Carmella Claims She Was ‘Ghosted’ and ‘Punished’ By WWE for Having a Baby

Carmella is finally breaking her silence after WWE cut ties with her, and she’s not holding back.

After 12 years with the company, the former SmackDown Women’s Champion found out her contract was expiring—but instead of a conversation, she says she was completely ignored by WWE until the last minute.

Speaking on the Barely Famous podcast, Carmella—real name Leah Van Dale—opened up about how shocked she was by how everything went down. “Is it because I’m a woman? Is it because I had a baby?” she questioned. “And it just feels like a shtty way to end a 12-year career with the company. This is how it ended.”*

She also pointed out that while her husband, WWE commentator Corey Graves, still has his job, she was suddenly let go after they welcomed their baby in November 2023.

“He still has a job. We had a kid and he has a job, but I don’t,” she said. “I got a call saying that my contract was up in 10 days… Ghosted. Ghosted. Completely ghosted.”

Carmella admitted that the uncertainty of her future is hitting hard. “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? I feel like I’m being punished because I had a baby.”

Now, she’s asking a bigger question—why do women, especially moms in sports, have to choose between their careers and their families?

“Why would you wanna be somewhere that doesn’t want you? I wish more for women in general and moms and especially athletes. I feel like you shouldn’t have to choose one. Why can’t you have both?”

Carmella’s WWE career may be over, but she’s making it clear—she’s not done fighting. Whether she steps back in the ring somewhere else or takes a completely new path, she’s got something to prove. Was she really let go because she had a baby, or is there more to the story? One thing’s for sure—she’s not staying quiet about it.