WWE's Candice LeRae in Two-Piece Workout Gear Goes "From Sweet to Evil"

Candice LeRae is an accomplished professional wrestler known for her work with WWE, particularly in SmackDown events. She’s making a name for herself in the wrestling world, separate from her husband, fellow wrestler Johnny Gargano. LeRae’s recent appearance in a SmackDown event was promoted by USA Network on Instagram with the caption, "From sweet to evil, Candice LeRae finds The Way back home to USA Network, along with #SmackDown, on September 13!" Throughout her career, LeRae has embraced every opportunity to excel in the ring, pushing herself beyond her comfort zone. As she continues to climb the ranks, LeRae is determined to be more than just a famous wrestler’s wife—she's on a mission to inspire others and become a role model for young girls. Here’s a glimpse into her fitness, career goals, and motivations.

1. She Takes Opportunities

In an interview on WWE’s website, LeRae shared her career goals. “My childhood dream was to be a WWE Superstar. Now that I am living that dream, I am discovering there is a whole new world of opportunity here in NXT. I have pushed myself to do things in the ring and in the gym that I used to be afraid to do or was uncomfortable with. I want to seize every opportunity NXT has to offer me, and when I do, I want to be ready for them. Being here has sparked something special in me to push me to the next level.”

2. She Wants To Make A Name For Herself

Since LeRae is married to a fellow wrestler, Johnny Gargano, she wants to make a name for herself. “It puts this added pressure on me because I don’t want to be an embarrassment to Johnny,” she told WWE. “Plus, my husband worked so hard for his name, and I absolutely refuse to ride his coattails. I know I have a challenge in proving to the fans and my peers that I belong here too. I want to make a name for myself here in NXT because of my own work and not because of who my husband is.”

3. She Wants To Be A Role Model

LeRae tells WWE that she wants to be a role model for young girls. “I have four nieces, and it is extremely important to me to be a good example for them. That isn’t limited to just making good life choices, but to also teaching them the importance of dreams. When I started to believe in myself and worked harder than ever before, I achieved my dream. I don’t ever want my nieces to doubt themselves. I never want them to think they can’t live their dreams. This quest for the NXT Women’s Championship is an absolute fairytale for me, and I will stop at nothing until I have my happily ever after.”

4. She Works Hard

LeRae is a hard worker, and shared where she gets this from with WWE. “My parents worked extremely hard to give my two brothers and I everything they could. Their work ethic was certainly something that stuck out to me. My family — including aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. — has always been extremely close. I grew up constantly outnumbered by boys in my family.”

5. She Wrestles

Wrestling is the main way LeRae stays fit. According to FloWrestling, the sport is very beneficial. “Wrestling also teaches valuable physical discipline. Wrestlers learn from challenging one-on-one struggles against an opponent and also develop an awareness of diet and nutrition through the process of making weight. While not all wrestlers and coaches approach weight loss in healthy ways, when done correctly, this can teach a physical life skill that many young athletes may never learn.”

Jordynne Grace is doing a special dance for husband, Jonathan Gresham. In a new social media post the professional wrestler shows off her moves, while trying to appease her athlete hubby. “When he asks you to dance for him but you are a pro wrestler,” she wrote on the Instagram video. “Date night 💪🏾😅,” commented one of her followers. “Too cute,” added another. How does she approach diet, fitness, and self-care? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits.

1. From Pro Wrestler to Bodybuilder

Jordynne recently transitioned from wrestling to bodybuilding. “I want to be the first pro wrestler to ever go to The Arnold,” Grace told Sports Illustrated, referring to The Arnold Classic. “That’s my dream.” Even she was astounded by her transformation. “I feel like the same person, then I look in the mirror and say, ‘Whoa,’” says Grace. “The weight loss has become noticeable in my face, and I never thought I’d have a six-pack in my life. It’s been insane to see my body change.”

2. Pilates

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On her anniversary, Jordynne hit a Pilates studio. “@stretch_atl for an incredible stretch session 🔥,” she wrote in the caption of a post. According to research, Pilates exercises are designed to increase muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility, and to improve posture and balance. Experts maintain that it is a great workout for leaning out.

