Deonna Purrazzo Talks Returning To Impact Wrestling, Accomplishments

In May of 2020, Deonna Purrazzo returned to Impact Wrestling. Since she has returned, Purrazzo has won the Impact Knockouts Championship, the Ring of Honor Women’s Championship, and the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship. She has also been voted Impact Knockout and Wrestler of the year, as well as having one of the best matches of the year. She spoke with Daily DDT about her return and the next steps in her career.

The Beginning of The Virtuosa

Growing up, Deonna remembered her first time watching wrestling. “I have a twin brother, Dominick, and he loved wrestling,” says Deonna. “I remember when I was grounded and saw him watching Monday Night Raw. I saw Stone Cold hit someone over the head with a steel chair, from that moment I was hooked.”

After that, Deonna saw more women wrestle, and she realized she could do it. “I just never grew out of it,” says Deonna. “Trish and Mickie’s story was one of my favorites growing up. Trish was my absolute idol, her feud with Lita was amazing as well.”

Deonna Purrazzo Returns to Impact Wrestling

In May of 2020, it was made known that Deonna Purrazzo was making her return to Impact Wrestling. Prior to this, she spent some time in WWE wrestling for NXT. “I was so nervous,” says Deonna. “I had just come from not such a great experience in NXT.”

Before committing long-term to Impact Wrestling, Deonna had to feel everything out first to see if she really fit into Impact. “I don’t want to sign my life away and hate it,” says Deonna. “I already did that.” When Purrazzo returned to Impact, she didn’t know what to expect, but she knew this time she had the full package.

Deonna Purrazzo has always been a terrific wrestler, but she knew her character was her weak point, and she’s made that clear. “The work I got to do in NXT allowed me to explore who the Virtuosa was going to be,” says Deonna.

Deonna Purrazzo Becomes The Virtuosa

When Purrazzo originally picked the nickname, the Virtuosa, she was in Ring of Honor at the time. “I needed a nickname, and I realized I had this submission wrestling style,” says Deonna. Purrazzo didn’t want to be known as the “technician or mechanic,” because those were both very generic.

“I was doing extra work for WWE at the time,” says Purrazzo. “They suggested I embrace my Italian heritage and use that.” Purrazzo would sit on The Virtuosa for a little while because she thought people may not understand it, and in NXT they didn’t get it.

“With the help of people close to me at the time, I was able to continue to figure out who this character was,” says Deonna. Purrazzo would work with the music guy to make entrance music and began to make more elaborate gear and robes to go along with the new gimmick. Thus, the Virtuosa was born.

Deonna Purrazzo’s Impact Wrestling Accomplishments

“Just when I think I’ve done the coolest thing, there’s another cool thing to do,” says Purrazzo. “You go from being in a Knockouts Championship Match in the main event [Texas Deathmatch against Mickie James] to the next night becoming the Ring of Honor Women’s Champion, it’s just high, after high.”

Wrestling has always made Purrazzo emotional. “To do those two things back-to-back was really,r really special,” says Purrazzo. This week on All Elite Wrestling, Purrazzo is getting to defend the Ring of Honor Women’s Championship against Mercedes Martinez. “It just keeps getting better, and better,” says Purrazzo.

Deonna Purrazzo Wins The AAA Reina de Reinas Title

Up until that point, Deonna Purrazzo has ruled out competing in Mexico. “I just figured it wasn’t in the cards for me,” says Deonna. Then Impact let Deonna know she would be going to Mexico to perform at TripleMania. “It was really special and really cool,” says Deonna.

Deonna Purrazzo wrestled Faby Apache at TripleMania XXIX. This was the night that Purrazzo would go on to win the AAA Reina de Reinas Title. “Every time I’m ready to take a break and rest and go to the back, Impact gives me another reason to level up,” says Purrazzo. “All of these instances continue to help me level up.”

Deonna Purrazzo Wins Impact Awards

In her short time since returning to Impact Wrestling, Deonna Purrazzo has already won Impact Wrestler of the Year in 2020, Knockout of the Year in 2020 and 2021, and Knockouts Match of the Year in 2021. This is a very impressive accomplishment and shows just how valuable Deonna Purrazzo is.

“Fans vote for that, and my fan base is so incredible,” says Deonna. “During my time in NXT, my fanbase only grew stronger.” Deonna Purrazzo beat out some incredible talents to win all of those awards. “We have a tremendous locker room. I get little plaques for all of those things, and it’s just very special for me.”

What’s Next For The Virtuosa Deonna Purrazzo?

The next major show for Impact Wrestling is Slammiversary, and it takes place on June 19th in Nashville, TN. “For me, that’s the reunion of me winning the Knockouts Championship for the first time,” says Purrazzo. “That match truly was do or die for me, you bet on yourself, you came here, it had to be perfect.”

Purrazzo thinks that her match with Jordynne Grace when she won the Knockouts Championship for the first time was the most perfect match she’ll ever put out there. “I’d love to be in a Knockouts Championship Match again, that would be special.

“I’d love to wrestle Tasha Steelz,” says Deonna. “We’re friends, but there’s almost like a trainer and trainee dynamic between us.” Deonna says that if she got to wrestle Tasha Steelz, it would be really special and things would really come full circle as well, but that’s not all she’s interested in.

“I’d love to find a tag partner and contend for the Knockouts Tag Team Championships as well,” says Purrazzo. “The only person at Impact I want to be in a tag team with is Chelsea Green.” Right now, The Influence (Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood) are the Knockouts World Tag Team Champions.

“Any chance I get to wrestle Madison, who’s one of my really good friends, “I’m more than ready for it,” says Deonna. Deonna has yet to be in the ring with Madison Rayne this time around, she hopes to change that soon. One thing we know for sure, the future is bright for the Virtuosa, Deonna Purrazzo.