10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (April 20)

6. Carmella Would Avoid Raw Just So She Could Watch It With Her Dad

Carmella Mellabration
WWE.com

It's was a little-known fact until fairly recently that Carmella's dad used to work as enhancement talent in WWE. Paul Van Dale's career never really took off, but Carmella claims that's because, deep down, he wanted to become a family man rather than a travelling pro wrestler.

Carmella and her father were close, so much so that she'd resist watching episodes of Monday Night Raw without him. As most kids back in the 90s did, she relied on a trusty VHS tape to keep abreast of everything happening on TV.

On Lilian Garcia's Chasing Glory podcast, the new SmackDown Women's Champion revealed that she'd routinely tape Raw on VHS and wait until Tuesday nights so she and dad could watch it together. This became a weekly ritual for both, and it was a great way for father and daughter to bond.

Years later, Carmella is living the career Paul never had, and she claims he constantly lets her know how proud he is.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.