Since debuting some weeks ago, Serena has been an incredibly strong edition to the main roster as part of CM Punk’s Straight Edge Society, but why her?
This is perhaps of little shock to us, but it’s been reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the new Diva got her spot as she was the only developmental girl willing to have her head shaved. They write:
Serena Deeb got her break largely because she was the only woman in developmental who was willing to get her head shaved for the angle. She’s been able to pull off the crewcut look, which is a plus, and as a performer, she’s done great. Other women turning it down did them no favors with the assertion that they weren’t dedicated because they weren’t willing to get their heads shaved. There is always the feeling with women who didn’t come through the indies that they are in it to get noticed and move on, as opposed to being there because their lifelong goal is to get into wrestling.
I say this is of little shock because as we discussed on The Krissy Vaine Project a couple of weeks ago, coming through the indies as she did — it’s obvious that Serena has always wanted to be part of the industry and is willing to do whatever it takes to make it. Meanwhile, as Krissy rightfully pointed out, most of the girls who come in through modeling agencies or through the Diva Search who are ‘handed’ spots in developmental or the main roster, don’t really have that same drive or motivation and are likely to say no.
More power to Serena. There’s no doubt that she pulls off the look incredibly well and has moulded her character very well. And her dedication is being rewarded by being part of such high profile segments.
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23 Comments
This announcement is kinda misleading. You give people the impression that Serena was ONLY selected because she was willing to shave her head. But she was already the first in line to move to the main roster anyway. So if multiple FCW divas would be willing to shave their head i think they would also have picked Serena.
But naturally shaving off the hair was important for this storyline, and it definately helped Serena a lot in her career. She showed WWE she is willing to be a team player which will make certain that WWE knows they can rely on her in the future.
Now we just have to hope she will be allowed to wrestle in the near future.
Melanie Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Actually Mikas, it’s not misleading — that is in fact the impression that was given in the report at the Observer which I have now included into the post. Furthermore, there is no way for you or anyone else to be certain that she was first in line to move to the main roster. It’s in your opinion that she should have been first in line, which I agree with, but it’s not fact.
How could any of those girls say no? They do all that work just to turn it down when the opportunity comes? I would’ve said yes in a heartbeat! I wouldn’t even think about it.
Btw, Serena totally ROCKS the bald look.
Small price to pay to be in her position, and I agree that more so than the hair issue she was likely already going to be first pick to be called up. So maybe her involvement in CM Punk’s STORYLINE, more so than her getting a spot on Smackdown, was owing to her willingness to lose her hair.
Well, it might not be evidence that she was first in line, but she was the FCW queen and all diva matches were based around her. Whenever FCW puts a strong focus on one of their divas, that diva is the next one to move to the main roster. That happened with Tiffany, Alicia, Rosa, Savannah, and currently it’s all about AJ.
I was surprised also when I read this, like many others I assumed that Serena was given the storyline, rather than offered it. I thought it was largely down to her ability and ring work, however I think it does show dedicated on her part that she was the only one to step forward- though I don’t think its necessarily right to criticize the others for not doing it, as Krissy, Erin and Rain pointed out a woman’s hair is extremely important to them- it might not just be about dedication to the role, but more about fear of losing their hair. I’m glad Serena got it anyway, because she can back it up with her ability and plus its leaped her forward in the wrestling world, a lot of the FCW Divas are still pretty fresh (Aksana, Liviana, Jillian Beyor, Naomi Night etc.) putting them in there so early on could ruin the character, rather than help it.
And Mikas, there is no waiting list it, in fact if you watch FCW you’d find that FCW only pays attention whats going on with their talent if they’re semi promoted or fully promoted to the main roster. Its not like if they mention them more beforehand, they’ll immediately go up, otherwise a lot of the male talents would be on main brand right now. Plus, due to this storyline its added a lot of conflict to the Mia Mancini character, having to change her name back and interfere the storyline in which she was being threatened to lose to people as well as her feud with AJ Lee. FCW Diva matches were only based on her when she first won the Queen of FCW crown, since then AJ Lee has been more active, so surely she’d be in front of Serena?
It just doesn’t work like that in FCW, it depends who they’re high on bakcstage as well as in the ring, there’s no waiting list and I’ll say it for the billionth time, but Savannah and Rosa are STILL on FCW (they’ve semi-graduated) so it shows that attention doesn’t necessarily mean a boost up. Otherwise Savannah would’ve been promoted way before Rosa after her title win, yet both still remain competing on main and development brands.
hair or no hair, it’s a prime example of wwe demanding you look a certain way to hit the big time.
what if serena wasn’t the one okay with it, but instead it was somebody newer to the industry, like naomi? it’s just disappointing how they’d rather have a yes sir, no sir, type than somebody with actual talent. i’m doubting if serena will actually get to wrestle anytime soon, now, considering all wwe were really after was a bald chick.
I agree, finding out about how this role was distributed says that Serena won’t be in the ring anytime soon if they were willing to offer it to greener girls like Aksana or Liviana, who haven’t had as much chance to wrestle in FCW. However, its still a step up and stepping up could mean that Serena gets somewhere further down the lines, especially if she was the only one willing to put herself out there.
It’s crazy that the other women would get heat or looked at badly for not wanting to do it. They’re models! What does the WWE expect? You can’t compare a woman who has been a wrestling fan and busting her butt in the indys to women who were picked out of a catalog and chosen for their looks. Of course, the first example is going to want to do it! Wrestling is Serena’s dream. For these other women? Not so much. If the WWE wants more dedicated women, then they should be scouting the indy scene and not catalogs. LOL!
Anyway, congrats to Serena! I’ve been following her career a bit and it’s nice to see her hit the “majors”. Very proud of her.
