A comment made on this week’s episode of AEW Collision has caught the attention of fans with many believing it was a nod to Mercedes Mone.
The March 2, episode of Collision served as the go-home show before tonight’s AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view. That show will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The show will mark the retirement of Sting, whose AEW World Tag Team Title match with Darby Allin against The Young Bucks will be the last bout in the Icon’s legendary career.
Serena Deeb’s Promo
During this week’s Collision, Serena Deeb had a promo in which she addressed her impressive record in AEW. The veteran dubbed herself “The Professor of Professional Wrestling” and “The Woman of 1000 Holds,” the latter being a nod to AEW’s Dean Malenko. With that said, it was the final line of her promo that caught the attention of fans as she made a challenge.
“Test yourself against the most elite wrestler, because I’ll be here each and every week showing the world that nobody can do what I do in the ring and why I am ‘The Final Boss.”
Deeb's Dojo is offering a free clinic to anyone who thinks they have what it takes step in the ring against The Professor.
In promotional material, the term ‘Bo$$ton’ can be found, with fans seeing this as further proof that Mone, known affectionately as ‘The Boss’ will be debuting. Mone is reportedly already under contract with AEW and has been for some time.
AEW star and current Ring of Honor Women’s Champion Mercedes Martinez recently spoke with SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall for NBC Sports Boston about how her match against Serena Deeb on July 23rd at Death Before Dishonor has the potential to be a match of the year candidate.
“Why not? I mean you’re looking at two of the best women wrestlers out there right now in this industry we have the experience we’ve been everywhere we’ve done it all. We’ve had our struggles we’ve sacrificed a lot for what we have to do to where we are now and with Ring of Honor it’s a full circle, it’s almost like hey we’ve been here before, but there was no women’s division we have a chance to propel this woman’s division to go forward for the future of Ring of Honor.
In the future what can this division bring to also AEW because if you look at it you have to look at AEW and ring of Honor we have to be able to mix the talents so those that may not be able to get the opportunity in AEW for whatever reason because story lines this is a chance for them to get into Ring of Honor and actually showcase their skills and their talents it’s a different platform so we’re just here to build and we’re here to capitalize and yeah me and Serena Deeb are going to go in there we’re going to kill it we’re going to throw out the banger we’re going to throw out something that no one has ever seen before that they haven’t seen on mainstream and just prove to everyone that women’s wrestling is here to stay and just let us just roll with it let us just take the bar and you know bring the opportunities and bring everything to what it can be… you know women’s wrestling’s on a high right now and I’m just glad to help lead the charge.”
Former WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee has made her pick for the best wrestler in AEW, and it’s not her husband CM Punk.
Lee is no stranger to the ring, having worked for WWE between 2009-2015 and signed on as an executive producer for WOW – Women of Wrestling in October 2021.
On this week’s ‘The Sessions,’ the retired wrestler praised Serena Deeb as the best name working for Tony Khan.
“I’ve been watching some AEW. I’ve got to say, I love so many people on the roster. I think the best wrestler they have is Serena Deeb.”
AJ Lee.
Carrying on, Lee said how Deeb, who was once part of Punk’s ‘Straight Edge Society’ stable in WWE, was a huge influence on her career.
“I was in FCW and I was the first indie female they had signed in like a decade or something. It was this huge deal. I only had two years of experience. When she came in, it was like I was drowning and this wonderful person came in to save me. She was an indie wrestler that had a lot of experience. She was so good and she taught me so much in a very short period of time.”
Deeb unsuccessfully challenged for the AEW Women’s World Championship against Thunder Rosa at last weekend’s Double or Nothing event.
Her most recent match saw her and Nyla Rose beat Skye Blue and Miyu Yamashita during this week’s AEW: Dark Elevation taping.
On the first season of Heels, CM Punk and Luke Gallows were featured on the show. Starz, the television channel/production company behind Heels, is seemingly planning to add more professional wrestling talent to the wrestling-based drama.
PWInsider has reported that Heels will be adding former IMPACT Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace, IMPACT’s Savannah Evans, and AEW’s Serena Deeb to the cast. They are currently filming Season Two of the show in Georgia.
