Until a few days ago, she was just another name in the SmackDown Live women’s roster, with immense potential to succeed. Fast forward a few days, and she’s the talk of the Sports Entertainment world, having won the first ever Women’s Money In The Bank ladder match, using underhand and sketchy tactics.
She became the biggest heel in the current sports entertainment landscape, by (in kayfabe) whitewashing everything that the women in WWE were working towards. This one angle has catapulted her to fame, and while she’s started well, we hope and long for WWE to give her a prolonged run a the top of the women's division.
After prolonged research of her interviews, background, and comments, we present five facts about Carmella that you probably didn't know yet.
#5 Byron Saxton helped perfect the Carmella gimmick
Carmella was born Leah Van Dale and she received her wrestling name when she first arrived in NXT around three years ago. When she first heard the name ‘Carmella’, Leah thought of an Italian mob wife, and it was Byron Saxton who helped develop the gimmick.
Saxton suggested that she be billed from Staten Island because Sasha Banks was already from Boston. As Carmella revealed on the Lilian Garcia Podcast recently, he also suggested certain nuances like Carmella should look at her nails at all times. Thus Carmella was born, with the aid and assistance of the third SmackDown Live announcer.
Carmella also attributes Nikki Bella as being instrumental backstage in the SmackDown Live locker room, as a motivator who brought all the blue brand girls together. With their help, she has reached where she has today.
#4 Carmella’s father is a former wrestler
Paul Van Dale was an enhancement talent guy in the late 80s and early 90s for the WWE. In other words, he was a jobber who wrestled against several legendary stars such as Razor Ramon, Papa Shango, Shawn Michaels, Diesel, and The Big Boss Man.
He never reached the kind of success that his daughter has managed to attain, but he instilled a love for wrestling in Carmella, who used to watch VHS tapes with her father in the morning when he returned home from work. Today, Carmella claims that her dad lives vicariously through her, as she attains new heights in wrestling (from the Lilian Garcia Podcast).
As of today, Paul Van Dale runs a real estate business, having to give up his wrestling dreams to raise his two daughters. Carmella trained with him and even boxed with him in the gym, helping her grow as an athlete. Funnily, while both Carmella and Charlotte are second generation superstars, both arrived at NXT with no wrestling experience.
#3 Carmella has a degree in marketing
While the Princess of Staten Island looks like she’s more concerned with her moves than college degrees, outside the ring, Carmella is a shy and intelligent girl. Carmella’s parents encouraged her to follow her dreams, provided she got a college degree.
Carmella hated being in college and dealing with roommates and the like, but she soldiered on and now holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth. Quite possibly, character development was of such importance to Carmella, because of her background in marketing.
#2 Carmella struggled through her dancing/cheerleading career
Fans of Carmella know that she is a lifelong professional dancer and has also been a cheerleader for teams such as the New England Patriots (for three seasons), as well as the LA Lakers (between 2010 and 2011). However, her road to the pinnacle of sports entertainment wasn’t paved with roses.
Considering that Carmella hailed from a poor family and dance lessons were expensive, Carmella had to often sweep the floor and clean the toilets at her dance school, to pay for her lessons (as revealed on the Lilian Garcia podcast recently). When she shifted to LA to become a cheerleader, she even lived in a car and in an apartment with no electricity.
We commend your perseverance and courage immensely, Carmella!
#1 Triple H laid a better path for Carmella
Fans from NXT will remember how Carmella was a valet for Enzo and Cass at first before she embarked on a singles run. When the duo got called up to the main roster, Carmella got on the bus that would take her to Raw.
Unfortunately, Triple H met her in person and told her that she was not going to be going up with them and that he had bigger plans for her as a singles performer in due time. While she was devastated at the time, life has come full circle for her, right now.
Congratulations, Carmella. May your push last for a long, long time!
