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On the August 23 episode of ''SmackDown'', Carmella turned heel and attacked a returning Nikki Bella, canceling their scheduled singles match. At [[Backlash 2016|Backlash]], on September 11, Carmella competed in a six-pack elimination challenge to determine the inaugural [[WWE SmackDown Women's Championship|WWE SmackDown Women's Champion]]; Carmella would eliminate Nikki, but was eliminated by Becky Lynch, who ultimately won the title. 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 2016|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 sister [[Brie Bella]], and boyfriend [[John Cena]]. After being revealed as one of the members on the SmackDown women's team on the November 1 episode of ''SmackDown'', during a match against Nikki Bella on the November 15 episode of ''SmackDown'', RAW Women's Champion [[Charlotte]] appeared at ringside, causing a distraction and a brawl between all members of the Raw women's team and the SmackDown women's team. At the [[Survivor Series 2016|Survivor Series]] pay-per-view, after Nikki Bella was mysteriously attacked backstage, which caused Natalya to become her replacement, the SmackDown women's team went on to compete against the Raw women's team, but was unsuccessful in winning the match. In an attempt to finally end her feud with Nikki Bella, Carmella competed in a no-disqualification match against Nikki at the [[TLC: Tables, Ladders, & Chairs 2016|TLC]] pay-per-view, but was defeated, and would afterwards reveal to Nikki that her attacker at Survivor Series was not her, but her fellow ''Total Divas'' co-star Natalya. Carmella would compete in multiple singles matches against Natalya to prove to Nikki Bella that Natalya was her attacker, and would come out victorious on the December 13 episode of ''SmackDown''. On the December 20 episode of ''SmackDown'', after Carmella again revealed more secrets about Natalya to Nikki, Natalya would attack Carmella then admit to attacking Nikki at Survivor Series, revealing her pent-up jealousy of her success for years, thus ending her feud with Nikki Bella. |
On the August 23 episode of ''SmackDown'', Carmella turned heel and attacked a returning Nikki Bella, canceling their scheduled singles match. At [[Backlash 2016|Backlash]], on September 11, Carmella competed in a six-pack elimination challenge to determine the inaugural [[WWE SmackDown Women's Championship|WWE SmackDown Women's Champion]]; Carmella would eliminate Nikki, but was eliminated by Becky Lynch, who ultimately won the title. 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 2016|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 sister [[Brie Bella]], and boyfriend [[John Cena]]. After being revealed as one of the members on the SmackDown women's team on the November 1 episode of ''SmackDown'', during a match against Nikki Bella on the November 15 episode of ''SmackDown'', RAW Women's Champion [[Charlotte]] appeared at ringside, causing a distraction and a brawl between all members of the Raw women's team and the SmackDown women's team. At the [[Survivor Series 2016|Survivor Series]] pay-per-view, after Nikki Bella was mysteriously attacked backstage, which caused Natalya to become her replacement, the SmackDown women's team went on to compete against the Raw women's team, but was unsuccessful in winning the match. In an attempt to finally end her feud with Nikki Bella, Carmella competed in a no-disqualification match against Nikki at the [[TLC: Tables, Ladders, & Chairs 2016|TLC]] pay-per-view, but was defeated, and would afterwards reveal to Nikki that her attacker at Survivor Series was not her, but her fellow ''Total Divas'' co-star Natalya. Carmella would compete in multiple singles matches against Natalya to prove to Nikki Bella that Natalya was her attacker, and would come out victorious on the December 13 episode of ''SmackDown''. On the December 20 episode of ''SmackDown'', after Carmella again revealed more secrets about Natalya to Nikki, Natalya would attack Carmella then admit to attacking Nikki at Survivor Series, revealing her pent-up jealousy of her success for years, thus ending her feud with Nikki Bella. |
