Former WWE star Carmella recently provided an update on her recovery from eye surgery, sharing details about her healing process 72 hours after undergoing upper and lower blepharoplasty.
The former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion posted to her Instagram stories to show fans her progress following the procedure to fix droopy eyelids.
Carmella Details Recovery Progress
The bruising has started to turn yellow, which Carmella noted is a positive sign of healing. She revealed that while swelling and discoloration remain, she’s already noticing results from the surgery and experiencing improved vision.
“Okay, we are 72 hours post-op. The bruising is starting to turn yellow, which is amazing. That means we’re healing,” Carmella said.
“Still swelling, of course, but I mean, everything’s gone down so much. I’m already starting to see the results, and I’m obsessed. A couple more days of this discoloration, I’m sure, but we’re getting there.”
She continued:
“Feeling great. I’m seeing a lot better today, so I’m really happy about that. Just trying to rest, and I’m not icing quite as much; it’s worse. Like I said, it’s been 72 hours, but the only reason I like to ice because it helps me keep my eyes shut all the way. And they’re still getting a little dry, but that’s what eye drops and all that are for. I’m obsessed.”
Carmella hasn’t competed in the ring since March 2023. During her time away from WWE, she had two children with commentator Corey Graves.
Her contract with WWE expired in February 2025 and was not renewed by the promotion. She recently teased a potential return to in-ring action, though no specific plans have been announced.
Her potential candidacy received an enthusiastic endorsement from Bayley, who publicly supported Carmella\’s ambitions.
\”MELLA DA MANAGER!!!!!!!! GIVE ME WHAT I WANT!!!!!!!!\”
With her background in management and history in NXT, Carmella makes an intriguing candidate.
Carmella\’s final on-screen appearance for WWE took place on March 6, 2023, during a match on Monday Night Raw. Following this performance, she stepped away from the ring to focus on her pregnancy and subsequently battled a \”drop foot\” injury sustained during childbirth.
Although she remained employed during her hiatus and anticipated a return, her tenure with the company officially ended in February 2025 when her contract expired and was not renewed.
In October 2025, Carmella and Corey Graves became parents once again after the birth of the couple\’s second child. Though the arrival of Bram Julian Polinsky was a joyous event, it was a time that Graves couldn\’t appreciate for long.
Mere days after the arrival of Bram, Graves was back at work behind the commentary desk at WWE events. In her Instagram Stories, Carmella explained how Graves\’ time-off came to an abrupt end.
\”His paternity leave started a week early, and since Bram was past his due date, by the time he was born, Matt had to go back to work. He had to go back like five days after we came home from the hospital, which sucks.”
Carmella wishes that WWE could have been more flexible and give Graves more time off after the birth of Bram. While she appreciates that Graves was present for the birth of his child, the former SmackDown Women\’s Champion wishes things had gone differently.
\”I guess I’d rather have him leave a little early postpartum than have him miss the birth of his child. So we had to compromise. I still think he should have WAY more time off than just five days after the baby’s born. That’s crazy.\”
WWE has often had a complicated time handling pregnancies, including infamously cutting Dawn Marie in 2005 while she was pregnant. While WWE has improved its handling of pregnant stars since then, such as the currently-pregnant Naomi, Carmella believes much more could be done to help couples.
Carmella is proud to be a mom after previously suffering an ectopic pregnancy after an earlier miscarriage. While time will tell if she ever returns to the ring, she hopes WWE is able to be more giving for talent waiting to welcome a child.
Former WWE Superstar Carmella and her husband, WWE commentator Corey Graves, are expanding their family. The couple has announced they are expecting their second child together, a baby boy.
Carmella shared the exciting news with her followers on Instagram. She posted a collection of photos of herself and Graves, with the final slide being a video of their private gender reveal celebration with family.
“We’re having a….. ? last slide is the little gender reveal we did with our family,” Carmella wrote in the post’s caption.
This will be the second son for the couple. They welcomed their first child, Dimitri Paul Polinsky, on November 8, 2023. Carmella is also a stepmother to Graves’ three children from a previous marriage.
The announcement comes just over a month after Carmella’s departure from WWE. The former SmackDown Women\’s Champion was released from her contract in May 2025 as part of a round of talent cuts. Since her release, she has kept fans updated on her life and family through her social media channels.
Former WWE star Carmella has channeled her personal experiences with pregnancy loss into creating a supportive community for women facing similar challenges. Speaking on Wrestling Classic\’s Casual Conversations, she revealed the inspiration behind her new platform, Snatch.
Born from Personal Tragedy
\”When I had my miscarriages, I feel like I kind of was alone in that and I wanted to share my experience. And through that, I realized how much we needed to talk about these things as women. And so, that\’s why I created Snatch,\” Carmella explained.
The platform addresses a critical gap in women\’s health discussions.
\”Snatch is a platform for women um to kind of be educated and discuss all things related to fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, motherhood.\”
Real Impact on Real Women
The response to her openness has been overwhelming, with women sharing how her vulnerability has helped them through their own struggles.
