to her on the January 1, 2015, episode of NXT after Amore accidentally caused a distraction.[9] In March, Amore and Cassady began a rivalry with the NXT Tag Team Champions Blake and Murphy, while Blake and Murphy attempted to woo Carmella on several occasions, becoming a fan favorite in the process.[10] On the May 13 episode of NXT, Blake and Murphy distracted Carmella during her match with Alexa Bliss, causing her to lose.[11] A week later, at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, Bliss attacked Carmella, during Amore and Cassady's title match, ensuring the win for Blake and Murphy.[6] While continuing to manage Amore and Cassady, Carmella began feuding with Eva Marie,[12][13] which led to a match between the two, on the August 26 episode of NXT (taped at the NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn event), which Carmella lost.[14] On the September 23 episode of NXT, in a rematch, Carmella lost via count–out, and their rivalry quietly ended.[15]

In the beginning of January 2016, Carmella received her first singles push as she won a battle royal to become the number one contender to Bayley's NXT Women's Championship.[16][17][18] Carmella received her championship match against Bayley, on the February 10 episode of NXT, but she was unsuccessful in capturing the title. After the match, Eva Marie and Nia Jax attacked the two,[19][20] which led to a tag team match, on the February 24 episode of NXT, where Carmella and Bayley were on the losing side.[21] Carmella made her first appearance on WWE's main roster on March 12 at Roadblock, accompanying Amore and Cassady to their match against The Revival for the NXT Tag Team Championship.[22] On the May 25 episode of NXT, Carmella competed in a triple–threat match against Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss to determine the number one contender to Asuka's NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver: The End, which was won by Jax.[23] On the August 17 episode of NXT, she competed in a six-woman tag team match along with Liv Morgan, and Nikki Glencross, in which they defeated Daria Berenato, Mandy Rose, and Alexa Bliss, which would be also her last match in NXT.[24]

Feud with Nikki Bella (2016–present)

After being drafted from NXT to SmackDown as part of the 2016 WWE draft which took place on July 19,[25][26] Carmella made her main roster debut for the brand on July 26, where she confronted the brand female talents before being interrupted by Eva Marie.[27] Two weeks later, following an attack from Natalya on the August 5 episode of SmackDown Live,[28] both women faced off on the August 9 episode of SmackDown Live, where Carmella achieved her first victory on the main roster by defeating her.[29] The following week on the August 16 episode of SmackDown Live, Carmella teamed with Becky Lynch in a successful victory against Natalya, and Alexa Bliss, after a distraction provided by Eva Marie, and Naomi,[30] one day later, a six-woman tag team match was announced for SummerSlam between Carmella, Lynch, and Naomi against Natalya, Bliss, and Marie, but following Eva Marie's suspension on August 18,[31] her place was taken by the returning Nikki Bella, and Carmella's team would ultimately lose the match at her pay-per-view debut.[32] On the August 23 episode of SmackDown Live, Carmella attacked a returning Nikki Bella while turning and re-establishing herself as a heel in the process and as part of the main roster.[33] At Backlash, on September 11, Carmella competed in a six-pack elimination challenge to determine the inaugural WWE SmackDown Women's Champion; Carmella would eliminate Nikki, but was eliminated by Becky Lynch, who ultimately won the title.[34] Carmella would then start a feud with Nikki, attacking her from behind each week which would set up for a singles match between them at WWE No Mercy, in which Carmella was unsuccessful. The feud continued after the pay-per-view event, with Carmella stating the only reason Nikki got to where she is today is because of her boyfriend John Cena.[35] On the November 1 episode of SmackDown, Carmella was revealed as a member of Team SmackDown for Survivor Series, which is captained by her rival Nikki. At Survivor Series, Team SmackDown was defeated by Team Raw.