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− | On December 20, Carmella started a storyline with [[James Ellsworth]], professing that she found him "uniquely attractive". On January 3, 2017, Ellsworth started accompanying Carmella to the ring during her matches until she won the SmackDown women championship by cashing in her Money in the Bank contract towards [[Charlotte |Charlotte Flair]] a year later. Carmella retains her title |
+ | On December 20, Carmella started a storyline with [[James Ellsworth]], professing that she found him "uniquely attractive". On January 3, 2017, Ellsworth started accompanying Carmella to the ring during her matches until she won the SmackDown women championship by cashing in her Money in the Bank contract towards [[Charlotte |Charlotte Flair]] a year later. Carmella retains her title from [[Asuka]] due to Ellsworth's interference in every pay-per-view until in [[SummerSlam 2018|SummerSlam]] where she fought Charlotte and [[Becky Lynch |Becky Lynch]] in a Triple Threat Match but lost the title to Charlotte. |
After Ellsworth got fired by [[Paige]], Carmella was frequently searched by [[R-Truth]] throughout weeks in ''SmackDown'' and she was mentioned by R-Truth where he mistook [[Maryse]] as her while she accompanies her husband [[The Miz]]. On [[August 21, 2018 Smackdown results|August 21, 2018]], Carmella asked SmackDown's GM Paige to have a title match against Charlotte next week which she accepts but only to be caught off by R-Truth after he came to see them both on her office. On August 28 during the ''SmackDown'' main event title match, she lost to Charlotte by submission before Becky Lynch ambushed Charlotte due to their feud. After losing to Charlotte in a title match last week, she was asked by R-Truth to support him on ringside to battle The Miz in their main event match which she reluctantly agreed to watch him. With R-Truth won the main event match against the Miz with the assistance of [[Daniel Bryan]] and [[Brie Bella]], Carmella watched both Brie and Maryse chasing each other before she follows R-Truth. |
After Ellsworth got fired by [[Paige]], Carmella was frequently searched by [[R-Truth]] throughout weeks in ''SmackDown'' and she was mentioned by R-Truth where he mistook [[Maryse]] as her while she accompanies her husband [[The Miz]]. On [[August 21, 2018 Smackdown results|August 21, 2018]], Carmella asked SmackDown's GM Paige to have a title match against Charlotte next week which she accepts but only to be caught off by R-Truth after he came to see them both on her office. On August 28 during the ''SmackDown'' main event title match, she lost to Charlotte by submission before Becky Lynch ambushed Charlotte due to their feud. After losing to Charlotte in a title match last week, she was asked by R-Truth to support him on ringside to battle The Miz in their main event match which she reluctantly agreed to watch him. With R-Truth won the main event match against the Miz with the assistance of [[Daniel Bryan]] and [[Brie Bella]], Carmella watched both Brie and Maryse chasing each other before she follows R-Truth. |
Revision as of 12:47, 26 January 2019
Leah Van Dale (October 23, 1987) is an American cheerleader, dancer, fitness trainer, model, professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager currently signed to WWE under the ring name Carmella, performing on the SmackDown brand. She is a one-time Smackdown Women's Champion.
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, thus also becoming their manager.
Early life
Leah grew up in a very small town outside of Worcester, Massachusetts. She began dancing at the age of three. After graduating high school, Leah went on to the University of Rhode Island and later transferred to the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth where she graduated with her bachelor's degree in Marketing. While she knew it was important to get an education, she continued her love of performing with the New England Patriots Cheerleaders. Throughout her three-year term with the Patriots she traveled all over the world.
Throughout her time with the Patriots, Leah was featured in several world-renowned publications to include a National Visa commercial, Muscle and Fitness, Esquire, Maxim and many more. Her charity work was something she always enjoyed. She was fortunate enough to work with so many different charitable organizations and loved giving back to the community.