Season One of ‘Heels’
Heels, whose lead producer is Micheal Waldron, depicts a story of two brothers who are rivals that are fighting over their father’s wrestling promotion. One of the brothers plays the villain and the other plays the hero, thus showcasing the heel versus face dynamic that we see in the ring throughout the show. While the brothers are fighting, the promotion is also trying to gain national attention as a small promotion in a small town in Georgia.
Season One premiered in the fall of 2021 and featured eight episodes. The show in its entirety is available for streaming on-demand on Amazon Prime Video.
AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa’s next challenger has been revealed.
Rosa is approaching the two-month mark of her AEW Women’s Championship reign. She captured the title during the St. Patrick’s Day Slam edition of Dynamite, defeating Britt Baker.
Thunder Rosa made her way out to the stage during the May 4 episode of Dynamite. Serena Deeb saw it as a perfect opportunity to address the champion. We then learned that Rosa vs. Deeb is now official for the Double or Nothing PPV set for May 29 in Las Vegas.
AEW star Serena Deeb recently discussed how Tony Khan has “embraced” having deeper storytelling in the All Elite Women’s division.
Speaking to Tuesday Wrestling Tuesday, Deeb said that the Women’s division is much better in All Elite now that it is more than just “one-off” matches.
“That was the thing for a while where it was just one-off matches” Serena Deeb began. “And the fact that Tony embraced wanting to do more and wanted to put some, some deeper storytelling in there is really cool.
“Hopefully, that continues for other people as well. I think just from an emotional investment standpoint for the fans, one-off matches are great” Deeb noted.
Serena Deeb on
“Especially if they’re dream matches, right? Like Bryan Danielson versus Kenny Omega. Like that’s a dream match, people want to see that and even one time, these people are going to love it. But I think, historically speaking in wrestling, if you look back on the Attitude Era, for example, there were stories and feuds that went on for a year.
“And people stayed emotionally invested as long as there was something compelling to pay attention to. So I think it’s a great sign. I’ve seen it also across other stories in the women’s division and as of late and it’s great. I think a lot of wrestling fans appreciate that” the former WWE Superstar concluded.
Kris Statlander has four AEW stars in her sights and some of them are familiar foes.
Statlander knows a thing or two about scrapping with AEW’s top female wrestlers. She’s gone toe-to-toe with the likes of current AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida, and Nyla Rose.
For 2022, Statlander has a couple of rematches in mind.
Kris Statlander Lists Potential Opponents
Kris Statlander has mixed it up with the likes of Jamie Hayter and Ruby Soho but she told Chris Denker on Into The Danger Zone that she’s eyeing rematches. She’s also got two other names on her radar.
“I wanna wrestle Serena Deeb. I’ve wrestled Thunder Rosa on the indies but I haven’t in AEW.
“I really just wanna wrestle them all but Jamie Hayter and I, we had a singles match on the Jericho Cruise and I would love to do that on Dynamite.
“It was a great match. It was so fun. Did I win? No, her and Britt cheated so I lost that one. So, we gotta do one that actually counts.
“I just wrestled Ruby and I lost to her but I would love to [wrestle her again].”
The match with Ruby took place in the TBS Title tournament. With the defeat, Statlander has missed out on her chance of becoming the inaugural TBS Champion.
Ruby and Jade Cargill will do battle for that honor on the Jan. 5 episode of Dynamite. This will be Dynamite’s debut on TBS.
Please H/T SEScoops with a link if you use any quotes from this article
Serena Deeb recently noted that when she was out with a knee injury earlier this year she began working backstage in AEW as a producer and a coach. Deeb was speaking with Wrestling Inc. when she mentioned having taken on the role.
“When I was kind of sitting on the sidelines I stepped into the coaching role and the producing role,” Deeb said. “Kind of like the stuff I was doing before at the other company,” she said. “I’m helping them with their matches, I am on headset next to Tony calling their matches, talking to the truck, doing all of that. I love that too and, you know what? That has an exhilarating component in itself. Like, especially when you really help and then you watch them go out there and they kill it. You feel like you’re part of that, it’s very rewarding.”
