Deonna Purrazzo talks the difference between her runs in TNA and AEW.
In January 2024, Deonna Purrazzo joined the ranks of All Elite Wrestling, bringing her long standing run with IMPACT/TNA Wrestling to an end. In just three months, Purrazzo has already wrestled on pay-per-view and has gotten the chance to face off against some of the top stars in the company.
While speaking to Fightful for a new interview, Purrazzo talked about how she's been treated as a top star in AEW thus far and how that compares to her early days in IMPACT/TNA, where she was also treated like a big deal.
"I think I was able to come into IMPACT and it was still the pandemic, so there wasn’t’ fans. It very much lent towards forgiveness in terms of if I didn’t like something that happened in the ring or I didn’t like the way I sounded, it was very easy to ask to stop and ask to redo it. Although I didn’t do it often, that possibility was there. We did a lot more in IMPACT—now TNA—with social media and things like that, that I was able to have a little bit of grace while I was growing into the role that they were giving me. Now, fast forward, I’m thrust into this environment. I’m adjusting to all of the things that come with it and then there is so many more eyes on me on a weekly basis. The thing with IMPACT was a lot of people didn’t know where to watch it. A lot of people didn’t know how to watch it. Here we are on a national cable network every single week, no matter what show I’m on. There’s so many more eyes on me. Which means there’s so much more chatter about me, whether it’s positive or negative. So I just feel a ton more pressure to constantly go out there and put my best foot forward to warrant the position that I’ve been given because I understand I’m very lucky for that."
Purrazzo went on to talk about how she's grown as a performer over the past couple of months, noting that staying in TNA would've been too comfortable.
"But then also, I’ve bet on myself time and time again. It might have been an easier route to stay in IMPACT where I was comfortable, where I knew everyone and I knew the position that I was in. But you grow in uncomfortability, right? That’s what I think I’ve been able to do over the last two months is take this situation that I’m growing in—mentally, physically, emotionally, all of the things. I’m trying to do my best and put my best foot forward. But I’m growing and I’m learning about myself and that’s what’s most exciting to me."
Elsewhere in the interview, Purrazzo talked about using the Fujiwara Armbar in AEW. Fans can learn more by clicking here.
Fans can check out Fightful's full interview with Purrazzo in the video linked at the top of this article.
