---
title: "Former Champion Open To Making WWE Return"
canonical: "https://wrestletalk.com/news/wwe-return-open-carmella/"
type: "post"
language: "en-US"
author: "Dave Adamson"
section: "News"
published: "2025-05-02T15:13:58Z"
modified: "2025-05-02T18:39:59Z"
---

# Former Champion Open To Making WWE Return

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](https://wrestletalk.com/news/wwe-multi-time-champion-departs-carmella/) in February 2025.

Previously revealing that she “fully intended” to make an in-ring return, Carmella stated that [she was devastated](https://wrestletalk.com/news/former-champion-devastating-wwe-departure-carmella/) to no longer be part of the company.

In a recent interview with [The Wrestling Classic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owri5AMBLoU), 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](https://wrestletalk.com/news/wwe-name-former-star-expecting-second-child/) with WWE commentator Corey Graves.

Transcript from [sescoops.com](https://www.sescoops.com/news/wwe/carmella-opens-up-about-wwe-contract-ending-i-was-shocked-but-now-im-so-happy/).

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