While everyone was focused on The Rock and WWE SmackDown, some interesting news broke. Fightful Select reported that former WWE SmackDown Women's Champion, Carmella, saw her contract expire. This was interesting news that flew under the radar, and caught a lot of people by surprise that she's no longer with the company.
Carmella is one of those names who must be mentioned when talking about performers who've exceeded expectations and thrived in the WWE system. Everyone remembers her initial introduction along Enzo and Big Cass, but few would have guessed that by the time all three would no longer be with the company, it would be Carmella who is the multiple-time champion.
Carmella would go from being the "typical" heel manager/valet, to becoming a champion who'd hold her own moments in history. Even beyond that, her run with R-Truth and the WWE 24/7 Championship were some of the most entertaining moments in WWE television during that time.
Carmella stepped away from wrestling due to her pregnancy along with her husband, WWE's Corey Graves. They welcomed their first child into the world, but it was also reported that she was suffering from post-pregnancy complications that would keep her out of action.
Carmella's legacy in the WWE women's division
Carmella is one of those performers who deserves more praise than most would expect. As mentioned, she was able to take the training provided in the WWE system and turn it into a near 12-year career in a promotion that wasn't always doing the best for the women on the roster. She was able to make her character work, get over with fans, and eventually become a champion. That's a testament to the hard work she put in as a performer.
In a time when most eyes were focused on performers like Charlotte Flair, Asuka, Bianca Belair and others, Carmella deserves recognition for what she was able to achieve. If her last time in a WWE ring has gone by, she deserves respect for her contributions as a member of the women's roster.