Deonna Purrazzo has become the newest member of the AEW roster and has wasted no time in making her championship aspirations very clear.
On this week’s Dynamite, Mariah May made her in-ring debut for AEW with a victory over Queen Aminata. After her win, May was disappointed that her debut match had to take place in New Jersey. This jibe brought out the debuting Purrazzo, a New Jersey native who took issue with this insult.
“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo is here to ruin Mariah May’s debut on #AEWDynamite!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@DeonnaPurrazzo | @MariahMayX pic.twitter.com/MoL2J3G9LU
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 4, 2024
Purrazzo confronted May and made it clear she is coming for her and May’s idol, AEW Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm.
“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo is ALL ELITE and coming for “Timeless” Toni Storm!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@DeonnaPurrazzo | @MariahMayX | “Timeless” #ToniStorm pic.twitter.com/z6vNTFzDxr
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 4, 2024
In a tweet, AEW President Toni Khan confirmed the arrival of Purrazzo to the roster.
It's official: @DeonnaPurrazzo is ALL ELITE!
What a great moment for the hometown hero, The Virtuosa TONIGHT on @TBSNetwork on Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite! pic.twitter.com/3ALoe6b1OT
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 4, 2024
Support from the Crowd
Purrazzo had a ton of support from her fellow New Jersey residents in the crowd, and one person of note was there as well. IMPACT Wrestling’s Steve Maclin was spotted at the show watching Purrazzo’s debut. Maclin and Purrazzo began dating in 2020 and married in November 2022.
Deonna wasn’t alone tonight ? pic.twitter.com/r1oegebpgh
— Kimmy (@kimmy_sokol) January 4, 2024
WWE Talks
Purrazzo is a huge get for AEW as there had been speculation that the Virtuosa would end up returning to WWE. Fightful Select reports that Purrazzo and WWE had had talks but obviously did not come to terms. WWE sources indicated that not, if not all of their free-agent discussions had been tabled until the new year started. While Purrazzo won’t be a WWE Superstar, her best friend Chelsea Green was very happy to see her AEW debut.
DEONNA PURRAZZO ????
— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) January 4, 2024
Deonna Purrazzo reached a huge personal milestone in August of last year. Click here to find out more.