Serena Deeb walked away from wrestling in 2015, taking a two-year hiatus from the business.
She returned in 2017 to take part in the Mae Young Classic and work as trainer at the WWE Performance Center.
Speaking to Jim Varsallone, Deeb discussed her decision to return to the sport and help coach others.
"When I was approached about the coaching position, I had taken two years off wrestling completely. I took a break from the business to regroup and go through the evolution that I thought I needed. That's when I started getting into yoga, I was practicing twice a day. I wasn't in a healthy headspace with wrestling. I took two years doing no wrestling and going in a different direction. Out of the blue, I was approached about the coaching position in WWE. I came in to the Mae Young Classic and was quickly offered the coaching position. For that stage in the my life, it seemed right. It was being put in front of me for a reason and was the next step in my evolution. I was proud of my wrestling career and all of the things I had done and it was time to step into a role of responsibility and help younger women with their development. It was a beautiful chapter. When I took the coaching job, I did feel torn because I didn't feel like I was done wrestling. I felt I still had something to contribute in the ring. The way the cards were dealt, it's been a blessing in disguise as I was able to get back into the ring and I feel I'm doing the best work in my career and having the most fun," she said.
When asked about her coaching style, Deeb replied, "There was definitely a learning curve. For the first year, I was really figuring things out because I hadn't coached before. There are great wrestlers that don't make great wrestlers and there are great coaches that weren't the best performers. It doesn't always crossover. Coaching is an art in itself and there were different elements to my job where, on the surface, if I'm just like, 'You're a wrestling coach, just teach wrestling moves,' but it goes deeper than that. The mental and emotional aspect, encouraging the women that I was coaching and keeping them positive and drive. Athletes go through so many twists and turns. I had a lot of responsibility on my shoulders to help in those ways as well. When I started coaching, the way I approached it, I was just going to teach the things I was taught and the way I was taught, with the mindset that I was taught at OVW. I just replicated those things. With wrestling, it's subjective, so it's hard to say, 'This is the right way, this is the wrong way.' I don't think right and wrong are easy to define or really exist. I never felt an ego of 'it's my way or the highway.' I always explain, 'This is my belief system and I was taught, have an open mind to learn it, take it, and figure out what works for you and your style and presentation.'"
Deeb was released by WWE in April 2020. She would sign with AEW and win the NWA Women's Championship.
Deeb is set to defend the NWA Women's Championship against Kamille at NWA When Our Shadows Fall. You can view the lineup for the event by clicking here.
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