Former Champion Open To Making WWE Return

WWE

A former champion has revealed that they are open to a potential WWE return following their departure in February 2025.

Having been absent from WWE since March 2023, Carmella’s contract expired in February 2025.

Previously revealing that she “fully intended” to make an in-ring return, Carmella stated that she was devastated to no longer be part of the company.

In a recent interview with The Wrestling Classic, the former WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship spoke about her feelings when she found out her contract wasn’t being renewed and her current mindset, saying:

“In the moment, it was very jarring. I was shocked. I feel like it was shocked and immediately I was shocked and because I didn’t get a lot of notice to me. That’s what kind of was like, wow.

“But I’m so happy. I’m so so happy. Everything happens for a reason. I feel so blessed. Like with my time at WWE, I mean, everyone that I’ve seen here today, it’s like joking around with Big Show and like I saw Ellsworth. I’m like, this is wild.”

She would go on to discuss the criticism she received after interviews were released following her departure, challenging the belief she was being negative towards WWE, stating:

“I wasn’t at all saying anything bad about WWE. I’m like so grateful for my time at WWE. Eventually, I’m going to leave WWE. Like, there’s no way I can live like work there forever.

“For me personally, I was just a little upset and hurt, I guess, with how it ended, but it was going to end no matter what, you know? And I was just a little hurt with how it ended, that’s all.”

As for the future, Carmella spoke about no longer being her character for the first time in more than a decade, concluding by not ruling out a potential WWE return, explaining:

“Even though I had been away for 2 years, I was still under contract. And it’s like for the first time in 12 years, I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m Leah. I’m not Carmella.’ Like, but who is Leah without wrestling?

“I will for sure hope that someday I go back, you know, whether it’s like a one-off or for a Rumble or something. Um, it’s in my blood and I love it.”

Signing with WWE in June 2013, Carmella went on to hold the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship, the Women’s Tag Team Championship (with Queen Zelina) and is a four-time 24/7 Champion.

It was recently reported that she is expecting her second child with WWE commentator Corey Graves.

Transcript from sescoops.com.

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