Deeb worked as a trainer in the WWE Performance Center from 2017 until the spring of 2020. She was released in April 2020 along with many others at the start of the pandemic.
“Yesterday I did what was supposed to be a four-hour seminar but it ended up being a six-hour seminar because we were just in it and we were just going. I felt so good at the end of it,” Deeb continued. “I really love coaching and I want it to be a part of my life and my future and I am getting to do a little bit of that at AEW, as well. So that’s a part of me, for sure. I have an innate desire to help people and I’ve kind of always been like that, I really love it.”
Deeb’s Dojo on the road stopped off yesterday at #SyDOJO in Tampa, FL.
Great women’s seminar and I respect all the hard work you ladies put in. Thank you for your grit ? pic.twitter.com/uowXFDlsSt
Deeb recently faced Hikaru Shida in the rubber match of their series at Winter is Coming. Deeb had defeated Shida on the October 6th episode of Dynamite. Shida then defeated Deeb in the 1st round of the TBS title tournament. Deeb attacked Shida after the match, targeting her already damaged knee. She then attacked Shida during her quarter-final match with Nyla Rose, again attacking the knee. Rose ended up submitting Shida with a stretch muffler shortly after. Shida then defeated Deeb in the 3rd match in their trilogy last week.
Serena Deeb was once a member of CM Punk’s Straight-Edge Society faction in WWE. They are now both members of the AEW roster. Deeb was recently interviewed by Wrestling Inc. and noted that Punk has helped her career in multiple ways.
“We have a great relationship, we obviously go back a long way and we did some really good business together over the years,” Deeb said. “I met Punk in, I want to say 2005 at OVW when he first reported there and Paul Heyman was booking the show and Punk was his guy.”
Deeb continued to say that Punk played a role in helping her get into the Shimmer and Ring of Honor promotions.
“Punk was the driving force behind getting me to Shimmer for the first time, which at the time was, as a female wrestler, that was the indie that you aspire to go to because that was the best. From Shimmer that got me to Ring Of Honor. Punk really guided me and really helped support me in getting to all these places before WWE.”
CM Punk, Serena Deeb, and the Straight Edge Society
During the January 22nd, 2010 edition of WWE SmackDown, Deeb appeared as a fan in the crowd. She jumped the guardrail and made it known she wanted to join Punk’s Straight Edge Society faction. As an initiation, the group shaved her head. Deeb also spoke about her time in the group during her recent interview.
“I think because we had that great relationship and that friendship and that foundation, we had chemistry already just from all of that. It translated on-screen. I constantly get tagged on social media and people still love The Straight Edge Society and it was over a decade ago, it’s crazy. I love having him in the locker room.”
Serena Deeb On Advice She Receives From CM Punk
Deeb also spoke about how she regularly goes to CM Punk for advice on her matches. She believes everyone in the AEW locker room should do the same.
“He’s somebody I think all the guys and all the women should be asking for feedback. I ask him. I ask him to watch my matches, he doesn’t always get the chance to because he’s doing a million things on the show.”
Deeb continued to praise CM Punk’s ability to tell stories in the ring. She even noted that we might see a reunion between them somewhere down the line.
“The dude’s a master storyteller. I mean he blows my mind with some of the stuff he does. He’s clearly one of the best to ever do it and we have a great relationship. We talk every week and everything is great and yeah, we might see a reunion one day.”
The full interview is available in the player below:
All Elite Wrestling’s Serena Deeb has given an update on her knee injury.
Deeb has posted a video on her Twitter that she is making significant progress on rehabbing her knee injury. On July 31st, Deeb shared that she’s been having issues with her knee and taking time to recover. While not given a timetable, Deeb said, “…I will be back to AEW, and I will be back to once again be champion, and I will remind each and everyone one of you that not only am I the best women’s wrestler in the world, I’m the best wrestler in the world.” Today Deeb has revealed that she can walk, and she no longer needs a knee brace.
“…I’m already able to walk. In fact, I don’t even need my knee brace anymore, which means that I’m one step closer to being cleared,” said Deeb.
