Zoey Serrano just drew a pretty clear line between the wrestler she was before and the one she plans to be in TNA — and WWE fans are probably going to know exactly what she was talking about.
During the September 10 episode of TNA iMPACT, Serrano delivered a pre-taped promo explaining how a devastating injury forced her to rethink her entire career. The former Zoey Stark has already made her presence felt since turning up in TNA, including attacking Indi Hartwell before suffering a rough result in her first match with the company. Serrano started by explaining that wrestling was the one thing she could always count on growing up, no matter how many times her family moved. She eventually made that childhood obsession her career, but everything came crashing down when an injury stopped her after 14 years of grinding.
“From growing up in San Bernardino, California, and moving more times than I could possibly count. There was always one constant in my life, and that was turning on the TV and watching professional wrestling. I could be anywhere in the world and I felt safe. I felt at home. I felt at peace.”
“So what did I do right after high school, I get into a pro wrestling school and I make my dreams come true. I got to travel the world. I’ve held titles. I had it all in the palm of my hand. And then one fateful night, it changed my life forever. Like that. 14 Years of blood, sweat and tears gone. Poof.”
That forced Serrano to take a hard look at how she had been approaching her career. Her conclusion was that she had spent too much time trying to make everyone else happy instead of being herself.
“I had to evaluate myself. Where did I go wrong? And it finally, I wasn’t staying true to who I was. No. I wanted to make everyone else happy.”
Then came the line that really jumped off the screen. Serrano never said “WWE” or “TKO,” but after spending years there, her next words certainly sounded like a swipe at the obsession with social-media pops, short clips and viral moments that has become increasingly visible around modern WWE.
“See, now, while I am here at tna, all of that has changed. I don’t need to shake my ass. I don’t need the 15 second viral video. None of that.”
That “15 second viral video” line is especially interesting. WWE’s TKO era has put enormous value on social engagement, shareable clips and moments that can explode online within minutes. Serrano’s message sounded like the exact opposite — forget chasing the clip and let the wrestling speak.She then doubled down by saying she doesn’t need any of that stuff to prove what she can do. Serrano finished by declaring herself the new face of TNA’s Knockouts division and putting a name on the mindset she plans to bring with her.
“No. I need to stay true to who I am and to show the world that I am who I say I am. And that I am the very best. When it comes to this business, I am the pinnacle. Nobody in this locker room could lace my boots.”
“So, ladies, whether you like it or not, you’re looking at the new face of the Knockouts division, Zoe Serrano. And that is the purist mentality.”
Serrano didn’t name WWE, Triple H or TKO, so there’s no way to say she was firing directly at her former company. Still, when a former WWE star says she doesn’t need to “shake my ass” or chase a “15 second viral video” immediately after starting fresh somewhere else, people are going to connect those dots.
Zoey Serrano seems finished playing for the algorithm. Now she wants to make her name in TNA by beating people up, winning matches and making the wrestling itself the reason fans are talking about her.
Do you think Zoey Serrano was taking a shot at WWE and the TKO-era push for viral moments, or was she talking about wrestling culture as a whole? Let us know what you think and leave your feedback in the comments.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