Leah's three-year term with the Patriots was up in early 2010. After graduating in May of the same year she knew she wanted to take her dancing career to another level. There's no better place for an entertainer than Los Angeles. On a whim, she decided to fly out to LA the day before the Back-to-Back Champion Lakers were holding auditions for their dance team. With over 600 girls in attendance, Leah danced her way to the final round. After a few trips back and forth between the east and west coast, she earned a coveted spot as a 2010-2011 Los Angeles Laker Girl. As a rookie, she was the cover girl of the 2011 Laker Girl Calendar. She was featured in numerous commercials, magazines, and game shows throughout her Laker Girl Career. Much like her time with Patriots, she loved working with charities. Fit For Life grew to be her favorite organization to work with. Seeing kids without any sense of healthy living, inspired her to show teach them everything she knew about being healthy and fitt. Leah grew up around the fitness industry, as her father was a semi-professional boxer and WWF wrestler in the 1990s.
Professional wrestling career
World Wrestling Entertainment (2013-Present)
NXT (2013-2016)
In June 2013, Van Dale signed a contract with WWE, and she was assigned to the company's developmental territory WWE NXT in late September. In December, she announced that her new ring name was Carmella.
Carmella made her debut on the September 4, 2014, episode of NXT, portraying a hairdresser in a segment with Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady. 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. She made her in-ring debut on the October 16 episode of NXT, fighting a local wrestler, whom Amore and Cassady dubbed Blue Pants. 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. 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 an fan favorite in the process. On the May 13 episode of NXT, Blake and Murphy distracted Carmella during her match with Alexa Bliss, causing her to lose. A week later, at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, Bliss attacked Carmella, during Amore and Cassady's title match, ensuring the win for Blake and Murphy. While continuing to manage Amore and Cassady, Carmella began feuding with Eva Marie, 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. On the September 23 episode of NXT, in a rematch, Carmella lost via count–out, and their rivalry quietly ended.
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. 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, which led to a tag team match, on the February 24 episode of NXT, where Carmella and Bayley were on the losing side. 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. 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.
Main roster (2016–present)
On July 19, Carmella was drafted to SmackDown as a part of the 2016 WWE Draft. 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. Two weeks later, Carmella defeated Natalya on the August 9 episode of SmackDown, marking her first victory on the main roster. The following week, Carmella teamed with Becky Lynch in a successful victory against Natalya, and Alexa Bliss, after a distraction provided by Eva Marie, and Naomi. 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, her place was taken by the returning Nikki Bella, and Carmella's team would ultimately lose the match at the pay-per-view, which would be also her debut on one of them.
On the August 23 episode of SmackDown, Carmella turned heel and attacked a returning Nikki Bella, canceling their scheduled singles match. 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. 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 sister Brie Bella, and boyfriend John Cena. After being revealed as one of the members on the SmackDown women's team on the November 1 episode of SmackDown, during a match against Nikki Bella on the November 15 episode of SmackDown, RAW Women's Champion Charlotte appeared at ringside, causing a distraction and a brawl between all members of the Raw women's team and the SmackDown women's team. At the Survivor Series pay-per-view, after Nikki Bella was mysteriously attacked backstage, which caused Natalya to become her replacement, the SmackDown women's team went on to compete against the Raw women's team, but was unsuccessful in winning the match. In an attempt to finally end her feud with Nikki Bella, Carmella competed in a no-disqualification match against Nikki at the TLC pay-per-view, but was defeated, and would afterwards reveal to Nikki that her attacker at Survivor Series was not her, but her fellow Total Divas co-star Natalya. Carmella would compete in multiple singles matches against Natalya to prove to Nikki Bella that Natalya was her attacker, and would come out victorious on the December 13 episode of SmackDown. On the December 20 episode of SmackDown, after Carmella again revealed more secrets about Natalya to Nikki, Natalya would attack Carmella then admit to attacking Nikki at Survivor Series, revealing her pent-up jealousy of her success for years, thus ending her feud with Nikki Bella.
On December 20, Carmella started a storyline with James Ellsworth, professing that she found him "uniquely attractive". On January 3, 2017, Ellsworth started accompanying Carmella to the ring during her matches until she won the SmackDown women championship by cashing in her Money in the Bank contract towards Charlotte Flair a year later. Carmella retains her title from Asuka due to Ellsworth's interference in every pay-per-view until in SummerSlam where she fought Charlotte and Becky Lynch in a Triple Threat Match but lost the title to Charlotte.