\”There was a woman here today and her she was with her son the same age as Dimmitri and she was like because you spoke up about your birth story, it made me feel so much better about mine cuz she had a really traumatic birth.\”
Carmella shared that the impact extends beyond pregnancy and birth experiences.
\”I feel like there are so many women that have come out of the woodwork and just said like even today, women coming up to me today saying and and men coming up to me today saying that I helped their wives to talk about my ectopic pregnancy or to talk about the miscarriages.\”
Transforming Platform into Purpose
This venture represents a significant shift in how Carmella uses her public platform.
\”It\’s just really really cool to know that like I\’ve taken my platform and turned it into something different and just meeting so many people that it\’s helped.\”
She takes particular pride in building a genuine community focused on real-life experiences rather than highlights.
\”I feel like because I\’ve had a platform through WWE and kind of like years ago and just kind of lean more into just like showing like the highlights and the best clips of your life that now I\’m like what I\’m really leaning into is the real life aspect and I love that.\”
Through Snatch, Carmella is proving that sometimes our greatest challenges can become our most meaningful contributions to others facing similar struggles.
Former WWE star Carmella has finally addressed the circumstances surrounding her contract ending with the company, clarifying misconceptions about her departure while expressing gratitude for her time in WWE. In an interview with Wrestling Classic\’s Casual Conversations, she opened up about the emotional journey.
The Shocking Moment
\”In the moment it was very jarring. I was shocked. I feel like it was shocked and immediately I was shocked and because I didn\’t get a lot of notice to me. That\’s what kind of was like, wow,\” Carmella explained about learning her contract wouldn\’t be renewed.
However, she emphasized that her feelings have evolved significantly since then.
\”But I\’m so happy. I\’m so so happy. Everything happens for a reason. I feel so blessed. Like with my time at WWE, I I mean, everyone that I\’ve seen here today, it\’s like joking around with Big Show and like I saw Ellsworth. I\’m like, this is wild.\”
Addressing the Misconceptions
Carmella directly addressed criticism and misconceptions that arose after her podcast comments about leaving WWE.
\”I wasn\’t at all saying anything bad about WWE. I\’m like so grateful for my time at WWE. Eventually, I\’m going to leave WWE. Like, there\’s no way I can live like work there forever.\”
She acknowledged feeling hurt about how things ended while maintaining perspective.
\”For me personally, I was just a little upset and hurt, I guess, with how it ended, but it was going to end no matter what, you know? And I was just a little hurt with how it ended, that\’s all.\”
Looking Forward
Now several months removed from the situation, Carmella is embracing her new identity outside of wrestling.
\”I even though I had been away for 2 years, I was still under contract. And it\’s like for the first time in 12 years, I\’m like, \’Oh, I\’m Leah. I\’m not Carmela.\’ Like, but who is Leah without wrestling?\”
Despite this transition, she remains open to future opportunities with WWE.
\”I will for sure hope that someday I go back, you know, whether it\’s like a oneoff or for a Rumble or something. Um, it\’s in my blood and I I love it.\”
Former WWE star Carmella has revealed how a single promo performance altered WWE\’s plans for the 2018 Money in the Bank briefcase, leading to her historic second win. Speaking to Wrestling Classic\’s Casual Conversations show, Carmella detailed how Vince McMahon\’s reaction to her performance changed everything.
The Promo That Changed Everything
\”I went out there, cut a promo. I think we opened the show and um came back through the curtain and like got standing ovation. And I remember Vince was like, \’I wish my top guys could cut a promo like that,\’\” Carmella recalled during the interview.
The impact was immediate and significant. When asked about winning Money in the Bank for the second time, Carmella confirmed that plans had originally been different.
\”Were you not supposed to win it again the second time? No, it was supposed to be Becky. Becky was supposed to win the second time,\” she revealed.
How Plans Changed
Carmella explained that the pivotal moment came on the SmackDown following the Money in the Bank pay-per-view. After delivering her promo and receiving a standing ovation backstage, she noticed immediate changes to the show\’s format.
\”We had a segment later that night was I think the closing segment of the night. We were out there with Daniel Bryan and there were supposed to be physicality and I think Becky or Charlotte was supposed to like tag team me to the floor or I was supposed to beat them up.\”
The physical dynamics of the segment were altered, with Carmella recognizing what it meant.
\”They changed all the physicality to them beating me up and I was just like I just knew in my heart I\’m like I am going to win it again and um I did.\”
Making History
This promo performance led to Carmella becoming the first woman to win Money in the Bank twice, and she holds the record for the longest reign with the briefcase. Her ability to showcase her character work when given the opportunity proved pivotal to her career trajectory, demonstrating that sometimes one standout performance can change everything in professional wrestling.
When asked about the topic in a new interview with New York Post Sports, Carmella defended Graves as \”an incredible talent\” and emphasized her full support.
\”I feel like he\’s such an incredible talent. He has so much passion and so much love for this business, and I will always have his back. I feel like he deserves everything,\” she said.
Carmella continued, praising Graves as one of WWE\’s top commentators.
\”He\’s one of, if not the best, commentator WWE has—maybe other than Michael Cole,\” she added. \”He\’s just incredible, and I support him no matter what.\”
Industry Colleagues React
Graves\’ commentary shift prompted several wrestling broadcasters, many former colleagues, to weigh in on the situation.
