Carmella Confirms Her In-Ring Retirement on Podcast: ‘I Can’t Wrestle Anymore’

It looks like Carmella now considers herself retired from wrestling. During her Hot Mom Sh!t podcast, former WWE Women’s Champion Carmella (aka Leah Van Dale) says she’s now retired from wrestling when speaking to Laura Clery.

Carmella mentioned being retired when speaking to Clery about meeting her husband, WWE broadcaster Corey Graves, through work. She explained, “We worked together. So, we met through work, and it was like very similar kind of situation, like we worked together all the time and then we were home. Like I related a little bit to like when your book and you’re saying like our dates were all about, you know, half romance, half business planning, half like so we did that. Luckily, I don’t — I’m retired now, so it’s definitely a little bit different, but yeah, we met at work.”

When explaining her retirement comment, Carmella continued, “I mean, it’s — I was a professional wrestler, so it’s like I can’t wrestle anymore. I’m not — I’m a mom. I have kids. So, that’s kind of like I’m retired.”

Carmella exited WWE last year when her contract expired and was not renewed. Earlier this year, Carmella commented on an AEW match, teasing that she would return to this ring and wasn’t retired yet. She wrote at the time, “I didn’t retire, I had two babies… might have to come back and show these *****es how it’s really done.”

Carmella last wrestled at a WWE live event in March 2023. Her last televised bout was a match against Bianca Belair on Monday Night Raw in February 2023.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit NBC 11Alive with an h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.