After Ellsworth got fired by Paige, Carmella was frequently searched by R-Truth throughout weeks in SmackDown and she was mentioned by R-Truth where he mistook Maryse as her while she accompanies her husband The Miz. On August 21, 2018, Carmella asked SmackDown's GM Paige to have a title match against Charlotte next week which she accepts but only to be caught off by R-Truth after he came to see them both on her office. On August 28 during the SmackDown main event title match, she lost to Charlotte by submission before Becky Lynch ambushed Charlotte due to their feud. After losing to Charlotte in a title match last week, she was asked by R-Truth to support him on ringside to battle The Miz in their main event match which she reluctantly agreed to watch him. With R-Truth won the main event match against the Miz with the assistance of Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella, Carmella watched both Brie and Maryse chasing each other before she follows R-Truth.
Carmella was revealed to be teaming up with R-Truth in the second season of WWE Mixed Match Challenge and she became a face when she teams up with him. Two weeks later in September 25, Carmella finally dyed her long blond hair to red violet so that she would not be mistaken as Maryse as she accompanies R-Truth in his own show Truth TV and had their popular " Seven Second Dance Break" as their current gimmick as his show was later cancelled due to R-Truth losing to the Miz in their main event match. Carmella continues to accompany R-Truth throughout the Mixed Match Challenge where they have three losses in the playoffs and they competed against Andrade "Cien" Almas and Zelina Vega in a mixed tag team match on SmackDown which they won.
During the RAW invasion in November 12, 2018 which is led by Becky Lynch after ambushing her Survivor Series opponent Ronda Rousey at her locker room, Carmella was present along with Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Naomi, Asuka, Lana, and Charlotte Flair to ambush all of the RAW women's division led by Alexa Bliss. On the next night, she was among the other women who didn't chose by Lynch to replace her as she finally chose Charlotte to fight Rousey at the Survivor Series. At the Survivor Series Kickoff, she teams up with Naomi, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville and Asuka in a 5 on 5 Elimination Match against Nia Jax, Tamina, Mickie James, Bayley and Sasha Banks, but lost. Before their kickoff match, they were supported by R-Truth inside the locker room.
Carmella participates in the Women's Battle Royale on SmackDown's November 27 but was eliminated by Asuka who later won the battle royale to face both Charlotte and Lynch in a TLC Triple Threat Match at TLC. She continues to participate with R-Truth in the Mixed Match Challenge where they managed to defeat their mixed tag team opponents from the quarterfinals and the semifinals. She and R-Truth face off against Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox at the finals of the Mixed Match Challenge in the TLC pay-per-view as she quickly defeats Alicia Fox with Code of Silence to win the Mixed Match Challenge. Despite their win to become the 30th participant at the Royal Rumble, Carmella was disappointed towards R-Truth when he decided to take vacation at the WWE Headquarters but reluctantly accepts R-Truth's decision to take vacation at the WWE Headquarters during the exclusives.
In the Tribute to the Troops, Carmella and R-Truth helps The New Day to bring the holiday cheer in Fort Hood by giving Christmas gifts. But on December 25, Carmella and R-Truth celebrate the holiday with the WWE Universe by interrupting WWE Champion Daniel Bryan who became a heel after defeating A.J. Styles in their previous main event title match and she horribly witnessed Bryan pummeling R-Truth into a pulp. On January 8, Camella participates in a Triple Threat Match against Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch for the number 1 contender for the SmackDown Women's Championship but lost due to submission. She and R-Truth later takes a vacation in the WWE Headquarters, taking Dance Breaks with Charly Caruso and other WWE staffs, meeting with Road Dogg, giving one of the staffs some autograph on a Carmella poster that he had kept, taking a magic trip around the world in a vision and unexpectedly disturbs Corey Graves from his sleep while being reluctant to tour them in the headquarters. Carmella became enjoyed on touring the entire WWE headquarters as she tells R-Truth that they need to focus on the Royal Rumble.