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T didn\’t mince words about his feelings toward Graves\’ public reaction. \”We\’re not cool, not cool at all—I didn\’t like the tweet. I didn\’t tell him I didn\’t like it, but I\’m sure there perhaps will come a time when I might say it,\” Booker stated.
Despite the controversy, longtime WWE announcer Michael Cole expressed hope for Graves\’ WWE future while acknowledging his talents. \”He\’s an unbelievable commentator,\” Cole said. \”I hope he stays with us, because he\’s one of the best.\”
Wrestling commentary legend Jim Ross supported WWE\’s decision, suggesting that Pat McAfee\’s broader appeal justified the move. \”Would you trade Pat McAfee and his massive broadcast platform for Corey Graves? I wouldn\’t, to be honest,\” Ross remarked.
Former WWE commentator Jonathan Coachman offered perspective based on his own experiences, noting that such changes are commonplace in wrestling broadcasting. Coachman emphasized that many top commentators, including Jim Ross and Michael Cole, have experienced similar role adjustments throughout their careers, and encouraged Graves to embrace whatever position he\’s given in the company.
Carmella has reacted to fans telling her she needed to die for speaking about her WWE departure.
The former SmackDown Women\’s Champion appeared on the Barely Famous podcast earlier this week to discuss her unceremonious departure from the company in detail.
Many fans took the side of the billion-dollar corporation, however, targeting the female star with harsh comments. One such fan took things too far and wished death upon the former champion in a tweet that\’s since been taken down for violating the site rules:
Carmella also responded to another tweet discussing the situation and noted that such reactions are the reason why talent are afraid to speak up about their struggles:
“Literally. this is why women are afraid to speak up because they get ridiculed nonstop for it. but it is what it is! I’d rather be hated for telling the truth than stay silent.”
literally. this is why women are afraid to speak up because they get ridiculed nonstop for it. but it is what it is! I’d rather be hated for telling the truth than stay silent. ????? https://t.co/Be1r23bOOQ
The Princess of Staten Island was left surprised when WWE informed her that her deal was coming up and they were not looking to re-sign her earlier this year. The now former WWE star had been on hiatus since March 2023 due to her pregnancy and subsequent health issues.
According to Carmella herself, the company had given her the impression that her deal was frozen and it would only be reinstated when she returned to the ring. You can check out her remarks on the matter here.
Carmella has explained how it\’s possible for her to not know that her WWE contract was going to expire.
The female star appeared on the Barely Famous podcast for the first time since the news of her exit from WWE became public. She talked openly about the circumstances leading to her departure.
The former SmackDown Women\’s Champion went on a hiatus in March 2013 due to her pregnancy. When asked how the company first reacted to the news, Carmella noted that they were very supportive at the time:
\”A handful of women have gotten pregnant while under contract and basically, they freeze your contract while you\’re pregnant. They pay you, which is so incredible. They don\’t have to pay you when you\’re pregnant, and they paid me, and they\’ve paid every woman that\’s been pregnant before under contract. I\’m so grateful for that.\”
The Princess of Staten Island then went into details of why and how it was possible for her to not know that her WWE contract was coming to an end until she got the call from the office. Carmella explained that the standard procedure is for a frozen contract to be reinstated after the star returns to action. In her case, however, the officials decided to reinstate her deal in January 2024, without notifying her:
\”Basically when I got pregnant, they sent me a letter and they said that like, they gave me X amount of days off on my contract for being pregnant and then seven weeks postpartum. So basically, they anticipated how long it would take me to recover postpartum. I\’m assuming they give this number to all the women who get pregnant, right? But they said in this letter like no matter what, when you return to wrestling, these dates will all change.
So basically, it\’s just kind of like a placeholder date and number and period of time that you have off, but when you return to wrestle, that\’s the date that we\’re actually going to take. That contract would be frozen for that amount of time that you were out.
So like say I was out for 300 days and then like okay, we\’re going to freeze your contract for 300 days. Or we\’re going to freeze your contract for whatever amount of time, but I was out for 300 days then once I came back, they would add that 300 days back onto my contract. If that makes sense. So that was just the impression I was under because that\’s how it\’s worked for other women in the past and that\’s how it\’s worked if you\’re injured or anything. \”
Carmella also revealed that she had contact with the company during this period. She didn\’t want to be sitting home just collecting her paycheck, so she pitched ideas to be involved in various non-wrestling capacities such as pre-show panelist or manager for a team. Though she was not informed of the change in her contract status even when she let the company know about her postpartum medical issues. She only became aware of it when she was called to inform that her deal will not be renewed earlier this year.
Carmella has warned people not to make assumptions about her exit from WWE and only make judgement after knowing all the details.
A preview clip of the female star\’s upcoming interview went viral on social media early on Tuesday with the edit making it seem like the former champion was really bitter about the end of her WWE run.
The Staten Island Princess however, made a tweet later in the day claiming that people should not make assumptions about her feelings before getting the chance to listen to the full conversation:
\”All I have to say is, before you make assumptions/judgements, make sure you listen to the full conversation. Then let me know what you think.\”
All I have to say is, before you make assumptions/judgements, make sure you listen to the full conversation. Then let me know what you think.
