The sky is honestly the limit, so I'm excited to see what the future holds.
Carmella
Everyone has been talking about me. Whether they love me, whether they hate me, whether they love to hate me, I don't really care; they're talking about me.
I think you can look good and still be a champion and still fight and still be the best at what I do.
I come from a big Italian family, and I grew up around wrestling.
I want to make history and just show people that if you have determination and if you want to work hard enough and want something, you can make it happen.
The most important lesson is to never get comfortable; always come up with new ideas; learn something new; try something new.
Asuka is a force to be reckoned with. She made a statement from the moment she debuted in NXT.
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.
It's so fun because the Carmella you see on 'SmackDown Live' is so different to me. It's great to be able to portray this character in a way that I never would in real life.
Growing up, of course I was the coolest girl in the 3rd grade because I told everyone that my dad was a wrestler, and I would bring in these wrestling magazines of him, and every Saturday morning, he would be body slamming me on my bed.
It's OK if you fail a few times. Just keep getting back up until you nail it.
If I could have any tag team partner, I would choose Big E.
It's really exciting to be a part of the Women's Division here in NXT.
I was 4 years old and wanted to be the scariest witch anyone had ever seen. My mom painted my face green, darkened my eyebrows, and put a mole on my nose so I could fully look the part.
My body isn't made to be thrown on or get hit with ladders.
I just love the Carmella character. It's so over the top. It's so extra. She's not afraid to be herself and say what's on her mind, and I think a lot of people can relate to that.
I love the feeling of being in front of a live crowd and performing and just kind of letting loose and getting the crowd involved, and I got to perform at the Superbowl and at the Staples Center, you know, at the Lakers game, which was amazing.
I wouldn't have traded my career path for anything.
I feel like I have this really cool journey that I get to show all these different sides to Carmella.
It's just surreal that I was the first Ms. Money in the Bank.
If the fans are making a noise and reacting, then you're doing a good job.
There's nothing wrong with being a Diva. If it's because I take care of myself and look good, then I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
I'm very confident in my ability to learn, but every time I'm in the ring, I can't believe the things I can do and that I've learned.
My name is Carmella, and I'm the moonwalking, trash-talking princess of Staten Island.
Never think you're too good for a role, and never take yourself too seriously.
There are obviously a lot of negative connotations that go along with being a Diva. But to me, being a Diva is someone who takes care of herself, that looks fabulous, is always on point with her fashion, and doesn't care what anybody thinks.
People say that wrestling is not ballet. But as a former ballerina, I'd like to see some of these men put on a pair of tights and go do what a dancer does. Because it's a lot! It's definitely difficult.
I want to be NXT Women's Champion.
When I was living in L.A., first of all, I had actually tried out or submitted to be on 'Tough Enough' when I was living in L.A. and then I ended up getting, like, a few call backs, but because I had just moved out there for the Lakers, I just felt like I couldn't have done both.
I have had way more opportunity on 'Smackdown Live' than I ever did at NXT.
I didn't come from wrestling, and I never wrestled outside of WWE. So I'm kind of a homegrown talent. I learned everything from the performance center and NXT.
For me, it's not an option to not be in shape and to not work out. I just always try to make time for it and strength train four or five days a week, and I'm always eating clean, so - don't get me wrong, though - I love a good pizza and some wings every now and then.
I, in my real life, wish I could be like Carmella a little bit more.
I'm the Princess of Staten Island. You gotta go big or go home, baby!
I love the small-town vibe.
I'm on 'WrestleMania!' I don't care if I'm on the Kickoff show; it was just such a great opportunity to be a part of 'WrestleMania.' It was my very first 'WrestleMania,' and a lot of people say, 'Oh, but you're on the Kickoff.' It doesn't matter: you're still a part of 'WrestleMania.'
A lot of the fans don't necessarily get to see what I can do, because they've seen me as the hype girl for Cass & Enzo.
My dad was a wrestler back in the early '90s, so it just brought everything full circle with my dad's background and my love of performing and entertainment, and now here I am in the WWE.
I love performing, and I was a dancer and then worked in the NFL and NBA, and I loved being in front of the crowd.
I just feel it's important to do what's right and not necessarily what is right for you but right for everybody.
Nowadays, women are looked at as equal to the men when it comes to competing, and I think that's a really cool message to send to little girls and show them that whatever they want to do, they can set their mind to it and make it happen.
I beat Charlotte Flair. And now, it's time to party.
My name will always go down in history as the first Miss Money in the Bank. It's so cool!
To get up to 'SmackDown Live' and have my first match on live TV, I was so nervous.
One thing that I'm super fortunate of - I grew up in a house where it was all about health and fitness. My dad was a wrestler; he was a boxer. He's always been into working out, and so I was the only kid in the first grade that got carrot sticks at school instead of chips.
If I try to act cool and do things that get a positive reaction, then I'm not doing anything for the person I'm in the ring with.
Summertime in New York is always a lot of fun, and I can't wait for my second 'SummerSlam.'
When I first got my ring name as Carmella, I knew I was just going to do whatever I could to create this over-ridiculous, over-the-top character that would just help me get my face, and I don't even know what I'm trying to say, but just get me out there and just show, like, 'OK, wow, we need to pay attention to this girl because she has something.'
I'm honored to be a part of 'Total Divas' and show the world who Carmella is, not only on 'SmackDown Live' but in real life.
I want people to know that I'm getting where I'm going or how I'm getting there - by myself, through my hard work, and nothing more.