Deeb has been dealing with a knee injury since March. She posted on her Twitter account on March 5th that said, “I had a scope done, and it went really well. I’ll be back before you know it.”
She returned to AEW Dynamite on May 19th at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida, to successfully defended the NWA Women’s Championship against Red Velvet. Deeb would compete several more times. However, Deeb reinjured her knee once again and has not wrestled since July.
Deeb is still not cleared to compete, as she said in her Twitter post today. Although she has already alluded to several feuds that she can have when she returns. While not saying names, she used the moniker of AEW talents in the women’s division. “…So when I return, it doesn’t matter who they throw at me. Whether it’s a bunny, a beast, an alien, or a doctor, they will all see that there is only one professor of professional wrestling. I am Serena Deeb, the woman of a thousand holds, said Deeb.”
For now, Deeb will still need to rehab her knee injury so that she doesn’t have the same issues once again.
Serena Deeb posted a video on Instagram updating fans on her current injury status. Deeb missed all of March and April with a knee injury. In her recent video, Deeb reveals her knee has been giving her problems in matches lately.
“Recently, I hit a roadblock and I wanted to address it and be honest. I see everything. ‘Serena should be on Dynamite more. Serena should be on pay-per-view more. Serena is the best.’ You’re right. The truth is, right now, I’m hurt. I’m injured. My knee has been playing up for a while and bothering me in matches. I tried to fight through the pain.”
“Yes, right now, I’m injured and I’m hurt,” Deeb continued. “But I will be back to AEW and I will be back to once again be champion and I will remind each and everyone one of you that not only am I the best women’s wrestler in the world, I’m the best wrestler in the world. I am Serena Deeb, the woman of a thousand holds.”
Deeb wrestled six times after returning from injury in May. She defined the NWA Women’s title twice in AEW. She defeated Red Velvet on Dynamite and then Riho at Double or Nothing’s Buy-In event. Deeb then lost the NWA title to Kamille at the When Our Shadows Fall PPV. She would team with Kylie Rae and defeated Skye Blue and Thunder Rosa on NWA Powerrr after the PPV. Deeb defeated Tesha Price on Dark Elevation at the end of June. Her last match in AEW came on Dark Elevation as well when she teamed with Tay Conti and defeated Jazmin Allure & Vertvixen.
Billy Corgan’s NWA presented the When Our Shadows Fall PPV this weekend. Kamille defeated Serena Deeb to win the NWA World Women’s Championship on the show. Deeb had most recently successfully defended that same title against Riho on the Double or Nothing Buy-In show.
Corgan appeared on the 2 Man Power Trip podcast recently and spoke about the relationship his promotion has with AEW.
“We work everything out. Tony has been an incredible partner and I never felt like the NWA or myself wasn’t totally respected,” Corgan said on the show (transcriptions via Fightful). “The communication is great and we talk fairly often. He’s obviously a very busy guy. When we do talk, we keep it to what is most valuable. I’m a fan of Tony. He’s been a breath of fresh air to business.”
Corgan continued to talk about Khan’s influence in wrestling. In particular, Corgan says that Khan and AEW are proving that there is room at the table for other promotions.
“It’s great to see their success because Tony is paving the way for us to make the argument that there is more room at the table for others,” Corgan continued. “Five years ago, when I was with TNA and I’d go into those meetings, we’d sit in meetings and they’d say, ‘It’s WWE and no one else.’ TNA’s biggest year generated like $39 million gross revenue, which is a big number. In those meetings, they didn’t care what I was selling. If they couldn’t make it happen, what could you say if you were [at a lower revenue], no matter how good your ideas are.”
Corgan’s NWA is back in the GPB Studios today. They welcomed fans back for the first time since the pandemic for tapings scheduled from June 5-7.
“Tony is proving there is more and you see that with them expanding their programming. They wouldn’t be expanding their programming if there wasn’t a desire for more.”
With Thunder Rosa and Serena Deeb becoming regulars in AEW while still in the NWA Women’s division, it begs the question of who else could be shared between the two promotions. Could Kamille defend her newly won NWA title in AEW? Could former AEW talent and recent NWA signing Kylie Rae appear on Dynamite?