Carmella\’s WWE run came to an unceremonious end this month after 12 years when her contract with the company expired and the officials chose not to renew the deal.
The former SmackDown Women\’s Champion had already been off road for a couple years due to her pregnancy and subsequent health issues, so she did not get the chance to say goodbye to fans with a final match before her departure.
Her husband Corey Graves continues to be part of the WWE roster currently serving as an NXT commentator. Though his standing in the company seems to have been affected by a recent social media outburst, after which the promotion has snubbed him from main roster appearances even when the opportunity araised.
It\’s unknown if Carmella is planning an in-ring return outside of WWE but we should get a better idea when her full interview drops on Thursday. Stay tuned to SEScoops for a comprehensive coverage of the same.
Former WWE star Carmella (Leah Van Dale) opened up about her departure from the company, revealing she felt “punished” for having a baby and that WWE cut ties with her without much notice.
Carmella’s contract recently expired, marking the end of her 12-year tenure with WWE. She has not wrestled since March 2023 due to dealing with drop foot after giving birth. Speaking on the Barely Famous Podcast, she expressed frustration over how things ended.
“…What’s next for Leah? For so long, it’s like, ‘Oh, Carmella.’ It’s like, no,” she said. “I can now fully be Leah and do what I want to do, and I don’t know what that is.”
Carmella acknowledged she had been sidelined for nearly two years but said it wasn’t her choice.
“That’s the whole point, to get people talking and to be bold, in your face,” she said. “Let’s talk about it. Let’s have the conversations that women aren’t having. Is it because I’m a woman? Is it because I had a baby? It just feels like a shitty way to end a 12-year career with the company, that this is how it ended.”
She also pointed out the contrast between her situation and that of her husband, WWE commentator Corey Graves.
“[Corey Graves] still has a job. We had a kid, and he had a job, but I don’t. I mean, I guess fast forward until a few weeks ago and I got a call saying that my contract was up in ten days.
[Everyone] ghosted. Completely ghosted. What if this is the end of my career? What am I doing with my life, what do I have to offer? Why wasn’t I given an opportunity somewhere else?”
When asked if it was bittersweet that many of her colleagues remained in WWE, she admitted feeling like she was penalized for becoming a mother.
“I feel like I’m being punished because I had a baby,” she said.
While some speculated WWE could change its stance, Carmella was clear in her response.
“Why would you want to be somewhere that doesn’t want you? I wish more for women in general and moms and especially athletes. You shouldn’t have to choose one. Why can’t you have both?”
Carmella has broken her silence for the first time since the unceremonious end of her 12-year run with WWE earlier this month.
The former Women\’s Champion posted a short video on Instagram thanking fans who have reached out and shown their appreciation since the news broke. She also mentioned how there\’s a lot of uncertainty around her future. The female star noted that she has \’a lot\’ to say and promised to jump on a podcast this week to address her WWE departure in more detail:
\”Hi guys. I am aware I\’ve been MIA for the last week. If you can\’t tell I\’m so sick. I\’ve been sick for over a week now. There\’s also obviously been a lot happening. Some news broke last week and I just wanted to let you know that I\’ve seen all of your texts and tweets and messages and DMs and like oh my god, you guys are just the best.
I\’m so grateful for you and everything that you\’ve been saying about Carmella and my career and I\’m so blessed. So thank you. I know there\’s a lot of questions and uncertainty around everything. I will be going on a podcast later this week, answering some of those questions and telling my side because I have a lot to say about the situation. So yes, stay tuned, I\’ll give you the details later when I can and I can\’t wait to fill you guys in.\”
The news of Carmella\’s WWE deal expiring first broke out earlier last week. The company then moved her to the alumni section of their website. The former champion herself also changed her name on various social platforms to essentially confirm that the two parties were no longer working together.
The Staten Island Princess had not been active in the ring since March 2023, when she took maternity leave from the company. She gave birth to a son in November 2023, but health complications arising from childbirth have prevented the wrestling veteran from making an in ring return.
Former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella is no longer under contract with WWE following the expiration of her deal, marking the end of her 12-year tenure with the company. The 37-year-old wrestler had been inactive since March 2023 due to severe medical complications after childbirth, which ultimately prevented her from making a return to the ring.
Medical Challenges Hindered Comeback
Carmella, whose real name is Leah Van Dale, faced significant health issues following the birth of her first child with WWE commentator Corey Graves in November 2023. She suffered from nerve damage and foot-related complications that made an in-ring return impossible.
In a recent update, she shared that she had been consulting with neurologists and spine specialists in hopes of recovering. However, despite more than 14 months of rehabilitation, she was unable to compete again before her contract expired.
During her time with WWE, Carmella achieved several major milestones. She became the first-ever Ms. Money in the Bank, held the SmackDown Women’s Championship for 131 days, and captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Queen Zelina. Her last active period in WWE was in 2022 before taking maternity leave.