Other media

Carmella made her video game debut as a playable character in WWE 2K17.[36]

Personal life

Van Dale is left-handed. She is a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer. She is the daughter of Paul Van Dale, a former professional wrestler who worked as a jobber for WWE in the 1990s and also wrestled independently.[2] Her favorite wrestling personalities while growing up were Miss Elizabeth and Trish Stratus. Van Dale is dating fellow wrestler William Morrissey, better known by the ring name Big Cass.[37]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Carmella". Online World of Wrestling.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Johnson, Mike. "New WWE Signing". PWInsider. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Carmella". WWE. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Parry, Josh. "WWE News: NXT spoilers for Oct. & November – Full Results from Thursday's TV taping at Full Sail University". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  5. 1 2 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.
  6. 1 2 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.
  7. ↑ Namako, Jason. "WWE NXT Results – 9/4/14 (Tag Tournament Finals)". WrestleView. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  8. ↑ Namako, Jason. "WWE NXT Results – 9/18/14 (Hideo Itami in-ring debut)". WrestleView. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  9. ↑ James, Justin (January 4, 2015). "James's WWE NXT report 1/1 - Week 133: Itami & Balor vs. The Ascension, NXT tag champs, Charlotte promo; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch.
  10. ↑ James, Justin (March 25, 2015). "JAMES' WWE NXT REPORT 3/25 - Week 145: Owens vs. Balor for NXT Title, Sasha Banks defends Women's Title; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 James, Justin (May 13, 2015). "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 5/13 - Week 161: Owens-Zayn final confrontation before Takeover, Itami & Balor vs. Breeze & Rose main event, Women's champ, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  12. ↑ Middleton, Marc (August 7, 2015). "WWE NXT Live Event Results From Orlando (8/7): Six-Person Match, Tyler Breeze, Apollo Crews, More". WrestlingInc. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  13. ↑ Middleton, Marc (August 8, 2015). "WWE NXT Live Event Results From Largo (8/8): Six-Man Main Event, Apollo Crews, Eva Marie, More". WrestlingInc. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Trionfo, Richard (August 26, 2015). "NXT IN BROOKLYN REPORT: FATAL FOUR WAY IN THE MAIN EVENT, BULL FIT, ENZO AND CASS GET A HEROES' WELCOME". PWInsider. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 Melok, Bobby (September 23, 2015). "WWE NXT results: Sept. 23, 2015 - Vaudevillains and Blake & Murphy clash for Tag Team Titles, Asuka's contract signing gets crashed". WWE. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  16. ↑ Trionfo, Richard (January 13, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: NUMBER ONE CONTENDER IN A TWO WEEKS, NUMBER ONE CONTENDER BATTLE ROYAL, CIAMPA IN ACTION, 2015 NXT AWARD WINNDERS, AND MORE". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  17. ↑ Trionfo, Richard (January 20, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: THREE POSSIBLE NUMBER ONE CONTENDERS IN ACTION, CHAMPION AND CHALLENGER AS A TAG TEAM, AN NXT DEBUT, AND MORE". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  18. ↑ Trionfo, Richard (February 3, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: WILLIAM REGAL MAKES A DECISION ABOUT THE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER, ASUKA VERSUS SANTANA, BALOR VERSUS CREWS, AND MORE". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Richard, Trionfo (February 10, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: WOMEN'S TITLE MATCH . . . PLUS SOME EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, GARGANO VERSUS CORBIN, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  20. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (February 17, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: WHO IS THE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER?, EIGHT MAN TAG MATCH, ASUKA IN ACTION, ALEX RILEY RETURNS TO THE RING, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Richard, Trionfo (February 24, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: WILLIAM REGAL MAKES HIS DECISION, AMERICAN ALPHA, WOMEN'S TAG MATCH IN MAIN EVENT, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  22. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (March 12, 2016). "COMPLETE WWE ROADBLOCK COVERAGE: HAVE WRESTLEMANIA PLANS BEEN SCREWED UP?, NXT AND WWE TAG TITLE MATCHES, SAMI ZAYN IN ACTION, DIVAS TITLE MATCH, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  23. 1 2 3 Richard, Trionfo (May 25, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: MORE MATCHES FOR TAKEOVER, VIDEO PACKAGES FOR THE CAGE MATCH, AND A NEW TAG TEAM DEBUTS". PWInsider. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  24. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (August 17, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: WHAT COULD GO WRONG WITH OPPONENTS IN THE SAME ROOM?, ITAMI IN ACTION, SIX WOMAN TAG MATCH WITH SOME DEBUTS, A LOOK AT TAKEOVER, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  25. ↑ 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.
