Candice LeRae

Candice LeRae
LeRae in November 2014
Birth name Candice Dawson
Born (1985-09-29) September 29, 1985
Riverside, California, United States
Residence Orlando, Florida, United States
Spouse(s)
Johnny Gargano (m. 2016)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Candice LeRae
Sweet Candy[1]
Robyn[2]
Billed height 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)[3]
Billed weight 110 lb (50 kg)[3]
Billed from Anaheim, California[3]
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada[1]
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride[4]
Trained by Bill Anderson[5]
Jesse Hernandez[3]
T.J. Perkins[6]
WWE Performance Center [7]
Debut 2002[6]

Candice Gargano (née Dawson; born September 29, 1985) is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Candice LeRae. She is signed to WWE's developmental territory NXT. She is best known for her work on the American independent circuit, most notably Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG). LeRae is a one-time PWG World Tag Team Champion (as one-half of the World's Cutest Tag Team), making her the only female title holder in the promotion's history.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2002–2008)

LeRae spent the first two years of her career wrestling for the Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF) and the International Wrestling Council.[8] She appeared as a substitute in a round one match at the ChickFight tournament in 2004, replacing the injured Miss Chevius, but lost in the first round to Princess Sugey.[5][9] During 2005, LeRae was a mainstay in the EWF, facing wrestlers including Hurricane Havana, Kid Omega, and Amazing Kong. She continued competing for the promotion throughout 2006, while also wrestling for All-Pro Wrestling and Ground Zero Wrestling. 2007 saw LeRae branch out to the Midwestern United States, where she competed for Insanity Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor (ROH). LeRae had two matches for ROH in August 2007, losing to Sara Del Rey and Daizee Haze in dark matches on August 10 and 24, respectively.[1]

LeRae began wrestling for the Alternative Wrestling Show (AWS) promotion in December 2007. In May 2009, she participated in a tournament for the AWS Women's Championship; she defeated Kitana Vera and Christina Von Eerie en route to the final, where she defeated Erica D'Erico and Morgan in a three-way match for the vacant championship. She successfully defended the title against Carla Jade, Nikki, and Von Eerie until September 6, when she lost the championship to Von Eerie.[1]

She also appeared for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and unsuccessfully challenged Amazing Kong for the NWA Women's Championship in 2008.[10]

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (2006–2016)

LeRae wrestling Human Tornado in February 2008

LeRae debuted in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) in 2006, when she put together a team to face a team managed by Jade Chung in an eight-man tag team match, where her team was victorious. In April 2007, she returned as the valet of Human Tornado. Her first main storyline in the company began later that year in September; Tornado had been abusing LeRae, who stood up for herself and cost Tornado a match at the 2007 Battle of Los Angeles.[1][11] After the match, Tornado began to attack LeRae, who was saved by Chris Hero.[1] As a result, Hero and LeRae united to take on Tornado. In January 2008, Tornado, Claudio Castagnoli, and Eddie Kingston defeated LeRae, Hero, and Necro Butcher in a six-person match, which meant that LeRae was forced to face Tornado in a singles match the following night. LeRae lost the match by disqualification when Hero, who was banned from ringside, came to the ring to aid her.[12] LuFisto entered the feud in March when she teamed with Tornado in a loss to LeRae and Hero. The following night, LeRae defeated LuFisto in a singles match.[1] LeRae continued to be involved in the storyline between Hero and Tornado over the next few months.