Tiffany Stratton has at long last cashed in her Money in the Bank contract and waited until the first three-hour edition of WWE SmackDown to do so. Stratton toppled Nia Jax to capture the WWE Women\’s Championship but is hardly the first Superstar to cash in on the Blue Brand:
2007: Edge (May 8, 2007)
Mr. Kennedy claimed he\’d wait a whole year to cash in Money in the Bank, but would in fact lose the briefcase to Edge in May 2007. Not wanting to make the same mistake as Kennedy, Edge cashed in days after winning the briefcase to win the World Heavyweight Title from The Undertaker.
2010: Jack Swagger (April 2, 2010)
After winning the Money in the Bank contract at WrestleMania 26, Jack Swagger attempted to cash in on the following Raw. When that didn\’t work out, Swagger took advantage of a downed Chris Jericho, who had just taken a spear by Edge, to win the World Heavyweight Championship on SmackDown.
2017: Baron Corbin (August 15, 2017)
The only failed cash-in to take place on SmackDown, Baron Corbin tried to claim the WWE Championship that was held by Jinder Mahal at the time. The interference of John Cena (ironically the first man to fail a Money in the Bank cash-in) ended the match in a DQ and Corbin would never hold World Championship gold in WWE.
2018: Carmella (April 10, 2018)
The first-ever Miss. Money in the Bank, Carmella had to win her briefcase a second time on the June 27 episode of SmackDown, due to James Ellsworth\’s interference. After waiting 287 days, the Staten Island Princess cashed in on April 10, 2018, SmackDown to win the SmackDown Women\’s Title from Charlotte Flair.
2025: Tiffany Stratton (January 3, 2025)
After months of being dismissed and put down by her \’friend,\’ Tiffany Stratton got her revenge by cashing in Money in the Bank on Nia Jax. This win marks Stratton\’s first title on the main roster, and the end of Jax\’s reign as Women\’s Champion that had begun at SummerSlam 2024.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Tiffany Stratton and her reign as the brand-new WWE Women\’s Champion.
Former WWE Women’s Champion Carmella has shared an emotional update on her health and life since stepping away from the spotlight. During a candid Instagram Live chat with fellow WWE star Bayley, Carmella opened up about the challenges of recovering from a nerve injury sustained during childbirth, her joy in motherhood, and her hopes of returning to the ring.
While she embraces her new role as a mom, the road to recovery has been a test of patience and determination. Read on as Carmella shares her journey of resilience and her longing to once again perform as the larger-than-life persona fans adore.
Becoming a Mother
In November 2023, Carmella and her husband, WWE commentator Corey Graves, welcomed their first child, Dimitri. Reflecting on this monumental life change, Carmella said during the live stream, “I love being a mom. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done ever, in my whole entire life.”
Motherhood has brought immense joy to the former WWE Superstar, but her delivery also marked the beginning of an unexpected health battle.
Health Challenges: Battling Drop Foot
During labor, Carmella experienced nerve damage resulting in a condition called drop foot, which impairs the ability to lift the front part of the foot. This condition, caused by damage to the peroneal nerve, can be particularly debilitating for an athlete.
In her conversation with Bayley, Carmella acknowledged the challenges of adapting to this condition. “This is the first major injury I’ve had in my entire career,” she shared, emphasizing the contrast to her injury-free decade-long wrestling tenure.
Working Towards Recovery
Carmella is actively addressing her condition with a combination of physical therapy, chiropractic treatments, and MRIs to monitor her progress. Recovery has been slow, but her determination remains steadfast. “Nerves do take a lot of time to heal, but eventually, we’ll get back to it,” she told Bayley during their chat.
Missing the WWE Ring
Though her recovery requires focus and time, Carmella admits to deeply missing her WWE persona and performing in front of fans. “Of course, I miss WWE. Of course, I miss everyone. I miss being Carmella. I miss performing. I miss it so much,” she confessed during the Instagram Live session.
Her connection to her fans and the adrenaline of performing continues to motivate her recovery journey, and she remains optimistic about returning to the ring.
Looking Ahead
Carmella’s candid conversation with Bayley revealed her determination to overcome this setback, embrace motherhood, and find her way back to WWE. With a strong support system and unwavering resilience, she is determined to write the next chapter of her remarkable journey. Fans eagerly await her return, confident she will step back into the ring stronger than ever.
Vince Russo has been critical of Carmella in the past and recently criticized a booking decision made by WWE involving her, something the WWE star didn’t appreciate so she put him on blast.
This past Monday night on Raw, Carmella defeated Piper Niven, \”Michin\” Mia Yim, and Candice LeRae to win the last Elimination Chamber qualifier.
While speaking on Sportskeeda Wrestling\’s Legion of Raw, Russo noted that he thought Niven should have been the one to qualify for the Elimination Chamber Match.