3. Lots of Cardio and Dieting

“Bodybuilding doesn’t go with pro wrestling. I feel so weak. You’re putting your body through extremely intense stress. It leaves you exhausted,” she told Sports Illustrated, adding that there is lots of “cardio and dieting” involved. “I can’t wait to see what happens,” says Grace. “This is something I’m doing for a specific competition, and I think it’s important that people know that. There is so much behind it. Posing, memorizing routines, it’s a whole different ball game. When it’s over, I can’t wait to eat a lot of food.” She added: “But look at me now—I’m on the stairs every day for 90 minutes, and I’m eating chicken and rice every day.

4. Her Body Is Changing

Jordynne recently shared a photo of her body changing, from March to July to August. “March - four days out from a bodybuilding show, strict diet + 90 min daily cardio for 12 weeks.

July - about four months of little to no diet structure, lifting HEAVY, 20-30 min cardio 2-3x a week

August/currently: structured diet for apprx 4 weeks, daily cardio, lifting 5-6x/week,” she wrote. “Seeing all these wrestling and bodybuilding shows going on is causing me elite level FOMO.”

5. Not Listening to Haters

“I’ve gotten relentless hate about the way I look on social media,” Grace wrote in a post. “I’ve heard I was too big or that I was too short—now I hear that I’m too muscular and I look like a man. I am here to prove that you can do whatever you want to, especially if you use those negative comments as fuel.”

Rhea Ripley is making waves in the WWE, holding multiple championship titles, including the record for the longest Women’s World Championship reign, tied with Bayley. Recently, Ripley gave her followers a glimpse of her workout routine by sharing photos on Instagram in light brown workout clothes, showcasing her incredible physique. Beyond her physical strength, Ripley is passionate about growing women’s wrestling and has ambitious goals for the future of the sport. In interviews, she shares insights into her fitness regimen, which includes a mix of cardio and weight training, as well as the importance of making time for self-care in her busy schedule. Ripley also stays on track with her nutrition through a meal delivery service that helps her meet her macro goals. Here’s a closer look at how Ripley balances her intense WWE schedule with her dedication to fitness and her mission to elevate women’s wrestling.

1. She Wants To Promote Women’s Wrestling

In an interview with GQ, Ripley talked about her desires for women’s wrestling. She says that she wants the sport to get more attention. “I want the women's division to be the biggest that it's ever been. But there's always that selfish side of you that wants to be the face of the women's division. I want to make history, to make a legacy for myself – but if accomplishing that means that the women's division doesn't grow and get better, then it wasn't really worth it.”

2. She Makes Time For Herself

Ripley tells GQ that she makes sure to make time for herself. “It's a very intense job and environment. It can be quite stressful, because there are a lot of things that are needed from you; a lot of things that people don't understand we do and go through. It's important to have those moments of free time when you can turn your brain off, whether it's at the gym, watching a movie, or just spending time with friends and family – anything you can do to put yourself at ease and make yourself feel like a normal human for a couple of hours!”

3. She Has A Meal Delivery Service

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In order to eat healthy, Ripley has food delivered from a meal service. “I get meals sent to me every Sunday by a meal-prep company with the macros I want,” she told GQ. “I definitely don't eat as much as I should – I don't know how I have as much muscle as I do, because sometimes I don't eat. I did legs the other day, burnt 2,500 active calories, and I only ate 8-900 calories that day.”

4. She Does Cardio & Weights

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Ripley tells GQ that she typically does a combination of cardio and weights when she trains. “Normally, when I go to the gym, I do 20 minutes of cardio, then lift weights for two and a half, sometimes three hours – it really depends on what I want to do. It's my happy place, so I like to spend time there – it's the one place I get to turn my brain off. At the moment, I still get in to do cardio and I'm weight training at least six days a week, but today I only did back [training] for an hour. It definitely isn't my preference, but you just have to go in and hustle, because when it comes to WrestleMania, you want to be as fit and look as good as you can.”

