More than three years after her last match, former WWE Superstar Carmella has officially retired from pro wrestling.
Speaking on her Hot Mom Sh*t podcast, the one-time SmackDown Women’s champion confirmed that she is no longer an active pro wrestler while discussing her relationship with husband and WWE color commentator Corey Graves.
“We worked together,” Carmella said, via Sports Illustrated. “So we met through work. We worked together all the time. I related a little bit to your book, when you were saying our dates were half romance, half business planning. We did that. Luckily, I’m retired now, so it’s definitely a little bit different. But yeah, we met at work.”
The Princess of Staten Island added that being a full-time mom led to her decision to retire.
“I was a professional wrestler, so it’s like, I can’t wrestle anymore,” Carmella said. “I’m a mom, I have kids. So I’m retired.”
She and Graves have two children together. She is also a stepmother to his three older children from his first marriage.
Carmella’s WWE Career
After spending time as a cheerleader for the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Lakers, Carmella entered pro wrestling in 2013. She signed a developmental contract in WWE and was assigned to NXT.
Carmella began her career as a valet for Enzo Amore and Big Cass before transitioning into an in-ring performer in 2014. She was called up to the main roster two years later after getting drafted by SmackDown.
The Spencer, Massachusetts native received a push a year later, winning the Money in the Bank. She held the briefcase for 287 days, which remains a record to this day as the longest time before the MITB was used.
Carmella used it on Charlotte Flair on the April 10, 2018 episode of SmackDown. Flair was attacked by the debuting Billie Kay and Peyton Royce. She was SmackDown Women’s Champion for 131 days. She lost at SummerSlam 2018 back to Flair, who pinned Becky Lynch in a triple threat match.
While she never received another main event push, Carmella created memorable partnerships with comedic stars like R-Truth and James Ellsworth. She also won the 24/7 Championship four times and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Zelina Vega.
After nearly two years of inactivity since her last wrestling match in March 2023, Carmella’s contract with WWE expired in mid-February of last year.
Carmella Dealt With Injury After Second Pregnancy
In an appearance on The Nikki & Brie Show back in May 2024, Carmella opened up about dealing with a “drop foot” following her second pregnancy.
“I’ve been dealing with, what is called drop foot,” Carmella said, via Fightful. “I have an injury from labor and delivery and pushing the baby out. I have herniated discs in my back, which push on this nerve that is connected to my right foot. The top of my foot, it’s hard to lift. I’m literally limping around everywhere.”
“It’s gotten better, but I’ve been wrestling for 11 years, and other than some concussions, knock on wood, never had any injuries,” she added. “Now, I have a major injury from delivering my son.”
To prepare for life outside of wrestling, she launched her podcast last May 2026. She also founded a digital platform called Snatch, which aims to help women about fertility, pregnancy, postpartum recovery and motherhood.
Former WWE Superstar Carmella Officially Confirms Retirement