  26. ↑ "2016 WWE Draft results: WWE officially ushers in New Era". WWE.com. July 19, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  27. ↑ 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.
  28. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (August 2, 2016). "WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: STYLES AND CENA TALK, IS THERE A CHANGE IN THE WWE TITLE MATCH AT SUMMERSLAM?, YOUR HOME FOR WOMEN'S WRESTLING?, HAS THE INTERBRAND WAR ESCALATED?, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  29. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (August 9, 2016). "WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: DID EVA MARIE WRESTLE?, OPPONENTS ARE TAG TEAM PARTNERS, IS HEATH SLATER EMPLOYED?, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  30. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (August 16, 2016). "WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: DID EVA MARIE FINALLY WRESTLE?, ZIGGLER SENDS A MESSAGE TO DEAN AMBROSE, TAG TEAMS COLLIDE, WHAT ABOUT THE WYATTS?, DID HEATH SLATER DO ANYTHING?". PWInsider. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  31. ↑ "WWE suspends Eva Marie". WWE. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  32. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (August 21, 2016). "COMPLETE WWE SUMMERSLAM REPORT: WE HAVE A UNIVERSAL CHAMPION, STYLES VS. CENA, BANKS VS. CHARLOTTE, AMBROSE VS. ZIGGLER & MUCH MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  33. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (August 23, 2016). "WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: THE BACKLASH MAIN EVENT IS SET, HOW WILL WE DETERMINE OUR TWO NEW CHAMPIONS?, WHAT ABOUT HEATH?". PWInsider. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  34. ↑ Caldwell, James (September 11, 2016). "9/11 WWE Backlash Results – CALDWELL'S Ongoing PPV Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  35. ↑ {{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/766069-carmella-says-john-cena-is-the-only-reason-nikki-bella-is-a-success-video-mick-foley-clarifies-hiac-main-event-comment-becky-lynch-backstage}}
  36. ↑ Matthew, Artus (June 27, 2016). "Superstars to be featured on WWE 2K17 roster". WWE.com. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  37. ↑ Clapp, John (December 7, 2015). "'WWE Breaking Ground' Season 1, Episode 6 recap: Road trip". WWE. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  38. ↑ http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2016-08-23/article/carmella-ambushes-nikki-bella
  39. ↑ http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2016-10-25/article/nikki-bella-def-natalya
  40. ↑ Howell, Nolan (November 27, 2014). "NXT: Kidd and Balor battle and brawl". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 James, Justin (September 9, 2015). "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/9 - Week 179: Finn Balor & Samoa Joe vs. Lucha Dragons, Ciampa & Gargano also in Dusty Tag Classic match, more; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Trionfo, Richard (January 20, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: THREE POSSIBLE NUMBER ONE CONTENDERS IN ACTION, CHAMPION AND CHALLENGER AS A TAG TEAM, AN NXT DEBUT, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Richard, Trionfo (April 27, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: NAKAMURA AND ASUKA IN ACTION, FOOTAGE OF LOWELL TITLE CHANGE, THE REVIVAL ARE NOT IN A GOOD MOOD, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  44. 1 2 3 Richard, Trionfo (May 18, 2016). "WWE NXT REPORT: NIA JAX VERSUS BAYLEY IN A LONDON REMATCH, WHO IS ARIES' PARTNER?, IS BAMF D-O-N-E?, FOOTAGE FROM PORTLAND, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  45. 1 2 Jason, Namako (March 11, 2015). "WWE NXT Results - 3/11/15 (Breeze vs. Itami)". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  46. 1 2 3 4 Trionfo, Richard (July 1, 2015). "WWE NXT REPORT: FINAL PART OF THE FINN BALOR VIDEO PACKAGE, JOE AND OWENS VERSUS BALOR AND RHYNO, BULL VERSUS A VENDING MACHINE, EVA WORKS OUT, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  47. 1 2 3 Trionfo, Richard (June 3, 2015). "WWE NXT REPORT: NXT TITLE MATCH ANNOUNCED FOR JAPAN, RHYNO VERSUS BALOR, SASHA BANKS VIDEO PACKAGE, A TAG TEAM RETURNS". PWInsider. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Adam, Martin (February 3, 2016). "WWE NXT Results - 2/3/16 (Balor vs. Crews headlines)". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  49. ↑ "WWE NXT results: Rhyno returns after 10-year absence at Full Sail University". Sky Sports. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  50. ↑ "WWE: Fabulous (Carmella) - Single". iTunes. April 30, 2016.
  51. ↑ "WWE: SAWFT Is a Sin (feat. Enzo Amore) - Single". iTunes. April 30, 2016.
  52. ↑ "Charlotte Tops PWI Female 50". Wrestling Forum. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

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