\”Listen, we have gone through the well with Carmella a million times. To me, I am going with Piper Niven. Do you know why? At the end of the day, here\’s the deal bro. If they get Rhea Ripley if she beats Charlotte Flair. Who do you think would be a better opponent for her? Carmella or Piper Niven? Carmella is not even in the same conversation, why are you going there?\”
Carmella Fires Back
Carmella responded on Twitter by demanding the former WWE/WCW/TNA creative writer give her the respect she has earned:
“Lololol not in that same conversation?? Allow me to list the women I have wins over: Charlotte, Asuka, Becky, Bayley, Sasha, Bianca, Liv, Alexa. The list goes on and on. I have more charisma in my pinky finger than both of these jabronies COMBINED. PUT SOME DAMN RESPECT ON MY NAME!!!”
Asuka, Carmella, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Natalya, and Nikki Cross will be featured in the Women’s Chamber bout. The winner will earn a shot to challenge Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 39.
Several top WWE stars have filmed for the famous \’Wheel of Fortune\’ game show. Filmed at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, RAW Women\’s Champion Bianca Belair alongside the New Day led a star-studded episode of the popular game show.
Joining the trio of champions was Big E, Bayley, Liv Morgan, Maryse, Natalya, and Carmella. The WWE stars were paired off with select fans over the duration of the taping.
Photos and Videos of WWE Invading Wheel of Fortune
Liv Morgan and Natalya also gave fans a peak behind the curtain of the show\’s tapings.
In late 2022, WWE unveiled that fans could apply to be part of the company\’s involvement with Wheel of Fortune. WWE announced that fans would compete alongside their favorite stars with a chance to win various prizes.
The company officially stated:
\”Winning teams will secure fabulous rewards such as a trip to WrestleManiaand other exclusive WWE prize packages.\”
Wheel of Fortune History
Wheel of Fortune first aired in January 1975 and has recorded over 7,000 episodes. Spin-offs of the show, including a celebrity edition have been aired due to the show\’s massive success. Several WWE stars and personalities have appeared on the show over the years including The Miz, Maria Menounos, Snoop Dogg, and Drew Carey.
While not having an official airdate, it\’s been reported that the episode is set to air sometime in March.
SEScoops will provide any updates on a possible airdate as it becomes available.
WWE star Carmella is likely dealing with a concussion after a recent injury suffered at a live event.
Earlier this month, the former SmackDown Women\’s Champion suffered an injury during a live event that surfaced on Twitter. She seemingly hit her head while Bianca Belair was doing a flip off the top turnbuckle. Carmella dropped to the canvas and rolled out of the ring.
Fans in attendance say that the referee threw up the \”X\” symbol, and Carmella was helped out of the arena, but was able to walk on her own.
To make things even more interesting, her husband, Corey Graves, apparently found out about his wife\’s injury from Twitter.
He posted the following before quickly deleting it.
Now, in an update, PWInsider reports that Carmella likely suffered a concussion during the match. The injury occurred several weeks ago at this point, and the report suggests Carmella\’s return is \”within sight.\”
Carmella is said to be expected back on the road with WWE next month. She was recently asked about returning from a fan on Twitter, and admitted she\’s not entirely sure when she\’ll be back yet, but is hoping it\’s soon.
\”I’m not sure yet.. still recovering. Hopefully soon! I miss y’all.\”
I’m not sure yet.. still recovering. Hopefully soon! ??
It appears that former SmackDown women\’s champion Carmella suffered an injury during the most recent WWE Live Event from North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, SC.
The event that took place Saturday night featured a triple threat match involving The Staten Island Princess, The Raw Women\’s Champion Bianca Belair and Asuka.
Early in the match, Carmella got out of the ring and wouldn\’t get back in. Her opponents started calling her chicken and the audience started chanting it too.
However, when Bianca tried to do a backflip over her, the WWE star appears to have hit her head in the corner and suffered a legitimate injury.
she got up on her own to walk away which is good, but they were like shielding her eyes from the bright lights #WWENorthCharleston
The referee threw the x sign and medical staff arrived to check on the female star. The good news is that she was able to walk back on her own, though the staff was shielding her eyes from bright lights:
Carmella\’s husband and WWE announcer Corey Graves wasn\’t happy that he found out about the injury via Twitter. He made a post about it, though it was deleted quickly:
Bianca Belair went on to win the match and she celebrated with the fans. There is no word yet on if Carmella\’s injury is anything serious but we\’ll keep you posted on her status.
Natalia Markova spoke to Steve Fall of SEScoops about her claims of Carmella stealing her catchphrase.
The History
On July 18, Natalia Markova sent out a tweet addressing WWE superstar Carmella. On Monday Night Raw, Carmella had just labeled herself as \”A Bad Ass with a Great Ass” while cutting a promo.
NWA’s Natalia Markova had been branding herself under that title for some time, and even has had t-shirts with the title printed. The catchphrase is also in her bio.
Many fans on Twitter began to call out Carmella for using the catchphrase.
This is not the first time Carmella has been called out for using someone else’s gimmick as Jersey Shore star Angelina Pivarnick also publicly called out Carmella and accused her of gimmick infringement.
Carmella just called herself "A Bad Ass with a Great Ass"
Carmella is still using the title, and recently sent out a tweet with the caption, “A badass with a great ass??” Natalia responded to the tweet with a quote tweet asking, “I mean…. Who did it better? Let her know?”
Natalia Markova sat down with Steve Fall of SEScoops to talk about these claims and her feelings on them.
