Carmella Siblings: Meet Breanna Jean Van Dale

Leah Van Dale, better known by her ring name Carmella, is an American professional wrestler, dancer, model, and former cheerleader who rose to prominence in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

Born on October 23, 1987, in Spencer, Massachusetts, she carved out a niche in the wrestling world with her charismatic persona, athletic prowess, and signature Staten Island princess gimmick.

Carmella blended her background in dance and cheerleading with in-ring skills to become a standout performer.

Before fully committing to wrestling, she cheered for the Los Angeles Lakers and the New England Patriots, showcasing her energetic flair that would later define her WWE character.

As a second-generation wrestler, her father, Paul Van Dale, was a jobber in the World Wrestling Federation during the 1980s and 1990s, Carmella entered WWE’s developmental system in 2013, evolving from a manager to a multi-time champion.

Off the mat, she is married to WWE commentator Corey Graves since 2022, and they welcomed their son, Dimitri Paul Polinsky, in November 2023, making her a mother and stepmother to his three children from a previous marriage.

Siblings

Carmella has a younger sister, Breanna Jean Van Dale, who has largely stayed out of the public eye despite occasional glimpses into their sibling relationship.

Growing up in Massachusetts, the two sisters developed a strong connection, often highlighted in Carmella’s social media posts.

Career

Carmella’s wrestling odyssey began in earnest when she signed with WWE in June 2013, landing in the NXT developmental territory in Orlando, Florida, where she honed her skills amid a roster of rising stars.

Her on-screen debut came in September 2014 as a quirky hairdresser in a comedic vignette alongside Enzo Amore and Big Cass, quickly transitioning into their manager as part of the “SAWFT is a Family” stable, where her Staten Island accent and sassy promos added electric energy to the tag team.

This managerial role sharpened her mic skills and built her confidence, leading to her first in-ring matches against competitors like Blue Pants and Alexa Bliss.

By early 2016, she challenged for the NXT Women’s Championship in a battle royal win that positioned her as a contender, though losses to Bayley and tag team setbacks with allies like Eva Marie tested her resolve.

Her call-up to the main roster came dramatically in the 2016 WWE Draft, selected last to SmackDown to bolster the women’s division, where she debuted by trash-talking the locker room and scoring her first victory over Natalya.

Feuds with Nikki Bella and Naomi followed, but her breakout arrived in June 2017 when she clinched the inaugural Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match—though controversy led to the briefcase being stripped, she reclaimed it weeks later in a historic rematch.

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After a record 287-day wait, she cashed in on April 10, 2018, post-attack by The IIconics, superkicking Charlotte Flair for her first singles title, the SmackDown Women’s Championship, in a moment that etched her into WWE lore as the first woman to successfully convert the contract.

Reigning for 131 days with defenses against Asuka and others, she dropped the belt at SummerSlam in a triple threat to Flair and Becky Lynch.

Post-title, she pivoted to alliances, winning the second Mixed Match Challenge with R-Truth in 2018 amid their viral seven-second dance breaks that charmed audiences.

A brief “knee injury” angle in 2019 transitioned her back to managing Truth in the chaotic 24/7 Championship pursuits, while she captured the WrestleMania 35 Women’s Battle Royal by eliminating Sarah Logan last.

Teaming with Naomi in 2020 for the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Championship run ended in defeat at Elimination Chamber, but her 2021 draft to Raw sparked a heel revival as “The Most Beautiful Woman in WWE,” allying with Queen Zelina Vega to dethrone Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H. for the Women’s Tag Team titles at Crown Jewel, holding them until WrestleMania 38.

Injuries, including a nasal fracture in 2022 and subsequent maternity leave after Dimitri’s birth, sidelined her, but she returned sporadically before WWE’s decision not to renew her contract in 2025, marking the end of a 12-year tenure defined by reinvention, from NXT valet to main-event heel.

Accolades

Carmella’s crowning achievement came as the winner of the inaugural Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match in 2017, a feat she repeated in a controversial rematch later that year, becoming only the second woman to claim the briefcase and the first to hold it for over nine months before her groundbreaking cash-in.

This led directly to her reign as WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion from April to August 2018, a 131-day title run highlighted by victories over elite foes and her historic status as the pioneer of a successful Money in the Bank conversion in women’s wrestling.

In tag team excellence, she partnered with Zelina Vega to capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship in November 2021, defending it through high-profile clashes until losing to Sasha Banks and Naomi at WrestleMania 38, a partnership that showcased her adaptability beyond solo stardom.

Carmella’s flair for battle royals shone at WrestleMania 35 in 2019, where she outlasted 29 competitors to win the Women’s Battle Royal, avenging early exits from prior years and adding a WrestleMania moment to her ledger.

Her comedic synergy with R-Truth earned them the second WWE Mixed Match Challenge tournament victory in 2018 on Facebook Watch, blending athleticism with viral dance interruptions that boosted her mainstream appeal.

Rounding out her accolades, she secured the WWE 24/7 Championship four times in 2019 and 2020, capitalizing on the title’s wild chase format with quick pins and escapes that played to her agile, opportunistic style.

Beyond belts, industry nods include ranking No. 38 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Female 50 in 2017 and No. 93 in the PWI Women’s 150 in 2021, affirming her consistent impact in a stacked division.