Corgan was also recently on Busted Open Radio and spoke about wanting to book a trilogy bout between Cody Rhodes and Nick Aldis.
“I’ve pitched it to Tony [Khan] a few times [Nick Aldis coming over to AEW]. It’s Tony’s world, I respect him for what he’s building. But yeah, look, I’ll say it again, Nick [Aldis] versus Cody Rhodes for a third time. I mean, that is an epic, epic matchup waiting to happen,” Corgan said (transcriptions via Post Wrestling).
All Elite Wrestling has announced that the NWA World Women’s Championship will be defended this weekend on the Double or Nothing Buy-In show. NWA Women’s Champion Serena Deeb will defend against former AEW Women’s Champion, Riho.
Deeb recently returned from knee surgery that had kept her out of action for 3 months. She defeated Red Velvet in a well-reviewed match on last week’s edition of Dynamite. 23-year-old Riho hasn’t wrestled in AEW since March 10th. She picked up a victory over Maki Itoh on the first-ever edition of AEW Dark: Elevation.
This will be just the 2nd ever match between Riho and Deeb. They met back in February in the 1st round of the AEW Women’s title-eliminator tournament. Riho pulled out the victory in a match, which is the likely reason she has been granted this title shot.
The announcement of this match comes one day after a new #1 Contender to the NWA Women’s title was not able to be determined on last night’s edition of NWA Powerrr. Thunder Rosa and Kamille wrestled to a 20-minute time limit draw on the show. It is now unclear who will challenge for the belt on June 6th when the NWA presents its next PPV, When Our Shadows Fall.
Serena Deeb has become a top star in the NWA as she is the current Women’s Champion. She’s also been making AEW appearances.
Deeb made an appearance on The Hashtag Show to discuss a wide range of topics. During it, she noted that the promotion will likely start holding TV tapings again in the coming months, perhaps as soon as next month.
“For the foreseeable future, I’m really excited. NWA is probably starting back up again with some tapings in January or early next year. My intention as champion is to defend it all over the world. I would love to be a platform to showcase other women. The possibilities are endless.”
The NWA had to briefly shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic as it suspended Powerrr tapings in March. They’ve worked with AEW as well as partnered with UWN to run events.
Also, NWA has been airing matches every week that took place at past events for its Shockwave series.While this is an indication as to when there’s been no confirmation by the NWA on them resuming TV tapings.
Current NWA Women’s Champion Serena Deeb knew NXT Superstar Rhea Ripley would be a star the second she saw her.
Deeb joined Women’s Wrestling Talk to discuss a variety of subjects. She eventually turned her attention to who impressed her the most in WWE when she was a WWE Performance Center coach. She immediately singled out former NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley.
“There are some who are naturals and wrestling just clicks with. Rhea Ripley is an example of that,” Deeb explained. “She was somebody that from the second I saw her, I was like ok, the girl is going to be a star and do big things in this business and watching the growth of someone like in the time I was there was really rewarding and just proud.”
Ripley participated in last night’s NXT TakeOver: WarGames event. She was a member of Team Shotzi alongside Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, and Io Shirai. They lost to Team Candice, comprised of Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez, and Toni Storm.
Triple H recently opened up about WWE’s canceled plans for Rhea Ripley following her WrestleMania 36 loss. At the event, Ripley lost the NXT Women’s Championship to Charlotte Flair. It was a blow that unfortunately caused Ripley to lose a lot of confidence in herself at the time.
Serena Deeb, meanwhile, has recently been appearing on All Elite Wrestling. Deeb successfully defended her NWA Women’s Championship last month against Thunder Rosa on an episode of AEW Dynamite.
Thunder Rosa and Serena Deeb met last night on UWN Primetime Live with the NWA Women’s Championship on the line. It was a rematch from an earlier show that saw Thunder Rosa successfully retain her belt. This week, however, it was Serena Deeb who would score the pinfall and win the title for the first time in her career.
