4 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (5 Jan)

3. Serena Deeb Is Brilliant

Serena Deeb
AEW

It was about time AEW let Serena Deeb dive all the way into the Professor of Professional Wrestling character she perfected through social media promos while injured. They did it last night, as Jim Ross (who remains the GOAT in these scenarios) conducted a sitdown interview with the aggrieved Deeb, who gets another slice of Hikaru Shida next week.

Bitter, salty, and emphatic, Serena was great here. She said that all she ever wanted from Shida was civilized matches, but the former champ didn't meet here there. Shida, Deeb claims, deals in fluke victories, which Serena doesn't accept.

Deeb went through the gears as the promo progressed, amplifying her assertiveness as she claimed to have paid enough dues for everyone in the locker room. Why do they call her The Professor of Professional Wrestling? "Because I have a PHD in this sh*t." A great line.

This feud has done nothing but deliver in the ring so far. Next week should be no exception, and it's great to see the company giving time to a non-title program while highlighting this great, great Deeb character too.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.