Referee Forced To End Match After Major AEW Star Suffers Injury
Concerns have been raised over the health of an AEW star after they sustained an injury at a live event.
Deonna Purrazzo is the reigning and inaugural ROH Women’s Pure Champion, having held the title for 200 days. The Virtuosa won the title after defeating Billie Starkz at ROH Final Battle on December 5.
Since then, she has defended the belt on multiple occasions, securing a win over the likes of Trish Adora, Diamante, and Olympia.
The latest live event in Jacksonville saw the AEW talent defend her title against Steph De Lander, who recently quit TNA Wrestling.
According to a fan in attendance, Jacob Cohen, Purrazzo was involved in a scary spot on the floor, resulting in her getting hurt and the referee stopping the match.
Deonna got hurt on a spot on the floor
The match was ruled a no contest and Deonna was helped to the back
Hopefully she’s ok
— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) June 23, 2026
Deonna Purrazzo’s Ring of Honor run had seen her become the central focus outside AEW. She has not appeared on television for the Jacksonville-based company since February 2025.
Deonna Purrazzo Discusses Her Struggles In AEW
After officially debuting on AEW in January 2024, Deonna Purrazzo was involved in feuds against the likes of Toni Storm and Thunder Rosa. She also formed a brief alliance with Valkyrie, their team later known as “The Vendetta.”
However, her career in the company has experienced a downward spiral, leaving her frustrated.
Speaking during an interview with MuscleManMalcolm, she claimed that problems began for her right after making her debut with the promotion. Purrazzo said that her moniker of The Virtuosa was never explained, which led to a disconnect with the audience.
I think after that is when it got difficult, because we didn’t explain to the AEW audience right away what the word ‘virtuosa’ meant. And I think that’s something I’ve struggled with my entire career.
The 32-year-old also speculated that fans might have seen her work in TNA, which may have caused issues for her.
I didn’t want to neglect that fact that the casual AEW fan might not know who I am and what I’ve done and what I’m about. And unfortunately, there just like wasn’t time for it, and we never got to explaining what it meant to be the Virtuosa.
Deonna further said that in the hopes of giving her TV character a foundation, she produced a series of vignettes herself, but the lack of follow-up only caused more damage.
I went and I had a series of three vignettes made on my own, and I produced them… and I gave them to AEW. And I said, ‘I still don’t think we’ve explained to the audience why they don’t like me’… But then that was almost a year ago, and we’ve not had, like, consistent follow up yet…
The key with any kind of TV company, televised product right now is just consistency. I want them to get to know the Virtuosa. Because I feel like, even though I’m a year and a half in, they still don’t necessarily understand all that I’m about.
As fans await an official update on Deonna Purrazzo’s condition, one can only hope that the injury is less serious.