Deeb is signed to AEW and shortly after she won the title, Tony Khan announced she will defend it on tonight’s episode of Dynamite. Leyla Hirsch will be Deeb’s first challenger.
Congratulations to the new @nwa Women’s World Champion @SerenaDeeb! She’ll make her 1st title defense v. @LegitLeyla on #AEWDynamite tomorrow night, Wednesday on TNT at 8pm ET/7pm CT on a huge show with several big matches on the card! Thank you great fans who make AEW possible! pic.twitter.com/4a4DT6uQsO
The title dates back to Mildred Burke’s reign beginning in the 1930s. The Fabulous Moolah would win the title in the 1950s and become synonymous with it up until the WWWF withdrew from the NWA. Debbie Combs would be crowned the first champion in the new era for the title in 1986.
Jazz won the title in 2016 but vacated it in 2019. Allysin Kay then defeated Santana Garrett at the Crockett Cup in 2019 to become the new champion. She then dropped it to Thunder Rosa at the Hard Times PPV in January. In total, 30 wrestlers have held the title.
Both Serena Deeb and Deonna Purrazzo have pulled out of upcoming events due to concerns relating to COVID-19.
In the case of Deeb, the recent AEW signee was scheduled to face Allysin Kay on the next episode of the NWA/UWN weekly PPV series. She put out a statement noting that she had come into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus and will be self-quarantining as a result, however.
Serena Deeb released a statement that she is self-quaranting after coming in contact with someone with COVID-19, she will be replaced by @NikiMSavo in her match with @Sienna on #PrimeTimeLive.
The NWA has since announced that Nicole Savoy will replace Deeb against Allysin Kay on the show.
As for Impact Knockouts Champion, Deonna Purrazzo, she noted on Twitter recently that she is pulling out of an upcoming Game Changer Wrestling show. Purrazzo will face Kylie Rae at Bound For Glory on October 24th, 2020 and wants to make sure she does not have to miss the event.
“Unfortunately, I’ve made the decision to cancel my shows for The Collective weekend. With BFG coming up, my highest priority needs to be staying healthy and leaving adequate time self-isolate, if need be. This is just precautionary. I’ll see y’all soon, I promise. Stay safe!” Purrazzo Tweeted.
Unfortunately, I’ve made the decision to cancel my shows for The Collective weekend.
With BFG coming up, my highest priority needs to be staying healthy and leaving adaquant time self-isolate, if need be.
This is just precautionary. I’ll see y’all soon, I promise ?? Stay safe!
Additionally, Ben Carter, who recently performed for AEW on the 1-hour Dynamite special on Tuesday and on AEW Dark, noted that he has tested positive for the virus. It’s been a week of highs and lows for him. Carter posted the following to announce his positive test:
Serena Deeb has officially signed with All Elite Wrestling. Deeb had been working as a coach at the WWE Performance Center before being furloughed and eventually let go by the company this spring.
Deeb debuted for AEW on the September 2nd edition of Dynamite. She was defeated by NWA Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa on the show. It was her first official match since the 2017 Mae Young Classic.
Deeb was a member of CM Punk’s Straight Edge Society in 2010. After her head was shaved, Deeb was released from the company that same year. It was reported that Deeb was actually released from WWE for not adhering to her straight-edge gimmick in public.
After being released by WWE in 2010, she began competing for promotions such as SHIMMER while also working as a yoga instructor. In 2017, she was brought back to the company to perform in the Mae Young Classic. She was then hired as a coach in 2018 before being furloughed and eventually let go this spring.
AEW announced Deeb’s signing today on social media:
Deeb gave an interview to Newsday in 2011 and spoke about her time in the Straight Edge Society.
“I don’t really know what was going on in their minds, in my bosses’ minds, during my time in WWE. I think that the plans were there to eventually have me break out and be in the ring. But the role that I played on television, that wasn’t part of it…
As reported before, AEW President & CEO Tony Khan hosted a conference call earlier today with members of the pro wrestling media to promote Saturday’s All Out pay-per-view.
