Mike Bennett & Maria Kanellis Returning, Serena Deeb Gets AEW Role

Like many, Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis are not going to AEW as Impact Wrestling is calling. Also, Serena Deeb is now helping out backstage.

Mike Bennett & Maria Kanellis Returning

Mike Bennett is apparently headed back to Impact Wrestling. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter first reported the news and continued how Maria Kanellis will likely follow.

A promotor states Bennett was pulled from a show because of a scheduling conflict with a set of Impact tapings. Both wrestlers are free agents since Ring Of Honor released all their talent.

The two have a past in Impact Wrestling, working there from January 2016 to March 2017. Bennett won the X-Division Championship while Maria was a one-time Knockouts Champion.

There is no word on when the former WWE superstars will make their returns. Impact Wrestling’s Hard To Kill pay per view is January 8, with the 21st and 22nd holding tapings.

Serena Deeb Gets AEW Role

Serena Deeb was released by WWE the first time for not selling the straight edge lifestyle when cameras stopped rolling. Since then, she has worked around the world.

Currently, she can be seen as part of AEW. Before that, she was again working with WWE.

Deeb worked a few matches, like the Mae Young Classic, before being offered a WWE backstage role. In early 2018, she became a coach at the Performance Center.

About two years later, she was let go as part of budgets cuts related to the pandemic. She signed with AEW as a wrestler and has taken a role backstage.

Serena Deeb Injury Led To New Gig

While on The Wrestling Inc. Daily, Deeb went over her new role. She said it began after being injured earlier in the year.

“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,” said Deeb. “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.”

The former NWA Champion admitted that she is familiar with the current position. After all, she worked similar jobs in WWE and Impact Wrestling.

Also, she credited Molly Holly and Gail Kim for their work behind the scenes. She knows all wresting companies need women in a backstage position.

“Female representation is really important,” said Deeb. “There has to be a strong female that has been through it that you can come to for stuff.” 

“There has to be. Men’s and women’s wrestling is an entirely different thing.” 

“There are so many different things that the women have to do. The hair and the makeup and the this and the that.” 

“There are so many different elements that, respectfully, only a woman would understand. Even the emotional stuff, as well.”

Now, Deeb works backstage and is still very active inside the ring. She has been feuding with Hikaru Shida for months.

Shida has gotten the better most times, but the program does not seem done.