Natalia said:
\”Well, it\’s similar to this Walmart [getting her purse stolen from her] situation. Somebody\’s just stealing my stuff. And I don\’t think it matters if it\’s intellectual property or physical properties, still stealing.
\”So, that\’s how I look at that. And obviously, those people they know that it\’s my catchphrase, the wrestling world is small. You know, everybody knows everything. And the way I feel about it, I think it\’s wrong.\”
Natalia Markova on Carmella allegedly stealing her line
\”Like, if you said once, like the first time it said it last week, and I was like, \’okay, whatever.\’ I guess they just didn\’t know, somehow, maybe, I don\’t know.
\”But then people were tagging like crazy amounts of people were tweeting, like, ‘Oh, my God, come on, that\’s Natalia. That\’s her catchphrase. Everybody knows that.’
\”It\’s actually one of my fans, like this supporter at FN wrestling podcast came up with this phrase for me. And I was like, ‘Oh, I\’ll just use it. It\’s amazing.’ So that was my thing.
\”Everybody knew that people tweeted on them and showed them. I mean, I feel like it\’s a little disrespectful. But I\’m not really mad about it. I just think it\’s wrong. You know, when somebody steals, it\’s not good. I don\’t approve of that, you know?\”
\”A Bad Ass with a Great Ass” Branding
The NWA wrestler continued and talked more about how the catchphrase has become a part of her branding.
She said:
“I actually have T-shirts, my fans, were buying those T-shirts, they have those T-shirts is like a brand catchphrase. And so I know that I mean, I\’m not like trying to talk law right now. But I know that if you have an item for sale with this, that means that belongs to you.
\”So and again, some people would be like, ‘Oh, you know, she\’s way more popular.’ So? Why are you saying that?
\”But again, so it\’s trying to tell me if some rich person will steal from a poor poor person, for example, that makes it not a crime. That\’s still the same crime. I\’m for equal rights. I think it doesn\’t matter.
\”If you have a million followers or you have 40,000 followers on Twitter, you\’re still the same person, and it\’s your property and that property got stolen. That\’s the same level of crime.
\”That\’s how I see that. So I feel like still stealing because I have a T-shirt that says that it\’s not just me at home, saying, ‘Hey, I\’m a badass with a great ass. This is my T-shirt. I wear it at home.’ No, that\’s an actual product that people buy.
\”Everybody knows me for that and I am in wrestling. I\’m on NWA. I\’m actually on WWE Network, my matches are on there. I\’ve done AEW, I\’ve wrestled in over 20 countries all over the world.
\”I\’m about to go to AAA this week. I\’m not just you know, like some I\’m not known wrestler; I\’m a known wrestler. And people know that and it was so many tweets.
\”I want to actually thank you guys, It was nice to see your support. Everybody was like, ‘Come on, don\’t do this. It\’s just not good. It\’s not nice.’ And why would you do that? We\’re all wrestlers who do the same thing. Come up with your own stuff. It\’s not that hard. Come up with your own.”
Was it WWE or Carmella?
Steve Fall then asked Markova who she believed came up with the idea to use the phrase.
“Well, obviously, I don\’t know how it works in WWE, or how they do that. And again, I mean, I know that it can be either somebody gave her the phrase, and she\’d be like, ‘Whatever. That\’s my job. I do my job.’ Either those people stole it or maybe she came up with the idea and told people and they\’re like, ‘Okay, let\’s do that.’
\”But whoever, I think doesn\’t really matter who came up with the idea. It\’s still stealing because it\’s on TV and her saying that. So it doesn\’t really change the results, who’s guilty, you know,” Markova responded.
Natalia is currently performing in the NWA regularly, but she is also working many independent dates. In the rest of the interview, Markova talks about her story of coming from Moscow, training in Japan, her match with Mickie James, and so much more.
Watch Natalia Markova\’s interview with Steve Fall for SEScoops:
WWE Raw Women\’s Champion Bianca Belair has expressed frustration about having opponent changes during her title reigns.
The champion is currently in a feud with Carmella, who stepped in as a replacement for Rhea Ripley. WWE wanted Ripley to challenge Belair at Money in the Bank on July 2.
However, she suffered an injury, and the company gave Carmella the opportunity. A similar situation happened last year when Carmella had to step in to replace Bayley due to injury to face Belair for the WWE Smackdown Women\’s Championship.
In an interview with The Corner Podcast\’s Andreas Hale and Kel Dansby, Belair shared that dealing with opponent changes can be frustrating. She doesn\’t blame anyone, but she expressed disappointment that feuds haven\’t gone as planned.
\”…It\’s difficult, and it gets frustrating with me sometimes. I felt like even with my Smackdown title reign, I wasn\’t able to live up to the full potential of Smackdown Women\’s Champion, just with how short the reign was and also with my title feuds,\” said Belair. She mentioned how Carmella replaced Bayley last year and that she misses her.
\”…Bayley getting injured and then have Carmella having to step in at Summerslam and I feel like not being able to have these amazing matches with that I could have had in my title reign and being able to go up against other great competitors to prove that I\’m a champion and then getting cut short and fast forward now it\’s like deja vu. It\’s happening all over again.\”
Although it can be difficult, Belair believes that it\’s making her a better competitor and that she is dependable.