You can click here for Khan’s earlier comments on the Brock Lesnar/AEW rumors, which AEW PPV did better than WrestleMania 36, and more. Below are more highlights from the call:
* Khan revealed that there will be a live crowd at Britt Baker’s dentist office for the “Tooth & Nail” match against Big Swole on the All Out pre-show. The cinematic-style match was originally planned for the main card earlier this summer, but Baker hasn’t wrestled much in recent months and the change was made. He sees it as a big opportunity for both Swole and Baker, who we will see a lot more from in the next few months. He said while this will be a cinematic match, the actual pay-per-view will be wrestling-heavy and not storyline-heavy. Khan said the “Tooth & Nail” match will be great and it will be fun, and it will be free for everyone to enjoy.
* Khan said he would love to have Serena Deeb back after her match with NWA Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa on Dynamite this week, adding that they both hit a home run. Deeb received rave reviews backstage, and he was proud of them for putting on a strong performance in the second hour position that the company trusted them with. He’s very excited about Rosa facing AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida at All Out on Saturday.
* There is not a working relationship between AEW and the NWA, past the good personal relationship he has with NWA Owner Billy Corgan. They have had a strong relationship for years, before Khan got into wrestling. Khan revealed that he was introduced to Corgan by another good friend – former WWE star Chris Nowinski of the Concussion Legacy Foundation. He talked more about Nowinski and how he respects his work, and had Nowinski come to speak to the AEW roster. He sees AEW and NWA as two different companies, but he wished Corgan the best with everything he’s doing. Regarding Rosa vs. Shida, he thinks this will be one of the best matches on the card and he thought the match maked sense for both promotions when it was pitched. He believes Rosa is the perfect contender for Shida at All Out, but it was Kenny Omega who first recommended Rosa for the match. Khan agreed, called Corgan and they made it happen.
* Khan said he, and everyone else in the company, are really missing PAC, who is still in the UK due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. He believes PAC’s absence has been a great opportunity for Eddie Kingston, who he sees as a good mouthpiece for The Lucha Bros, but also one who can fit well in other roles. While it’s unfortunate that PAC can’t be here right now, it means other wrestlers are able to step up, and they have been stepping up.
Mae Young Classic performer and former member of CM Punk’s “Straight Edge Society”, Serena Deeb, is the newest coach at the WWE Performance Center in Florida. Deeb will be coaching the female talent alongside Sara Amato
In addition to being a former member of the Smackdown main roster, Deeb has a history of teaching. She has been working as a yoga instructor in Los Angeles for the past few years.
Deeb’s release from WWE in 2010 was controversial. She was fired after evidence of her not living up to the straight-edge gimmick outside of WWE was discovered. 7 years later the company brought her back to participate in the Mae Young Classic tournament. Today she was officially announced as the newest WWE Performance Center coach.
Serena Deeb Hired By WWE
WWE has published an interview with Deeb on their website. In the interview, Deeb goes into more detail regarding her approach to teaching. It appears evident that Deeb’s yoga background will play a role in her work with WWE recruits.
Being able to contribute to instilling a healthy mindset and helping [recruits] to be better people though the whole process is very important to me.
The Mae Young Classic got underway yesterday from Full Sail University. The company unveiled all 32 competitors on their Facebook and YouTube channels before the event got underway.
One of those competitors, was former Straight Edge Society member, Serena Deeb.
Serena Deeb
In January 2010, Serena became a member of CM Punk’s “Straight Edge Society”. As a result her head was shaved and pledged to be straight edge.
Serena’s WWE career ended on an auspicious note. Photos of her drinking an alcoholic beverage surfaced, which were inconsistent with the straight-edge character she was portraying on television. WWE chose to release her for her infraction. Her entire run on the main roster lasted only 8 months.
She returned to the independents and SHIMMER, where she had wrestled from 2007-09 before she signed with WWE. Serena would announce her retirement in 2015, as she focussed more on her yoga instructing.
– Randy Orton is being advertised for another WWE live event in mid-August, a virtual guarantee that he’ll be back on television prior to SummerSlam on 8/21. Raziel Cano, the marketing director for the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, tweeted the following lineup for WWE’s 8/13 live event from the venue:
– NXT star Billie Kay tweeted the following about her WWE debut, which took place at Tuesday night’s SmackDown tapings from Miami, FL and will air Thursday night on USA:
– In the latest edition of Behind the Match, Kaitlyn reveals her strategy in the Triple Threat Match for the WWE Divas Championship at last year’s Hell in Cell pay-per-view event.