5. She’s Consistent

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Since she’s a full-time wrestler, Ripley needs to be in shape all the time. For that reason, working out consistently is important to her. She talked about this in an interview with Muscle & Fitness. “I feel like my training is always pretty insane. I’ve been preparing for WrestleMania, but my training, overall, is very intense. I try and stay as ready as I can, all year round.”

Discover the inspiring and diverse world of female pro wrestlers as they share their unique stories of determination, strength, and self-acceptance. From Alexa Bliss's journey of embracing balance and finding self-worth beyond the scale, to Mandy Rose's unwavering dedication to recovery and rest, each wrestler brings her own wisdom and perspective on fitness and well-being. Natalya Neidhart reveals her pre-match rituals while Bianca Belair dishes out her favorite protein-packed recipes. Beyond the physical, these women offer valuable insights on overcoming body image issues, dealing with criticism, and staying motivated. As they face the demands of a challenging sport, these wrestlers prove that perseverance and self-belief are the ultimate keys to success.

1. Alexa Bliss

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Alexa Bliss opened up about her diet to Muscle and Fitness. “It’s all about balance. I don’t count calories, but I get a feel for what I can eat.” She says she does this after previous struggles with eating. “I would look at food and just cry,” Bliss says. “I was in and out of the hospital until I came to terms with who I was. Now I know there are more important things than the scale.”

2. Mandy Rose

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Mandy Rose opened up about her diet and exercise to Muscle and Fitness. She says that her recovery from matches is important to her. “Recovery is very important with how much we train,” she says. “Rest for me is No. 1, because I need my seven to eight hours of sleep every night. And whenever I can get body work done, like a massage or chiropractor session, I do it.”

3. Natalya Neidhart

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In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Natalya Neidhart opened up about what she eats before a match. “I went to the Sky Lounge in the LaGuardia airport and had a little bit of Greek yogurt and a cappuccino with skim milk. I always like to have a little bit of coffee in the morning — it’s more of a ritual for me than the taste. I like to sit and have 15 minutes to myself to just drink my coffee and reflect and think about what my day is going to be like. They served a breakfast burrito on the plane. To be brutally honest, I don’t really love airplane food, but no matter what, you can make something out of nothing. I had a couple of bites, that that way I could feel like I was getting a little bit without all the calories. Then I just had water on the plane. Whenever I travel I try to hydrate as much as possible. I hate that dehydrated feeling, it makes me super tired. They also served some fresh fruit so I had a little bit of that. That way when I landed I didn’t feel too bloated or heavy.”

4. Carmella

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Carmella, also known as Leah Van Dale, shared her workout routine with Women Fitness. “I always warm up on the bike or treadmill for about 20-30 minutes before I lift. Stretching is something I really need to get back into my daily routine. With my schedule, it’s so hard to fit everything in. I usually only have time to train OR stretch, but I really need to start making time for both. I notice such a difference in my body when I take the time to stretch properly.”

5. Britt Baker

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Britt Baker shared her approach to exercise in an interview with Muscle and Fitness. “I’m, admittedly, a very late-night workout girl,” she said. “I’m at the gym, usually at 10pm, finishing up around 11.30pm or midnight. That’s just how it works for me now because that’s the only time I can fit in. When I’m home, in a typical day, I wake up, go to the dental office and I’m there sometimes until 7pm, come home, eat really quick, say hello to my boyfriend (who just happens to be fellow AEW superstar; Adam Cole then I go to the gym.”

6. Becky Lynch

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Becky Lynch revealed how she stays motivated in an interview with Muscle and Fitness. “Championships represent being at the top of your game. It means that you are the best of the best. Anybody who wants to take it from me better step up and be better, otherwise I can’t sit with that.”

7. Zelina Vega

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Zelina Vega shared her diet in an interview with Muscle and Fitness. “I’m also a vegan,” says Vega. “So, [that’s] an added annoyance as far as traveling goes, but I always come with my meals prepared…For me, I like to know exactly what I’m putting in my body. So, I make sure that I do bring the meals with me.”

