Carmella (Picture: WWE)

Carmella has enjoyed a very successful 2018 in WWE, with title reigns and memorable moments making her one of the most entertaining stars on SmackDown this year.

The 31-year-old star signed for WWE in 2013, and debuted on NXT a year later.

Now firmly part of WWE’s main roster, the former SmackDown Women’s Champion spoke to Metro Sport about Christmas, sneakers, underrated wrestlers and winning the 2018 Mixed Match Challenge alongside R-Truth.

Hi Carmella, what was it like competing in the Mixed Match Challenge? And how great was it to win!


Oh my gosh it’s been so much fun! Before it started I was one of the most hated people in the company, everyone hated Carmella and I was such a brat. A few weeks later and suddenly everyone is cheering me because I’m with R-Truth. It was unreal and I couldn’t believe it.



It’s definitely bought out a different side to Carmella which has been so much fun. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner and we won the whole thing. Now we both get to be number 30 in the Royal Rumble.

What is R-Truth like to work with?

I didn’t know him that well before we started this whole thing but he’s such an easygoing guy. It’s been really fun getting to know him, and honestly, how you see us on TV is how we are in real life.

We finish each others sentences, we’re so silly and we have turned into such good friends. I feel super lucky, he’s a great, great guy and he’s not afraid to make a fool out of himself and have a good time.

Carmella and R-Truth (Picture: WWE)

Every opportunity he gets he embraces it and makes the most of it. That’s something everyone in this company can learn from it. Never think you’re too good for a role, and never take yourself too seriously.

How has it been turning into a character which gets cheers?

When I was in NXT I was a good guy so it’s not been completely foreign to me, but ever since I’ve been on SmackDown I’ve been hated completely. The part I like about it the most is that it’s been so organic, it wasn’t something that was planned to get people to love me or be on my side.

I didn’t change anything or do anything differently, I’m still moonwalking, trash-talking and still have a loud mouth and say what’s on my mind.

It’s just really cool how it’s happened, and now the fans are on my side – I’ll take it!

Wrestling is pretty weird right, it’s one of the few professions where getting booed by an arena full of people means you’re doing a good job…

Yes, exactly! If the fans are making a noise and reacting then you’re doing a good job. Bbeing the character I am now and changing from such a little brat, I get to interact with the fans more which is great. We do a dance break now with boys and girls after matches and it’s cool to have that interaction with the fans.

Will there be any other character changes in the immediate future?

Gosh, I don’t know. That’s why I love what I’m doing now because I’m not really worried about that, I’m just being myself and having a good time. When you’re genuinely having fun and enjoying yourself, people can feel that and they want to have a good time with you. Nothing about it is forced.



You may have the best sneakers in WWE, what is it about them that you like so much?

I just love sneakers. When I first started wrestling I was wrestling in boots and I felt like I was trying too hard to play a wrestler. I just wanted to be myself. So when I started wearing sneakers I felt so much better. I don’t really have a favourite pair, but I get sent them a lot and I feel so lucky because I come home and have sneakers on my front doorstep.

Every time I get new gear I think about what sneakers to pair with them and I like to have everyone guessing which ones I’m going to wear next.

Have you ever thought about having your own range of sneakers?

I would love that! It would have to have leopard-print on them for sure.

Can you give us any tips for how to moonwalk?

You either have it or you don’t!

I’ve tried to teach people how to moonwalk, and I like to think I’m a good teacher, but you’ve either got it or you don’t. If you want to practice, do it in socks first because it’s easier.

How excited are you about being the 30th entrant in the Royal Rumble next month?

It’s so crazy, last year I was so lucky to be part of the first ever women’s Royal Rumble and now it’s the second, it’s now just the norm, everything has become equal and that’s really cool.


To be number 30 is amazing, but I’m no stranger to making history. I could be the first women at number 30 to go on to win the Rumble!

It’s great how many different storylines and big matches women are getting in WWE these days. How do you view the change from recent years?

I’ve been so lucky to see this whole evolution unfold. When I was in NXT and watching Raw and SmackDown every week, the women weren’t being given much time. The women in NXT were starting to get that time and we were having two matches on our lives events which was more than the main roster.

Carmella and Charlotte Flair (Picture: WWE)

To see it come from NXT to where it is, the women are very much a main part of every show. They’re not just opening the show, they’re closing the show and the stories are on throughout the show.

Where are you in this mix, are you hoping to get back to title contention soon?

2018 was for sure the year of Carmella. I’m so fortunate, I cashed in, became champion and became everything people thought I wouldn’t be. I beat Asuka, I beat Charlotte twice, and now I’m just having fun and embracing every opportunity that I get.

I will become champion again, that’s for sure, but right now everyone has their moment and then you get back into the mix. I’m not in any rush, when it happens it’ll happen.


You mention your love of wine a few times on your Instagram – will you be enjoying some over the festive period?

I love a good glass of wine, I love pizza and I love coffee, those are my three favourite things.

I’m looking forward to a week off at Christmas and getting to enjoy all three of them.

Who do you think is the best wrestler in the world right now?

AJ Styles. He’s incredible, he has amazing matches with everybody and he’s so athletic, and a great guy too.

And who is the most underrated?

The IIconics, for sure. They’re amazing, I had so many great matches with Peyton in NXT, I loved wrestling her and she’s so good. Both of them are great, but they haven’t been able to show half of what they can do yet and people will be really impressed when they get the opportunity to show it.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever heard in wrestling?

Something I took away from Kurt Angle’s Hall of Fame speech was never be afraid to make a fool of yourself and don’t take yourself too seriously. I really let that sink in and ran with it.

In my career I’ve had several different paths and character turns. I was a manager in NXT, then I was the last draft pick and then with James Ellsworth as a champion. I feel it’s important to show different sides of my character and I never take myself too seriously.

I’ll never be like ‘oh that’s too silly for me’ or ‘Carmella’s too cool for that’. Any opportunity I get I want to make the most of it and I’m not afraid to look like an idiot.

Is it a case of not really caring what other people think about you?

Some people take themselves way too seriously, but it’s WWE – the E stands for entertainment and that’s what I want to bring to it.

Anyone can go out and have a match but it’s a matter of connecting with the fans and making them react one way or another, whether it’s making them laugh, or get mad, or be happy. You’ve got to make them feel some sort of way. Whatever it is I have to do to achieve that, I want to do the best I can.

Finally, Christmas time is upon us. Can you recommend a festive song and film for people to watch?

My favourite Christmas song is I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas. It’s really stupid and funny and I’ve always liked it since I was a kid.

Home Alone is my favourite Christmas movie and then Elf.