Hey, if you’re a WWE fan, you know Carmella as that sassy, glamorous Staten Island Princess who always brings the drama and the skills to the ring. She’s Leah Van Dale in real life, a former top WWE star with championships, iconic cash-ins, and a life full of twists off the mat too. Let’s dive into everything about her up to 2026, packed with the latest stats and no filler.
Carmella’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Leah Van Dale |
| Ring Name/Nickname | Carmella, The Princess of Staten Island |
| Date of Birth | October 23, 1987 |
| Age | 38 years |
| Birthplace | Spencer, Massachusetts, USA |
| Religion | N/A |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Weight | 117 lb (53 kg) |
| WWE Debut | NXT in-ring: October 16, 2014; Main Roster: 2016 |
| Trained By | Sara Amato, Paul Van Dale (father), WWE Performance Center |
| Net Worth | Around $2 million |
| Contract | WWE contract expired February 2025; now alumni |
| Salary | Previously ~$300,000 annually |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband | Corey Graves |
| Children | Son Dimitri (b. November 8, 2023); Second child (b. October 2025) |
| Instagram Profile | @theleahvandale |
Carmella grew up in a wrestling family with her dad Paul Van Dale influencing her early. She’s balanced ring success with family life, taking maternity leaves that paused her career. Now at 38, she’s focusing more on personal ventures post-WWE.
Early Career
Carmella, real name Leah Van Dale, tried out for WWE Tough Enough in 2010 but backed out to become a Laker Girl cheerleader and dancer in LA. She did brief indie work under her real name before signing with WWE in June 2013, heading to NXT.
There, she debuted as valet for Enzo Amore and Big Cass, then went in-ring against Leva Bates in October 2014, building her Staten Island Princess gimmick fast. No major pre-WWE indie runs – her dad trained her basics.
Professional Wrestling Career
Carmella shone in NXT from 2014-2016 as a heel valet turned singles star, feuding with Bayley and Alexa Bliss but no title wins there. She hit main roster SmackDown in 2016, won the first-ever Women’s Money in the Bank in 2017, cashed in on Naomi after 287 days to become SmackDown Women’s Champion for 131 days in 2018.
Teamed with R-Truth for Mixed Match Challenge win and 24/7 antics, grabbed Women’s Tag Title with Zelina Vega in 2021, defended as longest-reigning inaugural champs. Injuries and maternity hit in 2022-2023; last matches in early 2023 on Raw before hiatus. Contract ended Feb 2025, now WWE alumni after 5 matches in 2023 (2-3 record).
Husband
Carmella is happily married to WWE commentator Corey Graves (Matthew Polinsky) since April 7, 2022 – they started dating in 2019. The couple has two kids: son Dimitri born November 8, 2023 after a tough ectopic pregnancy loss in 2022, and their second child arrived in October 2025. She’s shared their family joys on social media amid her career breaks.
Carmella’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Carmella’s net worth sits around $2 million in estimates. This comes from her decade-plus WWE run, past salaries, merch sales, and side gigs like modeling and fitness training. Growth from $1.5M in 2018 to $2M shows steady climbs via titles and popularity, though her WWE exit might shift focus to endorsements.
Contract
Specific contract details aren’t public, but Carmella was under a standard WWE deal through early 2025. It expired around February 2025 amid her post-maternity recovery from labor injuries and family priorities.
WWE moved her profile to alumni section, signaling no renewal yet – common for wrestlers on long breaks. No reports of new WWE or indie contracts in 2026 so far.
Salary
Carmella pulled in about $300,000 a year at her WWE peak, per multiple reports – solid for mid-to-upper card women stars with her title history and merch draw.
Earlier figures like $120,000 gross in 2019 bumped up with championships and main events. That base didn’t include PPV bonuses, house show pay, or royalties, pushing total annual closer to $400k+ during hot runs like her 2017-2018 champ reign.
Career Earnings
| Year Range | Est. Annual Salary | Bonuses/Merch/PPV | Total Est. Earnings |
| 2013-2015 (NXT) | $50k-$100k | Low | $200k |
| 2016-2018 (Rise/MITB) | $150k-$250k | $500k+ (MITB) | $1.2M |
| 2019-2021 (Titles/24/7) | $250k-$300k | $400k (Tags, Battle Royal) | $1.1M |
| 2022-2023 (Last Runs) | $300k | $200k | $500k |
| 2024-2026 (Post-WWE) | N/A | Endorsements ~$100k | $100k+ |
| Career Total | – | – | $3M+ |
Endorsements
Carmella scored deals with brands like Mountain Dew and Jimmy John’s during her peak, plus fitness and beauty sponsorships fitting her model-dancer background. Social media (over 3.1M Instagram followers pre-rebrand) brought paid posts, merch collabs, and appearances.
Post-WWE, she’s hinted at skincare ventures and lifestyle promo, keeping income flowing without ring work – think wellness retreats and fashion tie-ins she teases online.
Notable Opponents & Achievements
| Notable Opponents | Key Matches/Feuds | Achievements |
| Charlotte Flair | 2018 MITB Cash-in Win | SmackDown Women’s Champ (131 days, 2018) |
| Becky Lynch | Multi-year rivalry | Money in the Bank 2017 (First Woman) |
| Sasha Banks/Naomi | Tag Title Loss WM38 | Women’s Tag Champ w/Zelina (2021) |
| Liv Morgan | 3-3-1 Record | 4x 24/7 Champion (2019-19 days total) |
| Bianca Belair/Bayley | SmackDown feuds | WrestleMania Battle Royal 2019 |
| Asuka/Nikki Bella | Title chases | Mixed Match Challenge Winner w/R-Truth |
FAQs
1. Who is Carmella’s real name?
Carmella’s real name is Leah Van Dale. She was born on October 23, 1987, in Spencer, Massachusetts.
2. What are Carmella’s major WWE championships?
Carmella won the SmackDown Women’s Championship once in 2018, WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship once with Queen Zelina in 2021, and WWE 24/7 Championship four times. She also won the inaugural Women’s Money in the Bank in 2017 and the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal in 2019.
3. When did Carmella debut in WWE?
Carmella signed with WWE in June 2013 and debuted in NXT in September 2014 as a manager for Enzo Amore and Big Cass. She joined the main roster on SmackDown in July 2016.
4. Who is Carmella’s husband?
Carmella is married to WWE commentator Corey Graves, real name Matt Polinsky. They wed on April 7, 2022.
5. Does Carmella have children?
Yes, Carmella and Corey Graves have two sons: Dimitri Paul Polinsky, born November 8, 2023, and Bram Julian Polinsky, born October 2025.
6. Why did Carmella leave WWE?
Carmella’s WWE contract expired on February 21, 2025, ending her 12-year tenure. She had been absent due to pregnancy and a post-pregnancy drop foot injury.
7. Is Carmella planning a WWE return?
Carmella has expressed hope to return to wrestling after motherhood, but no official plans exist as of 2026. She recently focused on family and her wellness platform Snatch.
8. What was Carmella’s best WWE match?
Her top match was the triple threat for SmackDown Women’s Championship vs. Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at SummerSlam 2018, where she lost the title but held her own.
9. What is Carmella’s wrestling background?
Before WWE, Carmella was an NFL cheerleader for the New England Patriots and a Los Angeles Lakers dancer. Her father, Paul Van Dale, was a wrestler and MMA fighter.
10. What is Carmella’s current status?
Carmella is retired from full-time wrestling, focusing on family, her Snatch wellness community for women, podcasts, and reality TV appearances like Total Divas.