In recent years, many superstars have left WWE and found success. Cody Rhodes managed to create so much success, he came back to WWE and may soon be the top face in the entire company. One name who a lot of people forget to mention is Deonna Purrazzo. Deonna signed to NXT in 2018 – pulling out of All In to chase her dream of being a top star in the promotion. Unfortunately it didn’t work out with the WWE but now heading into AEW Dynamite to defend her Ring Of Honor Title against Mercedes Martinez, Purrazzo is one of the biggest names in women’s wrestling outside of the WWE.
Purrazzo spoke to Sid Pullar of the Tru Heel Heat podcast and TalkSPORT, they discussed a number of topics, including Impact’s Women’s Division and what makes it special:
“I think that the Knockouts division has always stood out atop women’s wrestling. I mean they were getting the ratings and the highest ratings on Spike TV back in the day. You know women were be given hardcore matches and opportunities to be focal points of the show in main events, storylines that carried through longer than two or three weeks. The Knockouts have such a legacy already for being ahead of the curve in women’s wrestling that being a Knockout you feel that legacy and you have to do right by it. But I also think what makes us unique is that we continue to push those boundaries. And you know Mickie and I had the first ever Knockouts pay-per-view main event. Jordynne and I were a part of the first Knockouts 30-minute Iron Man Match. There is still ground to be broken and collectively as a roster we are so diverse in what we do, but we all see where women’s wrestling can still go and how much further we can push it and want to be able to do that.
But then also we have Scott D’Amore and Gail Kim who obviously Scott is in charge of everything and Gail has been agenting and producing with us. We have Madison Rayne in the back who was a part of those glory days of the Knockouts when they were establishing what a Knockout can be. They help us push that narrative further every single day so without their guidance and support none of this would be possible.”
Deonna on Tru Heel Heat Wrestling
Deonna was asked about what it meant to win the Ring Of Honor Women’s Champion and how she feels as one of the faces of Ring Of Honor’s Women’s Division:
“Um, everything (laughs). It was really special to me because I fought for that championship to be just like a figment of someone’s imagination. And for someone to see the vision that myself and other women that helped create the Women of Honor division back then. We saw a championship, we saw a division, we saw this vision for what Women of Honor could be that no one else saw. And it was for years until I left Ring of Honor before I went to NXT, for three years I fought. I could not tell you the amount of emails that I sent to Joe Koff with like data from our YouTube and from our Twitter and from Instagram being like people really want to pay attention to this. You need women, we are the best wrestling on the planet, women are included in that and here’s why and here’s the statistics. I fought way beyond just fighting in the ring for Women of Honor to be something that someone to believe way beyond myself and Mandy and a few other people. For better or for worse, I got what I wanted so it was a very long journey, but I believe everything happens for a reason. And you know the place that Ring of Honor was in when I won the Ring of Honor Women’s Championship was a bit uneasy. We didn’t know what’s to come and if I can say this about myself, I was the best fit to carry the division in such an unknown time period. And now, I’m carrying the championship onto AEW Dynamite on Wednesday. So this seven years journey has come full circle to me. Wrestling is the only thing that makes me really emotional and I already had to cry about it.”
Deonna on Tru Heel Heat Wrestling
On the topic of the title defence this Wednesday, Purrazzo was asked how she felt about seeing Mercedes Martinez become Interim Ring Of Honor Women’s Champion in her absence:
“I think that it was important for a champion to be crowned especially because we are going into a new era of Ring of Honor. Whether it’s me or Mercedes, someone is gonna come out on top. So I think showcasing women on Supercard of Honor was the right thing to do 100 percent. I would have been upset had I not do it and there was no women’s match so if that means having to prove to Mercedes Martinez and the world that I’m the real Ring of Honor Women’s World Champion, then I’m more than happy to do that. That’s exactly what I plan to do on Wednesday is to carry a piece of the old Women of Honor what it was into this new Ring of Honor and new women’s division.”
Deonna On Tru Heel Heat Wrestling
Finally, Purrazzo was asked how she felt about the Dynamite title defence taking place in Baltimore:
“It wasn’t until you just said it to me and I’ve talked about it’s Baltimore, it’s Baltimore all day, but for some reason, I just realized that the first Women of Honor match was me and Mandy Leon July 25, 2015 in Baltimore so it’s real full circle. It actually gave me chills when I just thought about it. I can cry talking about it honestly, it’s so full circle. What’s crazy too is I was supposed to be a part of All In, which was the precursor to what became AEW. It’s been a really long journey for me to get to this point and that’s why I keep saying my long awaited AEW debut. I’m excited and I’m even more excited because AEW and IMPACT have had this off-and-on relationship that we didn’t really get to see women be a part of. And I was very vocal to be a part of that and wanting to be that first woman who stepped through the forbidden door to AEW. So it’s full circle in so many different ways and the fact I get to represent that old Ring of Honor, that old Women of Honor in this new Ring of Honor and then also get to wave that IMPACT Wrestling banner in one more place around the world. If you could be proud of yourself, I’m very proud of myself for the last few years and the way it’s gone and what’s to come.”
Deonna on Tru Heel Heat Wrestling
Purrazzo is clearly brimming with confidence and is excited about representing both Impact and Ring of Honor this Wednesday. Hopefully the match delivers on the hype.
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