Fri Jul 18 08:00:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Carmella Opens Up About WWE Exit, Reality Show Rejection, and Motherhood Advice**

Former WWE star Leah Van Dale, known to wrestling fans as Carmella, recently shared insights into her career and personal life during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Page Six Radio.

Van Dale revealed that she and her husband, WWE commentator Corey Graves, were approached a few years ago about doing a reality TV show based on their relationship. However, the project was ultimately scrapped due to WWE’s creative control and the resulting “cheesy” and “hokey” storylines that felt inauthentic to the couple. Van Dale described one particularly contrived scene involving a moving day mishap with sex toys and a cheese grater. She felt the show would have been an “eight-episode commercial” for WWE.

Van Dale discussed the challenges of navigating life after leaving WWE, especially with her husband still working for the company. She noted that it took some time to separate their personal life from the all-consuming wrestling world.

Van Dale also spoke candidly about her departure from WWE after having a baby. She advised female wrestlers considering motherhood to “make sure that you’ve done everything in your career in case you don’t get the opportunity to go back, and that’s a real thing.” She shared that many women in the industry have reached out to her, expressing similar concerns. Van Dale expressed frustration that while some women are able to return after childbirth, “more often than not, it’s not happening.” She also volunteered to come back in a non-wrestling capacity but was turned down.

Van Dale’s candidness aims to spark change and highlight the often-unspoken realities faced by women in professional wrestling who wish to start a family.

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