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Some former and current female WWE Superstars have become mothers in the past few months.
Several WWE women gave birth in 2020 and early 2021. For example, Hall of Famer Nikki Bella had her first son, Matteo Artemovich, in July 2020. Sarah Logan also became a mother when she gave birth to her and Erik's first son, Raymond Cash Rowe, in February 2021.
Likewise, a few other former and current female superstars have also given birth in the past eight months. A few hours ago, a former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion became the newest mother in WWE as she welcomed her first child.
Here are five WWE women who recently became mothers.
#5. Former WWE Superstar Brandi Rhodes
Brandi Rhodes joined Vince McMahon's company in 2011 after passing a tryout. However, she only competed in a single Battle Royal in FCW before leaving the company later that same year.
Brandi returned to WWE in 2013. She spent another three years, during which she worked as a ring announcer and backstage interviewer, before leaving again in 2016.
During her time in Vince McMahon's company, she fell in love with former Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. The couple dated for a while before tying the knot in September 2013.
Like his wife, Cody left WWE in 2016. Three years later, the couple joined AEW. In December 2020, the former AEW Executive Vice President and his wife announced that they were expecting their first baby. On June 18, 2021, Brandi gave birth to the couple's daughter, Liberty Iris Runnels.
In an interview with Wrestle Joy, Brandi disclosed how becoming a mother has changed her life:
"It has been incredible. This is so much more and so different from what you expect and try to prepare for. Nothing in the world prepares you for the moment that you hear your child cry for the first time. You start a new world all over again. Having a baby has changed me so much in so many ways. I get caught up in this world with her, where she’s cooing, I’m in love, and then I get a message that I’m supposed to be on a call. I’ve been doing this for two years, but with a baby, your priorities shift, and your child becomes everything. I’m working on finding that balance, and I’m so lucky to have Leva Bates in my life, to help keep me on track with what I’m doing and where I’m going," she said.
Brandi Rhodes recently left AEW after her contract expired. While her husband is reportedly in negotiations with WWE, other reports suggested that Brandi would not join Cody in Vince McMahon's company.
#4. Former WWE Presenter Renee Paquette
Renee Paquette (FKA Renee Young) signed with WWE in 2012 and spent nearly eight years in the company before leaving in 2020. During her time in Vince McMahon's company, the 36-year-old fell in love with former United States Champion Jon Moxley (FKA Dean Ambrose).
After dating for nearly four years, the couple tied the knot in April 2017. In November 2020, they announced that they were expecting their first child. On June 15, 2021, Paquette gave birth to the couple's daughter, Nora Murphy Good.
In an interview with Metro, the former presenter and color commentator revealed that she wants her daughter to take risks in life:
"I want her to see what both of us do. I want her to see me working a lot, I want her to see Jon doing what he does and thriving like that. Life is not about just finding that safety net. It's about taking risks and enjoying that things that you do. More than anything, I just hope our daughter will be as passionate about something as we both are about our jobs. I think that's the main thing for us to project onto her. It’s just, find the thing that you’re passionate about and do whatever you can to make your own dreams come true," she said.
The 36-year-old currently has her podcast, Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette.
#3. WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey made her WWE debut in January 2018. She spent a little over a year in Vince McMahon's company, during which she won the RAW Women's Championship, before leaving in April 2019.
Rousey is married to former UFC fighter Travis Browne. In April 2021, she announced that she was pregnant with their first child. On September 27, 2021, she gave birth to her daughter, La'akea Makalapuaokalanipõ.
After more than two years of absence, the former RAW Women's Champion returned to Vince McMahon's company last month. The 35-year-old participated in and won the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble match.
In an interview with WWE.com after the bout, Rousey disclosed that her priorities have changed since becoming a mother:
"I'm gonna go back to my bus and love on my little baby. And that's really the only thing I care about right now. My Priorities have changed," she said.
The 2022 Women's Royal Rumble winner will challenge Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women's Championship. The two ladies will go head-to-head at WrestleMania 38.
Rousey will also team up with Naomi to take on Flair and Sonya Deville today at Elimination Chamber.
#2. WWE Superstar Lacey Evans
Lacey Evans married Alfonso Estrella-Kadlec in December 2004 when she was only 19 years old. Three years later, she gave birth to their first daughter, Summer. In an interview with WWE.com, The Sassy Southern Belle spoke about the difficulties of being a mother while chasing her dreams in Vince McMahon's company:
"I have the biggest supporter I could ask for, and that’s my husband, whom I’ve been with since the age of 15. (...) We work together to make sure she gets everything she needs from us as parents," she said.
In February 2021, Evans announced that she was pregnant with her second child. The 31-year-old welcomed her second daughter, Sunny, last October. In an Instagram post, the former U.S Marine revealed that she had to give birth at home due to Covid-related restrictions:
"I found out shortly after getting pregnant that due to covid my family wouldn't get to fully be apart of welcoming our second child into the world (...) I couldn't imagine my Lil lady missing it. I couldn't imagine the limitations and the birthing experience we would be left with......so home it was. Born 4:20am in my recliner. 8lbs 8oz. With my Lil lady and husband by my side the entire time. I got to see her reaction. I got to watch his smile. It was one of the hardest yet most rewarding things I've ever done and She is perfect," she wrote.
Evans has not competed since February 2021. In her last match, she teamed up with Peyton Royce to face Asuka and Charlotte Flair. However, her team lost the bout.
#1. WWE Superstar Candice LeRae
After competing for several years on the independent circuit, Candice LeRae officially joined WWE in 2018. She has been on the NXT roster ever since.
The 36-year-old is married to former NXT Champion Johnny Gargano. Last August, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child. LeRae then revealed in an Instagram post that she would have to step back from wrestling for a while. However, she noted that her child would be worth every second away from the ring:
"This road for me and Johnny has been long and I’ve had days where I thought this would never happen for us. It’s hard as a woman to choose between your career you’ve wanted since childhood and growing a life inside you. There never seems to be a right time (...) I do have to take a step back from my favorite part of this business for a while- physically wrestling. But I know this little one is going to be soooo very worth every second away from the ring," she wrote.
A few hours ago, the former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion and her husband welcomed their first son, Quill.
LeRae has not competed since July 2021. In her final match before going on maternity leave, LeRae and her partner, Indi Hartwell, lost their NXT Women's Tag Team Championships to Io Shirai and Zoey Stark at The Great American Bash.