8. Kacy Catanzaro

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In 2014, before her WWE debut, Kacy Catanzaro became the first woman to qualify for the finals of American Ninja Warrior. That year, she shared some of her diet tips with TODAY. "Usually I like to work out in the morning before I eat. After the workout I like to eat a banana and definitely some oatmeal for a little bit extra boost. I love smoothies. We make green smoothies at home. I like cucumbers, celery, ginger and kale. We use a lot of greens!"

9. Natalie Eva Marie

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Natalie Eva Marie shared some of her workout tips with Ryderwear.com. “Everyday I am constantly trying to improve mentally, physically, and spiritually. I work a 12 step program of recovery so my sobriety is my number one priority and I know without it I wouldn’t be able to do all the things that I am doing in my life. I feel extremely lucky and blessed to have the career that I have now and don’t want to lose it along with everything that I could lose if I don’t stay sober.”

10. Tenille Dashwood

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In 2018, Tenille Dashwood opened up about signing with Ring of Honor with TVInsider. “I feel revived and alive again with wrestling,” she said. “I started this because I love wrestling. Back when I was younger in Australia, I wanted to be a wrestler and loved what I did with WWE. It’s completely different now. It’s not five minutes on TV where I’m asked to do such and such. It’s having competitive singles matches every night. There are different opponents every night. I’m meeting new people and improving my own skills every time by working with different people in the ring. It got me going again.”

11. Indi Hartwell

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Indi Hartwell opened up about her career to Busted Open Radio. “I thought to myself, ‘if I get it all at once, where do I go from there?’ I’m still pretty young in this business. I’ve been wrestling for seven years, but that’s nothing compared to some people. I’m all about the slow and steady. I know it’s a marathon and not a sprint. A lot of my coaches tell me that. I just try to keep that in mind.”

12. Bianca Belair

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Bianca Belair makes sure to eat healthy. She shared some of her favorite foods with The Cut. Belair says that she gets a lot of protein in her diet. “I’m a big breakfast person. I always do protein shakes. I love oatmeal because it fills you up really quickly. And I love protein pancakes: pancake mix with protein powder.”

13. Deonna Purrazzo

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In an interview with Wrestling Epicenter, Deonna Purrazzo talked about her approach to body image, and dealing with body shamers. “I might need to lose 5 pounds. I might need to lose 6 or 7 pounds. I’m not against the losing weight part. But, I’m against calling people out for it. And I’m against people who call themselves fans thinking it is okay to criticize a woman’s body because it is more than doing squats. I do squats every day. It is a mental game as well. It is so much more than just working out. You know what I mean?”

14. Charlotte Flair

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Charlotte Flair opened up about how she approaches her wrestling career in an interview with Muscle and Fitness. “It’s about being kind to yourself,” says Flair. “How you talk to yourself really matters. I never believed that I could be on TV, or be a performer, or any of those things … Why did I tell myself that for so many years? And now, here I am, the most decorated women’s champion of all-time. Why do we tell ourselves that we can’t do something? It’s because we are scared of it. So, do what you are scared of. That biggest fear that you have…do that!”

15. Jordynne Grace

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Jordynne Grace opened up about her favorite workouts with Muscle and Fitness. “It’s very difficult to lift heavy alongside professional wrestling,” she says. “So I started taking up yoga just because in the past year or so, doing the powerlifting competitions with wrestling has just been crazy. With the yoga, I’ve been trying to get my body back into feeling better.”

16. Thunder Rosa

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Wrestling is a difficult sport. Thunder Rosa opened up about how she manages injuries on the Athletic and The Arts podcast. “I couldn't feel my legs when I got out of the ring. But I have to get out there. I couldn't let people down. So I wrestled with my hips taped for about two months, because I was wrestling all the time. So it was like, nonstop because of that drive that we have. I wanted to be the champion. I wanted to be the best. I wanted people to say that I did it, I wanted to say that I did it for myself."

