Deonna Purrazzo

Deonna Purrazzo, a veteran American professional wrestler, currently wrestles for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Nicknamed "The Virtuosa," she's known for her exceptional technical wrestling skills and submission expertise. Her signature maneuver, the Fujiwara armbar, has earned her a reputation as a dangerous competitor. Purrazzo has achieved success in various promotions, including Ring of Honor and Impact Wrestling, where she is a three-time Knockouts World Champion.

Also Read: What finisher does Deonna Purrazzo use?

Early Life

Deonna Lynn Purrazzo was born on June 10, 1994. She has a twin brother, Dominic and Deonna is just a few moments older than her brother. Born and brought up in Jefferson Township in New Jersey, Purrazzo attended the Jefferson Township School for her schooling. She did her graduation with a BA from Southern New Hampshire University.

Professional Wrestling Career

Early Career

Deonna Purrazzo began her wrestling career in 2012 and trained at multiple facilities. She achieved early success at the East Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA), winning their Women's Championship twice in consecutive years (2015 and 2016) through their Super 8 ChickFight Tournaments. Purrazzo eventually vacated the title in 2017 and competed in the following year's tournament but did not win.

Ring of Honor (2015-2018)

Deonna Purrazzo played a significant role in the revival of Ring of Honor's (ROH) women's division, "Women of Honor" (WOH). Her debut match in 2015 marked the return of women's wrestling to ROH after a ten-year hiatus. While Purrazzo didn't win her initial matches, they helped pave the way for future WOH events. She continued to appear in ROH throughout 2016, both in tag teams and singles competition, with her first win on ROH television coming in December of that year.

Following her early involvement in reviving ROH's women's division, Purrazzo continued to compete throughout 2017. She participated in a bunch of matches but didn't achieve many victories. In January 2018, Purrazzo signed a formal contract with ROH. She participated in their Women of Honor Championship tournament that spring, winning a tag team match alongside Tenille Dashwood and advancing to the quarterfinals in the singles competition before being eliminated. Purrazzo departed ROH in July 2018 after a final match loss to Kelly Klein.

TNA (2014-2017)

Deonna Purrazzo made scattered appearances for TNA (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling) across 2014, 2016, and 2017. Throughout these appearances, she competed in singles matches against established names like Brooke and Madison Rayne, as well as a contender's gauntlet match to vie for a future Knockouts Championship opportunity. However, victory eluded Purrazzo during this period as her first stint was not very bright in TNA.

World Wonder Ring Stardom (2017-2018)

Deonna Purrazzo entered the Japanese promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom in 2017. She achieved early success by winning several tag team matches alongside established wrestlers like Shayna Baszler and Io Shirai. Purrazzo also challenged for the SWA World Championship but fell short. Upon returning to Stardom in 2018, she competed in another tag team match and unsuccessfully challenged for the Wonder of Stardom Championship.

WWE (2014-2020)

Deonna Purrazzo began appearing for WWE in 2014, starting as background talent. She later transitioned to competing on NXT, facing established wrestlers like Asuka and Bayley but not achieving victories. In 2016, she received a shot on the main roster against SmackDown Women's Champion Alexa Bliss but was taken out before the match. Though not a main competitor, Purrazzo did participate in the WWE Mae Young Classic tournament as an alternate.

Deonna Purrazzo's journey with WWE was marked by both opportunities and challenges. In 2018, she signed a contract with WWE while still under the ROH contract, leading her to miss an independent wrestling event. While participating in the Mae Young Classic tournament, Purrazzo showcased her skills and reached the quarterfinals. She also competed on NXT UK and appeared on Raw against established names like Asuka and Nia Jax. However, despite these appearances, WWE limited Purrazzo's television matches, and she was ultimately released in 2020. According to Purrazzo, WWE felt she needed further development before a prominent television role.

Impact Wrestling (2020-2023)

Deonna Purrazzo's arrival in Impact Wrestling in 2020 proved to be a turning point in her career. Interestingly, she wrestled for several months without a contract, highlighting the company's belief in her talent. This faith was rewarded when she captured the Knockouts Championship in July of that year, defeating Susie (later known as Su Yung). Purrazzo's reign, nicknamed "The Iron Reign," was historic. She held the championship for a record-setting 343 days, defeating all challengers with her prowess and ruthless submission maneuvers. This dominance established her as a true force within Impact.

Purrazzo eventually lost the championship to Su Yung in April 2021, but her success continued. She regained the title two more times during her tenure, solidifying her place as one of the most decorated Knockouts Champions in Impact history. Beyond championship victories, Purrazzo's Impact run was notable for her engaging rivalries with Su Yung, Kylie Rae, and Mickie James. At Final Resolution 2023, Purrazzo wrestled for the last time in AEW in a tag team loss alongside Gisele Shaw against the team of Trinity and Jordynne Grace.

All Elite Wrestling (2024-Present)

Deonna Purrazzo's arrival in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) began in January 2024. She debuted on Dynamite, confronting wrestler Mariah May and announcing her AEW signing. Shortly after, she had her first official AEW match at Collision, defeating Red Velvet. Her momentum continued at the Revolution pay-per-view in March, where she challenged Toni Storm for the AEW Women's World Championship, though ultimately fell short.

Deonna Purrazzo Husband

Deonna Purrazzo is married to fellow professional wrestler Steve Maclin. Steve Maclin's real name is Stephen Kupryk and he was born on May 26, 1987. Both Purrazzo and Maclin were born and brought up in New Jersey. Maclin is also known for his stint in WWE under the ring name Steve Cutler. In February 2022, the two announced that they were engaged and in November, they got married.

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Deonna Purrazzo Net Worth

As per various sources, Deonna Purrazzo is worth around $1.2 Million as of 2024. She reportedly draws an annual salary of at least $100,000 under her current contract. Click here to learn more about the net worth of the former TNA wrestler.

Deonna Purrazzo Awards and Achievements