– David Otunga appeared on Between the Ropes to promote the release of The Call—the highest-grossing WWE Studios film of all-time—on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download. The WWE Superstar discussed acting alongside Halle Berry, the sports-entertainment organization’s ongoing youth movement, former tag team partner Curtis Axel, finding a colorful coffee thermos and the clothes to match it, the George Zimmerman court case and more. To listen to the interview, click here.
– Former WWE talent Serena Deeb turns 27-years-old on Saturday. She is now recovered from a serious concussion suffered in late-2011 and has resumed competing for various independent organization.
– On Monday’s RAW, Paul Heyman revealed that Triple H’s match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 29 will be a No Holds Barred match, with Triple H’s career on the line. Dave Meltzer reports that the stipulation was finalized just days before RAW, and other ideas for the match included Hell In A Cell, or Shawn Michaels and Paul Heyman in Triple H and Brock Lesnar’s corners.
– Former WWE Diva Serena Deeb will be making her return to the ring in May after an 18-month hiatus due to injury. She’ll be wrestling former WWE Diva Shelly Martinez at Pro Wrestling Syndicate’s Bombshell Ladies of Wrestling event on May 11th from Metuchen, New Jersey.
– “Stone Cold Steve” Austin tweeted on Thursday that he will not be taking part in WrestleMania 29 weekend:
I've had many questions concerning WrestleMania 29. The decision has been made that I will not be at WM29 and that the bottom line.
Former WWE talent Serena Deeb posted a denial-type statement on her Twitter account Friday night in response to online reports of her arrest last Sunday in Tampa, Florida.
“Ok…can anyone REALLY picture me driving a boat? Get real,” she wrote.
Her arrest report says she was charged with violation 327.35 BUI VESSEL, which according to the official website of the Florida state legislature is (BUI) Boating Under the Influence. The website states that “a person is guilty of the offense of boating under the influence and is subject to punishment as provided in subsection (2) if the person is operating a vessel within this state and: (a) The person is under the influence of alcoholic beverages, any chemical substance set forth in s. 877.111, or any substance controlled under chapter 893, when affected to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired.”
Deeb also addressed individuals she perceives as being judgmental toward her: “AND…next time the highlight of your day involves judging others who you know nothing about, maybe you should look yourself in the mirror.”
Deeb appeared for WWE in 2010 as a member of the CM Punk-led Straight Edge Society, a group which promoted and abided to abstinence and discipline—primarily no smoking, drinking, or drugs. The faction acted as a militant organization, denouncing all people who didn’t practice the straight edge lifestyle, even those who also abstain from substance abuse. Her contract was terminated in August of that year, with WWE sources cited to the Pro Wrestling Torch saying that she was not maintaining the gimmick’s image in public. In December 2011, she acknowledged her troubles with alcohol and proudly proclaimed to having achieved one full year of sobriety.
Deeb tweeted December 5, 2011, “Today I am incredibly proud, as it marks one full year I have gone without drinking alcohol. A year ago I looked myself in the mirror & reevaluated my priorities. I decided to make serious changes. I have always wanted to be a role model & help others around me because I believe that makes the world a better place. I hope this message can inspire & encourage whoever reads it.
“Oftentimes when people approach change, it can be overwhelming. One week is hard, one year is even harder and ‘forever’ almost sounds impossible. From my personal account, I think it’s helpful to take things one day at a time & to constantly remind yourself of the bigger picture.
“We all have changes that we want to implement. A new year approaching is the perfect opportunity. Don’t limit yourself & the potential that you have to live a better life. Change is never easy BUT with a challenge, you build a stronger character. Self confidence & a strong will are very empowering. Take small steps & don’t look back- “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Deeb has since taken an indefinite leave from professional wrestling due to the effects of a serious concussion suffered in a match. She now works as a yoga instructor.
