Impact: Deonna Purrazzo wins wrestler of the year

Deonna Purrazzo had a tough start to 2020 but it ends with her getting the validation that her talent is has a place in professional wrestling.

It is amazing how a change of scenery can impact a professional wrestler. Very few stand out as such a recent example of such like Deonna Purrazzo. She started 2020 being a member of the WWE women’s division and ended it with the IMPACT women’s title around her waist and winning two top awards for the company at the end of the year. Quite the turnaround that 365 days brought to “the Virtuosa.”

The last year has been a hell of a ride for Purrazzo. When it started, she was on the WWE roster. A name that was rarely used, regardless if fans opined to see more of her. Just like plenty of other men and women on the roster, Purrazzo was underutilized, even though she displayed a talent for the profession whenever she had the opportunity to perform. A talent that she exhibited before she became a member of the WWE roster, which furthered questions around why she was not leveraged by the biggest promotion in the industry.

“It was exciting to feel like I was being pushed right away. But that fell off for the majority of the rest of my time in NXT. I have mixed feelings about it all from the start,” Purrazzo said while talking to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Wrestling. “I worked my ass off to get to NXT. I worked my ass off to prove that I belonged there when I got there.”

But look at her now. Purrazzo is a two-time Impact Knockouts and is one of the most important members of that entire roster. When she was released by the WWE in April, she was a part of the Impact Knockouts division nearly two months later and already taking over. July came and she was the champion, defeated Jordynne Grace at Slammiversary XVIII. Since then, she has become a two-time champion, while being voted the Impact wrestler of the year and Knockout of the year.

“This year has been my most challenging,” Purrazzo posted on Twitter. “To finish 2020 as WRESTLER OF THE YEAR only validates every trial and tribulation I’ve faced to date. I have been true to myself and true to my craft and for that, I am most proud. Welcome, EVERYONE to the Age of the Virtuosa.”

There are times when professional wrestlers are forced to bet on themselves as the industry can quickly pass one by. Deonna Purrazzo did just that in 2020 and she has come out on top in what was a very difficult year. Winning these awards is a validation for taking that bet, but she is also just getting started on what is a career to pay very close attention to. At just 26-years of age, Purrazzo has the talent and the drive to make sure she is a name to be listed among the best in the business.