LeRae spent the rest of the year in intergender competition, facing wrestlers including TJ Perkins and Chuck Taylor.[13][14] In 2009, LeRae entered a feud with Christina Von Eerie when LeRae defeated Von Eerie in the first women's match in PWG in more than a year.[15] Throughout early 2010, they teamed with a variety of male wrestlers to face each other, until LeRae defeated Von Eerie in a match in June to end the feud.[16][17][18] At Kurt RussellReunion 2 in January 2011, LeRae was on the winning side of an eight-person tag team match.[19] At PWG's DDT4 event on April 3, 2011, LeRae won a Joey Ryan invitational gauntlet match to advance to a number one contenders match for the PWG World Championship against Ryan later that same night, which she lost.[20] She wrestled only sporadically in PWG in 2012 and 2013, mainly in six and eight-person tag team matches, which included being on the winning side of an eight-person tag team match at Kurt RussellReunion 3 in January 2012.[1][21]

LeRae began teaming with Joey Ryan in October 2013, with a loss to The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), and in January 2014 they participated in the 2014 Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament, but were eliminated in the first round by Adam Cole and Kevin Steen.[22][23] On March 28, 2014, at Mystery Vortex 2 LeRae unsuccessfully challenged Adam Cole for the PWG World Championship.[24] On July 27, LeRae and Ryan defeated The Young Bucks in a Guerrilla Warfare match to win the PWG World Tag Team Championship.[25] Known as the World's Cutest Tag Team, LeRae and Ryan made their first title defense on August 29 in a three-way match, defeating The Inner City Machine Guns (Rich Swann and Ricochet) and the team of Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian.[26] The following night, LeRae entered the 2014 Battle of Los Angeles tournament, where she defeated Rich Swann in the first round before losing to Johnny Gargano in the quarter-finals.[27][28] LeRae and Ryan finished out the year with successful title defenses against Chuck Taylor and Johnny Gargano in October, and Daniels and Kazarian in December.[29][30] LeRae and Ryan lost the championships to Monster Mafia (Ethan Page and Josh Alexander) on May 22, 2015, in the opening round of the 2015 DDT4.[31] LeRae's final PWG match took place at Mystery Vortex IV, where she made a surprise appearance in a losing effort against Trent? on December 16, 2016.

DDT Pro-Wrestling (2016–2017)

LeRae debuted for Japanese promotion DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) on January 3, 2016, teaming with Joey Ryan to defeat Golden Storm Riders (Daisuke Sasaki and Suguru Miyatake).[32] On January 10, LeRae teamed with the Golden Storm Riders in a losing effort against Happy Motel (Antonio Honda, Konosuke Takeshita and Tetsuya Endo).[33] The following day, LeRae teamed with Sasaki once again, this time defeating T2Hii (Kazuki Hirata and Sanshiro Takagi).[34] LeRae once again toured with DDT in March 2016, unsuccessfully challenging Sasaki and Shuji Ishikawa for the KO-D Tag Team Championship along with Joey Ryan on March 26[35] and defeating Makoto Oishi and Danshoku Dino the following day.[36] LeRae returned to DDT in January 2017, losing to Sasaki on January 3,[37] but teaming with Kouki Iwasaki and Kazusada Higuchi to defeat T2Hii (Sanshiro Takagi, Kazuki Hirata and Toru Owashi) on January 9.[38]

LeRae has also competed for DDT's all-female sister promotion Tokyo Joshi Pro (TJP), defeating Yuka Sakazaki in her debut on January 4, 2016[39] and losing to Mil Clown exactly one year later on January 4, 2017.[40]

Other promotions (2011–2018)

In 2011, LeRae began competing for NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, where she developed a feud with Buggy.[1]

LeRae alongside Joey Ryan as The World's Cutest Tag Team in November 2014

In September 2013, LeRae debuted for Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), teaming with Greg Excellent in a loss to Cherry Bomb and Pepper Parks.[6][41] She returned to CZW in February 2014, losing a singles match to Kimber Lee.[42] At Proving Grounds on May 10, she unsuccessfully challenged Shane Strickland for the CZW Wired Television Championship.[43]