As the Royal Rumble approaches, Carmella and R-Truth were discussing about their title holding opponents before he leaves but was warn by Charlotte Flair about winning the Royal Rumble Match.
Other media
Carmella made her video game debut as a playable character in WWE 2K17.
Personal life
Carmella is a certified fitness instructor and a personal trainer. She also has a background in dancing. 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. 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.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Code of Silence (Modified figure-four headscissors)
- Mella Buster (Sitout facebuster) – 2016; parodied from Nikki Bella
- Princess Kick (Superkick) – 2016-present
- Signature moves
- Atomic drop
- Backslide
- Big boot
- Bodyscissors
- Bronco Buster
- Crucifix pin
- Diving crossbody
- Forearm smash
- Guillotine Choke
- Monkey Flip
- Oklahoma roll
- Reverse STO
- Rope aided hurricanrana
- Schoolgirl
- Sit-out rear mat slam
- Single leg dropkick
- Small Package
- Suicide dive
- Super frankensteiner
- Threz press
- Tilt a whirl headscissors takedown
- Turnbuckle handstand into Frankensteiner
- Vertical suplex
- Wheelbarrow snapmare
- Managers
- Tag Teams & Stables
- Nicknames
- "The Staten Island Princess"
- "Ms. Money In The Bank"
- "The Crown Princess of Smackdown Live"
- "The Moonwalking Trash-talking Chick"
- Entrance themes
- "SAWFT is a Sin" by CFO$ (NXT/WWE; May 20, 2015 – March 12, 2016; used while managing Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady)
- "Fabulous" by CFO$ (October 16, 2014 – present)
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked her #44 in the 2016 PWI Top 50 Females
- WWE
- Money In The Bank (2017 - WWE Smackdown Women's Championship contract)
- WWE Smackdown Women's Championship (1 time)
External links
2016 PWI Top 50 Females |
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Charlotte Flair • Sasha Banks • Asuka • Becky Lynch • Bayley • Jade • Natalya • Gail Kim • Sexy Star • Sienna • Ivelisse • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Rosemary • Allie • Nicole Matthews • Kimber Lee • Candice LeRae • Paige • Heidi Lovelace • Evie • Cheerleader Melissa • Nia Jax • Santana Garrett • Naomi • Dana Brooke • Madison Rayne • Kay Lee Ray • Alexa Bliss • Lufisto • Amber Gallows • Marti Belle • Emma • Taylor Made • Vanessa Kraven • Su Yung • Ember Moon • Tessa Blanchard • Jessicka Havok • Shayna Baszler • Crazy Mary Dobson • Malia Hosaka • Thunder Rosa • Carmella • KC Spinelli • Veda Scott • Jessica James • Xandra Bale • Kaitlin Diemond • Eva Marie |
2017 PWI Top 50 Females |
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Asuka • Charlotte Flair • Alexa Bliss • Sasha Banks • Bayley • Io Shirai • Natalya • Sienna • Naomi • Kairi Sane • Mercedes Martinez • Shayna Baszler • Rosemary • LuFisto • Mayu Iwantani • Mia Yim • Allie • Ember Moon • Becky Lynch • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Nia Jax • Candice LeRae • Toni Storm • Hiroyo Matsumoto • Chelsea Green • Saraya Knight • Shazza McKenzie • Kay Lee Ray • Mickie James • Dakota Kai • Nicole Matthews • Alex Windsor • Deonna Purrazzo • Abbey Laith • Risa Sera • Viper • Carmella • Ruby Riot • Nikki Cross • Vanessa Kraven • Santana Garrett • Tessa Blanchard • Arisa Nakajima • Lady Lory • Shotzi Blackheart • Veda Scott • Alpha Female • Marti Belle • Zoey Skye |