Will Bianca Belair Continue her Feud with Carmella for Summerslam?
The feud between Belair and Carmella is still ongoing, but it\’s unclear has changed their mind. Belair defeated Carmella at Money in the Bank, which could\’ve ended the feud.
Carmella\’s win should set up another match against Belair, but before the match, Lynch demanded that she gets to challenge the champion at Summerslam on July 30.
Belair finds herself in the same situation she faced last year, with the same potential opponents going into Summerslam as champion.
It\’s unclear what plans the company has for Belair or who she will defend her title against. Hopefully, for Belair, she doesn\’t lose her championship again at Summerslam.
Jersey Shore star Angelina Pivarnick has publicly called out Carmella and accused her of gimmick infringement.
Last last week’s episode of WWE Raw saw Carmella interrupt a segment exclaiming ‘umm hello?’, a catchphrase famously used by Angelina in the first and second seasons of the hit MTV reality series.
Angelina took to Twitter to call Carmella out: “Hey @CarmellaWWE you’re using my line !!! Wtf. Sooo you’re from Staten and you’re using ummmm hello too Hmmmmm #weird #comeupwithyourowns**t.”
Carmella replied to Angelina’s tweet with a Mariah Carey ‘I don’t know her’ GIF.
Angelina claimed that Carmella had based her whole gimmick on her in this tweet: “Bitch please. You know exactly who I am and your whole gimmick is based off of me and Staten Island lollllll @WWE @CarmellaWWE Please take several seats girl. Lol. Get your own s**t and cut the crap already. We spoke years ago when u first started with wwe lolllll. Bye.”
Carmella fired back with another GIF of Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino calling Angelina a ‘dirty little hamster’ on the reality show.
Angelina added that she’d be willing to fight Carmella for free: “I will fight her for free. F**k the money. Shows how serious I am. I’m sick of her trying to be me with the umhello catchphrase! Catch these hands for free. Everyone thinks I’m starting s**t which I’m not. She starts all the time with me then pretends she doesn’t know who I am.”
The reality star went off at Kayla Braxton, who had attempted to defend Carmella:
“Well I’m sure the two sides are organizing a civil debate as we speak… Probably…”
Carmella & Natalya lost to Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair & SmackDown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan on last week’s Raw.
Tonight, WWE will host their annual Money in the Bank Premium Live Event which will feature two of the show\’s titular ladder matches.
Since 2005, 26 Superstars have cashed in the briefcase, with 22 of those attempts being successful, giving the Money in the Bank contract holder an impressive 84.6% chance of becoming champion.
During this week\’s SmackDown, the build continued towards Money in the Bank, but one Superstar tried to rewrite history.
The A-Lister\’s Comments
During a segment last night, Raw\’s very own The Miz made a trip to SmackDown and had some choice words about the Money in the Bank Ladder match.
In a backstage segment with Happy Corbin, Ezekiel, and Madcap Moss along with WWE Official Adam Pearce, The Miz claimed to be the only two-time winner of the Money in the Bank briefcase.
While The Miz is a two-time winner, capturing the briefcase in 2010 in a ladder match, and again in 2020 by defeating Otis, he isn\’t the only double-winner.
Rewriting History
In addition to The Miz, there have been other two-time winners, including AEW World Champion CM Punk.
Punk won back-to-back ladder matches at WrestleManias 24 and 25, and cashed in both times successfully, defeating Edge and Jeff Hardy in 2008 and 2009 respectively to become World Heavyweight Champion.
Given that The Miz included his non-ladder match briefcase win over Otis, then it stands that Edge is also a two-time briefcase winner.
Edge won the inaugural MITB Ladder match in 2005 and defeated Mr. Kennedy during a 2007 Raw to win the latter\’s briefcase.
There is also the argument that Carmella is a two-time winner, having won the first Women\’s MITB Ladder match in 2017.
After James Ellsworth helped her win the match, the Briefcase was defended in a ladder match on the following SmackDown which Carmella also won.
Britt Baker recently praised WWE’s Carmella on social media for being able to overcome adversity and booking decisions.
On Tuesday, Carmella took to Twitter where she listed all the WWE booking decisions that she has overcome ahead of her scheduled match at Money In The Bank this Saturday where she is slated to challenge Raw Women’s Champion against Bianca Belair.
The former SmackDown Women’s Champion wrote, “You can make me a manager, give me a guy without a chin, a dance break mid-match, change my character, have me wear a mask, be a last-minute replacement and I’m ALWAYS going to show up and show out. I rise to every occasion and you can’t take that away from me.”
Baker responded to that post by sharing a clapping hands emoji to support what Carmella had written.
On Monday’s episode of Raw, there was some crossover between WWE and AEW as Bryan Danielson, Paul Wight, and Chris Jericho appeared on the broadcast to show their support for John Cena, who was celebrating the 20th anniversary of his main roster in-ring debut in 2002.
The three AEW stars congratulated Cena on the 20-year anniversary of his WWE debut.
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— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) June 28, 2022
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