LeRae first began appearing for Family Wrestling Entertainment (FWE) in late 2013 as the mystery tag team partner of Joey Ryan at the Open Weight Grand Prix Final event. On October 3, LeRae and Ryan defeated Ivelisse Vélez and Tommy Dreamer at Refuelled Night One following interference from Drew Galloway. The next night at Refuelled Night Two, LeRae and Ryan defeated Christina Von Eerie and Carlito. Later the same night, LeRae issued a challenge to Ivelisse Vélez, and defeated her to win the FWE Women's Championship for the first time.[44] She successfully defended the title against Veda Scott at No Limits in February 2015.[45] The following month, LeRae and Ryan lost to Scott and Paul London in a mixed tag team match, in which LeRae lost the FWE Women's title to Scott.[46]

LeRae appeared for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) at Turning Point in November 2013, in a losing effort to TNA Knockouts Champion Gail Kim.[47]

On May 10, 2014, LeRae and Joey Ryan competed in the 2014 Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU) Queen and King of the Ring tournament, defeating the teams of Drew Gulak and Kimber Lee, and JT Dunn and Shelly Martinez to advance to the final, before being defeated by Matt Tremont and Mickie Knuckles.[48] The following month, on June 7, 2014, she won Dream Wave Wrestling's Tag Team Championship with Ryan, but they lost the title the next day.[1]

LeRae competed at Shimmer Women Athletes' Volume 62 taping in April 2014, losing to Athena.[49] She returned to Shimmer in October, losing to Nikki Storm and Kay Lee Ray in singles matches on Volume 68 and Volume 70, respectively.[50][51]

LeRae appeared for Full Impact Pro (FIP) on June 22, 2014, teaming with Ivelisse Vélez to unsuccessfully challenge The Lucha Sisters (Mia Yim and Leva Bates) for the Shine Tag Team Championship.[52] She then made her debut for Shine Wrestling at Shine 20 on June 27, defeating Neveah.[53]

LeRae made her first appearance on the December 14, 2016 episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling, in a losing effort against Deonna Purrazzo.[54]

WWE (2017–present)

LeRae and Johnny Gargano celebrating at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans in April 2018

On May 3, 2017, LeRae made her televised in-ring debut for WWE, participating in a number one contender's battle royal for Asuka's NXT Women's Championship; she was eliminated by Billie Kay.[55] In July, she was announced as one of the participants for the Mae Young Classic tournament.[56] She defeated Renee Michelle in the first round on August 28 and Nicole Savoy in the second round on September 4, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Shayna Baszler.[57][58][59]

On January 16, 2018, WWE announced LeRae had signed a contract with the company.[7] LeRae made an appearance at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia in the front row, where she intervened in the NXT Championship match, featuring Johnny Gargano and champion Andrade "Cien" Almas, stopping Almas' manager Zelina Vega from further attacking her husband, Johnny Gargano. On the April 18 episode of NXT LeRae defeated Vega in a singles match. On the July 18 episode of NXT, LeRae was defeated by Kairi Sane in a number one contender match for the NXT Womens Championship that also included Nikki Cross.

Other media

LeRae and her former tag team partner Joey Ryan produced a weekly YouTube show titled The Candice & Joey Show, which highlighted various aspects of their careers. The series ran for 130 episodes from October 24, 2013 to March 9, 2016.

She makes her video game debut as DLC in WWE 2K19.

