Deonna Purrazzo Forced To Relearn Everything In AEW

Deonna Purrazzo has admitted to feeling “thrown off” when she joined AEW.

Deonna Purrazzo began her career in 2012 and has wrestled around the world, including in Ring of Honor, STARDOM, and WWE. However, The Virtuosa is likely best known for her time in TNA, where she was a three-time Knockouts World Champion.

After four years in TNA, Deonna Purrazzo signed with AEW in January 2024, but despite declaring the “Age of the Virtuosa” on her debut and allying herself with Taya Valkyrie, she has been unable to reach the top of the stacked women’s division.

During an appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Purrazzo admitted that her first few months being All Elite have been a challenge.

“I gotta win the AEW Women’s World Championship [laughs]. I think a championship at AEW. I think going there and just knowing the type of environment it is and the complete new set of girls I’ve never worked with, I knew it was going to become a challenge to, I don’t want to say conform, but relearn a system.

“I had been comfortable at TNA for so long. I knew the system, I knew the people, I knew the position I was in. I was on top there. So there was most leeway for me to give my opinion or pitch ideas. Coming into AEW, you kind of need to earn those rights all over again. So I think there’s still so left for me to do.”

Now, though, Purrazzo feels like herself again, and believes she’s “getting in a groove.”

“I feel like I’m just now feeling like myself again there, feeling like ‘The Virtuosa’. I’ve been there nine-and-half months now. That first stretch, it was like, I don’t know what I’m doing or who I am. I’m working a brand-new system with television and times. I felt really thrown off. So I feel like now I’m finally getting in a groove that will propel me.”

Deonna Purrazzo Targets Match With Mercedes Mone

Deonna Purrazzo has named Mercedes Mone as her dream opponent, saying the match is on her bucket list. Going further, the star said she would want a submission match since the two have made their names as submission specialists.

H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.