17. Toni Storm

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Toni Storm opened up about changes she’s made to her lifestyle to Muscle and Fitness. “You know, in your early 20s when you are working, living a fast-paced lifestyle, like anyone, you are not constantly making the best lifestyle choices,” she says. “Sometimes there’s some bad food on the road, maybe some drinks after the shows, and that really caught up with me because I was just constantly on the road for years with no routine, not getting enough sleep. All of those things started to weigh heavy on me but now I don’t drink any alcohol. I’ve noticed an immense difference. My workouts and everything has totally changed.”

18. Sasha Banks

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Sasha Banks opened up about her diet in an interview with FOX Sports. She says that she does a lot of cooking. “It’s probably saving me like $200 a week by making my own food. I make ground turkey, ground buffalo, chicken and vegetables. I feel like my body has changed completely knowing what ingredients you’re putting in your body.”

19. Nikki Bella

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In an interview with Us Weekly, Nikki Bella opened up about finding self-acceptance. She says that she knows who she is, which helps her be confident. “You get reminded of your age in the entertainment industry. But I know what I want out of life, and I know where I’m going and I know who Nikki Garcia is. And that feels pretty damn good.”

20. Brie Bella

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Nikki’s twin sister, Brie Bella, also opened up about self-acceptance in the same Us Weekly interview. Bella says that becoming a mother has helped her overcome insecurities. “When I look in the mirror and start to get negative, I look at my kids running around. They’re healthy. This is the body that birthed them. I feel blessed.”

Ivelisse Velez, a well-known wrestler, continues to dominate in the world of professional wrestling. Famous for her time with Lucha Underground, Velez recently shared some thrilling highlights from her latest match with Shine Wrestling on Instagram. She captioned the post with pride, "My best match of 2024 🤼‍♀️🇵🇷⚔️🇯🇵." With a career centered on breaking barriers and raising the bar for women’s wrestling, Velez has become a powerful voice for female athletes. From her dedication in the ring to her role as a dog owner and advocate for healthy living, Velez's journey continues to inspire. Her passion for promoting women's wrestling shines through, solidifying her as a trailblazer in the sport.

1. She Wrestles

Wrestling is the main way Velez stays in shape. The sport has a lot of health benefits. FloWrestling states, “Wrestlers learn from challenging one-on-one struggles against an opponent and also develop an awareness of diet and nutrition through the process of making weight. While not all wrestlers and coaches approach weight loss in healthy ways, when done correctly, this can teach a physical life skill that many young athletes may never learn.”

2. She Has A Dog

Velez has a dog, whom she prominently features on her social media accounts. She shared this video on her TikTok and Instagram. Harvard Health states that having a dog can have some health benefits. “Ongoing research is showing that the health benefits of owning a dog are undeniable. Dog owners have lower blood pressure and healthier cholesterol levels, and a lower risk of heart disease, than non-owners.”

3. She Wants To Highlight Women’s Wrestling

Velez opened up about her career in an interview with The Huffington Post. She says that promoting women’s wrestling is important to her. “I have always wrestled like a guy; I have always had it in my mind to have that standard. I have always wanted to bring that level of credibility to women's wrestling. Women can fight. Women are just as good as men. Women are just as tough as men."

4. She’s Proud Of Herself

Velez is extremely proud of the way her career has gone. "With Lucha Underground, here I am, where I was meant to be all along," she said to The Huffington Post. "That's why I feel like I was meant to go through all that hell. This is perfect for what I wanted to bring to the world. It definitely means a lot. Being in this career and giving everything I have given, being acknowledged... It makes that feeling ten times bigger. I'm happy it's happening, happy for everything to come and extremely grateful!"

5. She Helped Change Things

Velez talked about being a part of getting women’s wrestling promoted to The Huffington Post. "I highly doubt it has anything to do with the talent, the women out there itself. It has to do with the fact WWE was the main wrestling entity, and that's what they wanted to sell. Anyone else who had a different agenda pretty much got short-handed. Now it's out there; there's a higher demand for that type of performer. They sort of have no choice but to roll with the punches and finally give people what they want to see."