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Out WWE star marries partner in moving ceremony & gains two daughters

Sonya Deville/Daria Berenato
Sonya Deville/Daria Berenato Photo: Screenshot

Out WWE star Daria Berenato – who wrestles under the name Sonya Deville – married fitness model Toni Cassano on February 10 in what they described as an “intimate” ceremony at New Jersey’s Legacy Castle, a picturesque and upscale palace that is often used as a wedding venue.

The 140 guests – many of them WWE wrestlers – wore black, while the brides and Cassano’s two daughters wore white.

“Blending our families happened so organically,” Cassano told People. She said that her kids, ages 8 and 12, would refer to the big day as “our wedding.”

“So that is how we look at it,” she said. “Our older daughter, Giovanna, she’s very good at playing the piano, so she’s [playing] Toni’s walk down the aisle song. And then our little one, Valentina, is in charge of the rings.” 

The couple also expressed openness to having more children.

“It’s something we talk about often,” Berenato said, “and I just think when you love someone so much, to think about bringing another being into this world that is yours together is so special. I think it would be a blessing if and when it does happen. [We] have to see how the next couple years go. I got to make sure my family that we currently have is secure and everything’s taken care of.”

Cassano smiled and added, “And then we’ll see.”

The wedding was officiated by Berenato’s longtime friend, television personality Maria Menounos.

Berenato said Menounos and her husband, Kevin, were her mentors in her 20s and introduced her to the WWE.

“They’ve also seen some of my previous relationships and had some opinions. So when I found Toni and they met Toni, they fell in love with her the same way that I did,” Berenato said. “And so to have Maria put into words — because she’s so good at that — everything that has transpired here was the perfect fit.”

Berenato proposed last February 15 at a New Jersey wine cellar. Moments after she placed the ring on Cassano’s finger, Cassano pulled another ring out of her purse and gave it to a shocked Berenato.

In 2020, Berenato became the first out gay female WWE pro-wrestler when she came out in 2015 in an unplanned moment on national television after she was asked if she was dating anyone. She also made history by becoming the first out lesbian to participate in Wrestlemania, WWE’s annual wrestling event. She even wore a rainbow costume to honor the moment.

She said at the time that she hoped to inspire others to come out.

“If I can help people in this process and be a voice to people who might be intimidated of coming out themselves, or are scared to, or think that it’s wrong, and they see me doing it in front of pretty big people in the WWE world, hopefully, it will give them the courage to do it.”

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