Personal life

LeRae married fellow professional wrestler Johnny Gargano at Disneyland on September 16, 2016.[60] They have been featured in a short-documentary on their dynamics as a wrestling couple.[61] She is an avid fan of Disney and the Anaheim Ducks.[6]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Candice LeRae". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  2. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Candice LeRae « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Roster". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Candice LeRae". Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Chick Fight". Lady Sports. 2004. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Tale of the Tape: Candice LeRae". Combat Zone Wrestling. September 13, 2013. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "WWE signs Candice LeRae". WWE. January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  8. ↑ Mata, Shiai (2004). "Q&A: Candice LeRae, the Canadian Goddess". Lady Sports. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  9. ↑ Lano, Mike (October 30, 2004). "ChickFight sets up Melissa-Sugey finale". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  10. ↑ McNeill, Pat (February 22, 2008). "McNeill's NWA Showcase on Dish Network Revue (2/20): Nicho And The Man". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  11. ↑ Martin, Adam (March 10, 2008). "'Pro Wrestling Guerrilla' on March 21, 'Pro Wrestling Ohio' + IZW report". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  12. ↑ Caldwell, James (January 6, 2008). "Caldwell's PWG weekend road report 1/6: All-Star Weekend Coverage – Notes and Results". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  13. ↑ Martin, Adam (May 18, 2008). "Sunday Indy News: WCEW, Upstate, FCW, PWG, VPW, EPW, CW & IWC". WrestleView. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  14. ↑ Vetter, Chris (September 3, 2008). "Torch Indy Weekend Results: Low Ki in PWG and new tag champs, Albright, Nunzio, Rhino". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  15. ↑ Stradlin, Saul (September 5, 2009). "9/4 PWG in California: Full Report on Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Hero, Dream six-man tag match, PWG vs. Dragon Gate match-ups". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Kurt Russellreunion". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. January 30, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  17. ↑ "As The Worm Turns". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. February 27, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Dio!". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. June 11, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  19. ↑ Clevett, Jason (January 30, 2011). "Legends shine at day 2 of WrestleReunion". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  20. ↑ "DDT4 (2011)". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. March 4, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  21. ↑ Clevett, Jason (January 31, 2012). "PWG and breakfast with wrestlers wrap up WrestleReunion 6". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  22. ↑ Namako, Jason (October 20, 2013). "10/19 PWG Results: Reseda, California (Cole/O'Reilly)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Show results – 1/31 PWG DDT4 tourney in Reseda, Calif.: One-night tournament features Cole, Steen, Elgin, Trent, more, plus Hero in #1 contender match (w/Roe's in-person tweets)". Pro Wrestling Torch. February 2, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Show results – 3/28 PWG in Reseda, Calif.: Mystery line-up produces all titles defended, Hero vs. Ciampa, Strong, Gargano". Pro Wrestling Torch. March 24, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  25. 1 2 Caldwell, James (July 27, 2014). "Show results – 7/26/27 PWG "Eleven" in Reseda, Calif.: Anniversary show features new PWG Tag Champs, PWG Title match, Guerrilla Warfare, Kevin Steen's farewell, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  26. ↑ Radican, Sean (November 11, 2014). "Radican's PWG "Battle of Los Angeles: Night 1" report 8/29 – loaded tournament feautring standout Elgin-Ciampa first round match, stellar Six Man Tag between Mt. Rushmore and Low Moral Fiber headlines show". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Show results – 8/30 PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 2: Sabin returns, Sydal vs. Hero, Bucks vs. Daniels & Kaz main event". Pro Wrestling Torch. August 31, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Show results – 8/31 PWG Battle of Los Angeles Night 3: The Finals of huge tournament with Styles, former WWE stars, PWG champ, ROH champ, mega-tag match, Willie Mack says good-bye". Pro Wrestling Torch. August 31, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  29. ↑ Namako, Jason (October 19, 2015). "10/17 PWG Results: Reseda, California (UFC star attends)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  30. ↑ Massingham, Matt (December 13, 2014). "Show results – 12/12 PWG in Reseda, Calif.: O'Reilly retains, but loses top title in impromptu Guerrilla Warfare match, plus Cole, Joey & Candice vs. Daniels & Kaz, Sabin & Sydal vs. Bucks, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Show results – 5/22 PWG DDT4 in Reseda, Calif.: Tag Titles change hands three times in one-night tag tournament, plus Roddy defends PWG Title, Sabin scratched, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. May 23, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  32. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "DDT New Year Lottery Special! Every Ticket 2000 Yen Show! 2016 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  33. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "DDT Dramatic Tenjinbashi! 2016 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  34. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "DDT Dramatic Tenmabashi! 2016 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  35. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Team Dream Futures « Stables Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  36. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "DDT Tennoji Zoo Wrestling « Events Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  37. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "DDT New Year Lottery Special! Every Ticket 2000 Yen Show! 2017 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  38. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "DDT Road To Super Arena In Oyodo ~ Dramatic Dream Tenusu ~ « Events Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  39. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "TJP Tokyo Joshi Pro 16 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  40. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "TJP Tokyo Joshi Pro '17 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  41. ↑ Namako, Jason (September 16, 2013). "9/14 CZW iPPV Results: Voorhees, NJ (Ladder Match)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  42. ↑ Namako, Jason (February 10, 2015). "2/8 CZW iPPV Results: Voorhees, New Jersey (Styles/Gulak)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  43. ↑ Namako, Jason (May 10, 2014). "5/10 CZW iPPV Results: Voorhees, NJ (New CZW Champion)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  44. 1 2 Namako, Jason (October 5, 2014). "10/3 & 10/4 FWE Results: Brooklyn, New York (TLC Match)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  45. ↑ Namako, Jason (February 7, 2015). "2/7 FWE Results: Queens, New York (London/Sydal)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  46. ↑ Johnson, Mike (March 11, 2015). "AJ Styles vs. John Morrison: complete FWE in Brooklyn, NY iPPV coverage". PWInsider. p. 3. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  47. ↑ Caldwell, James (November 21, 2013). "Impact news & notes: A&E disbands, top items for next week's Thanksgiving Impact, Shark Boy, PWG, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  48. ↑ Namako, Jason (May 10, 2014). "5/10 WSU iPPV Results: Voorhees, NJ (New WSU Champion)". Wrestleview. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  49. ↑ Namako, Jason (April 8, 2014). "4/5 Shimmer Results: New Orleans, Louisiana". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  50. ↑ Namako, Jason (October 19, 2015). "10/18 Shimmer Results: Berwyn, Illinois (New champion)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  51. ↑ Namako, Jason (October 20, 2014). "10/19 Shimmer Results: Berwyn, Illinois (8-Woman Tag)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  52. ↑ Namako, Jason (June 23, 2014). "6/22 FIP iPPV Results: Orlando, Florida (Tag Title Match)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  53. ↑ Namako, Jason (June 28, 2014). "6/27 Shine Results – (Ivelisse/Serena Deeb – 1 Hour Draw)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  54. ↑ "411MANIA – Csonka's ROH TV Review 12.14.16". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  55. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (May 3, 2017). "WWE NXT REPORT: NUMBER ONE CONTENDER FOR THE WOMEN'S TITLE, WHO IS RODERICK STRONG . . . PART 2, BURCH VS DAIN, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  56. ↑ "Mae Young Classic competitors announced at Parade of Champions". WWE. July 13, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  57. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (August 28, 2017). "MAE YOUNG CLASSIC EPISODE FOUR REPORT: SANE VS BLANCHARD, LERAE VS MICHELLE, EVANS VS CONTI, GONZALEZ VS SAVOY FINISHES OFF THE FIRST ROUND". PWInsider. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  58. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (September 4, 2017). "MAE YOUNG CLASSIC EPISODE 6 REPORT: THE QUARTERFINALS ARE SET, BASZLER VERSUS YIM, SAVOY VERSUS LERAE, EVANS VERSUS STORM, KAI VERSUS RIPLEY". PWInsider. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  59. ↑ Richard, Trionfo (September 4, 2017). "MAE YOUNG CLASSIC EPISODE 7 REPORT: WE GO FROM 8 TO 4". PWInsider. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  60. ↑ Johnson, Mike (September 17, 2016). "CONGRATULATIONS TO GARGANO & LARAE, NEW WWE STUDIOS FILM TRAILER RELEASED, OUTSIDERS ON WWE NETWORK THIS MONDAY AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  61. ↑ Johnson, Kenny. "Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae // A Wrestling Couple". Youtube.
  62. ↑ "Ironman Heavymetalweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  63. ↑ "PWI Female 50 2016". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  64. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Smash Gold 2015 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
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