I already knew from the beginning that Serena volunteered to shave her head. Personally, I wouldn’t have done it, they’re are not many divas in FCW so Serena would’ve been called up anyway eventually. I wish she didn’t do it because honestly, she does NOT look good with a bald head, it’s stripped her of her beautiful looks and waiting for the hair to grow back is also the biggest pain in the world
Her Hair will not be fully grown until the end of 2010 almost so their goes her chances of her wrestling. Her role in the SES has been nothing but a backgorund peace, besides her debut she hasn’t spoken much at all which is a shame
I agree with you on this, Jamal. Even though there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to keep your hair/look/whatever, the fact of the matter is, (if only speaking for myself) if one wants to show their dedication/devotion/desire to work and go along to get along, and if they are truly there to wrestle under whatever circumstances it is the least of things if they have to change their appearance in such a reversible way. Maybe we may not all agree with what anyone may do to get/hold a position, but you have to do what it takes to get to where you want to go. If WWE (or any company) says do this or that, how far or where you go in the company depends on your answer.
If I had anything to say about the look of many female wrestlers it’s the breast implants(/heavy makeup,) especially when they’re so huge and obvious. It makes them look like porn stars; a comparison I keep getting from non-wrestling and wrestling fans alike. :(
Just because the other women said no, doesn’t mean they’re bad people. A person’s hair is their idenity and when you feel you lost it, it can cause a lot of problems. I don’t blame the other girls for saying no, i know most of you would’ve done the same thing
Not me, of course; and I feel like some people don’t tie their physical appearance solely to their identity–that’s for other people to do, because unfortunately all too often people rely primarily on a person’s appearance in order to identify with them one way or another. [an example of this is me and the implants thing - just can't relate] At the same time, TO ME, it does not diminish their personality/character/beauty/etc in the least, but then that’s just how I think. And not to disagree for the sake of disagreeing (though sometimes it’s still irrationally taken as such), I don’t think that they won’t allow Serena to wrestle just because her head is bald. I can’t conceive of the rationale of that, given that they’re giving her so much screen time now in the first place.
Lady Sheamus- Serena is not getting screen time, CM punk is getting screen time, serena is just with association
Okey doke, RKOyou, I’m seeing her a lot when I watch it (and if they didn’t want to, WWE could quite easily decide to NOT show her) but since you have firmly and repeatedly stated that RAW Divas own then perhaps you may have missed some moments. lol I’ve already known where the wind is blowing when it comes to you so let’s just agree to disagree and leave it at that. I believe you and I have nothing to say to each other henceforth. :)
Anyway, back to the topic, to me Serena’s position is even better than some other Divas, as her association with someone who gets heat like Punk does MAY ensure her to get the same. Time will tell.
“If the WWE wants more dedicated women, then they should be scouting the indy scene and not catalogs. LOL!”
There arent that many models left in FCW. Courtney Taylor and Jenny Quinn are the only 2 i can think off, and Jenny Quinn (Penny Cash) was appearently released this week. The others all have an athletic background, and they didnt want to shave their head either. So you cant say that the “models” are less dedicated (at least not when “hair” is involved).
Sounds about right, most of these up and coming divas who come out of modeling agencies and crap like that just do it to make and check and become noticed, for bigger and better things in there eyes. I also do see Serena rasing up her hand and saying why the hell not, she does get moved to the Main Roster and in time will hopefully become more involved with other divas like MIckie and MIchelle. Also damn serena def. pulls it off she is really pretty so and i you can be bald and be pretty some women like serena are just naturally beautiful. Go Serena I like her even more woot
I don’t see Serena being picked because she’d be willing to go bald, I see her being picked because she was the right choice. AJ Lee is too sweet and babyface to go in the SES, not to mention her high flying style wouldn’t really mesh well with the stable. Aksana and Naomi Night are far too inexperienced, Jillian Beyor isn’t even wrestling yet (maybe she’s had one match) and then the others simply don’t have enough charisma or the right look, for example, Penny Cash, Liviana and Courtney Taylor. Serena I bet was the first choice for WWE anyway yet I believe they’d of asked all the Divas first just incase and then be like “OK, Serena, we wanted you anyway!”
Anyway, this report is pretty obvious and seems like it’s a “slow news day style report” from The Wrestling Observer. It’s obvious someone with 100% passion for wrestling would do anything to get on the main roster, unlike some Barbie type girl.
Im not going to comment on the fact of Serena agreeing to do this. Instead I’m going to focus on the fact that the others didn’t want to.
That shows an enormous lack of commitment. And if I were the WWE management, I probably wouldn’t expect a lot from girls like this. I mean, one thing is to turn down an angle that involves sex, like the Lita -Edge or even the Krystal – Teddy long thing. That means you turn down something because of your values.
But refusing to do something not definitive (its not like she’s going to be bald forever), is just futile and unprofessional.
Personally, I think Serena rocks the hell out of the bald look. Plus, I think it makes her stand out more.
I personally would have done it, but then I’m one of those people who will do anything to get ahead. Besides, I’ve always wondered what I’d look like bald… I think it’s only good for Serena to have been the only one to step up, creative will know she’ll always be there to do whatever they ask of her, which means she’ll hopefully be rewarded greatly by them.
mpezza – I agree with you. Even though I don’t like baldness, I think that this promotion is worthy enough to do the sacrifice, so I would also do it, even though I would wear bandannas outside the shows xD
Serena is a good worker. She did what it takes to make it in this business. Right on for her. Thats why a large number of these so-called “divas” doesn’t have what it takes and isn’t willing to do what is necessary. Its only hair! It will grow back!