Deonna Purrazzo On What She Admires About Mickie James

Deonna Purrazzo is a big admirer of Mickie James, especially after working together a lot in the last two years.

Since the summer of 2021, Deonna Purrazzo and Mickie James have been rivals in Impact Wrestling. The talented Purrazzo has been one of the most successful women’s wrestlers (or Knockouts as they are called) in Impact Wrestling over the last two years. She is a former two-time Knockouts Champion and recently held the Knockouts Tag Team Titles with Chelsea Green as well.

Purrazzo has feuded with James over the Knockouts Title including when they main evented the Hard to Kill pay-per-view in January 2022 in Texas Deathmatch. That was the first time two women have ever headlined a TNA/Impact PPV event.

As for James, she’s been decorated in gold during her 20+ year career with six Women’s Titles in WWE and four Knockouts Titles in TNA/Impact Wrestling. On the December 1st episode of Impact Wrestling, Purrazzo tried to beat James to force Mickie’s retirement, but James found a way to win and now she’s going for the Knockouts Title one more time against Jordynne Grace at Hard To Kill 2023.

While talking to DAZN, Purrazzo spoke about the respect she has for James.

“I think Mickie just has such a connection with the wrestling fan base. It’s just not the IMPACT fan base but just wrestling in general. She’s been doing this for 20-plus years. She’s done everything there is to do. But she just keeps this hunger about her. I think that any wrestling fan can just appreciate her for what she’s done and what she continues to do and what she continues to push for (in) women’s wrestling.”

“I admire her for keeping that hunger and wanting to do more and more and never being satisfied. But I think our dynamics are Mickie just walked in the door and attacked ‘The Virtuosa.’ I was the Knockouts World Champion and because she has these relationships with Scott (D’Amore) and our management.”

Deonna Purrazzo continued talking about earning respect in pro wrestling as a talented 28-year-old that’s already accomplished a lot and has many more years of greatness ahead.

“I’m still hungry. But for all these different reasons. I still feel very much have a chip on my shoulder. Trying to earn my respect. Earn my place in women’s wrestling. But Mickie’s already there. There’s just this interesting dynamic I think of generations of she wants respect and she’s earned respect. But I want respect and I’m earning that respect. There’s just this natural butting of heads.”

“Like I said, I admire her for keeping that hunger about her and never settling for what we’re given, always pushing for more for herself, for any company she’s in for women’s wrestling. I grew up wanting to be in the position I’m in. I wouldn’t be there and it wouldn’t be possible without people like Mickie James.”

Recently, Purrazzo got married to fellow Impact Wrestling star Steve Maclin. Congrats to the happy couple.