Deonna Purrazzo Talks Free Agency With Fightful

Fightful Select had the opportunity to catch up with former IMPACT Knockouts World Champion Deonna Purrazzo at WrestleCade in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp asked Deonna how she felt about her future. Deonna could be a free agent soon if she chooses not to re-sign with IMPACT. Deonna told Sean that she was feeling confident.

Deonna said the last time the two discussed free agency was almost four years ago. She told Fightful that she’s rehabilitated her career since then. She mentioned becoming a World Champion five times and getting the chance to wrestle in other organizations such as AEW, Ring of Honor, and AAA.

She says everything she has done within the past three years has allowed her to have great conversations with many people.

Deonna said traveling with her husband [Steve Maclin]  in IMPACT “for over the past two years has been good for her soul.”  She noted that exploring other opportunities and seeing what is out there would also be good.

Sean mentioned that when Deonna went to IMPACT after being released by the WWE, she was immediately in the main event picture and became the Knockout’s Champion without having a contract.

Deonna said that she and IMPACT got a lot of shit for it. Deonna said it was her choice because she had a contract with Ring of Honor that she was unhappy with before that. Then she went to NXT and was very unhappy there. Deonna was still determining if she wanted to be locked into a contract when going to IMPACT.

Deonna told Fightful that after being at IMPACT for five months, they wanted to get her into a contract. That was when she knew that IMPACT was her home.

Sean brought up how he had heard how good the locker room was at IMPACT. He asked her if that weighed in on her during the decision-making process. Deonna said absolutely and said knowing it’s a possibility that she could leave IMPACT makes her sad. Deonna said she feels like she has a family at IMPACT, and it’s the best locker room she’s ever been in.

Deonna said the videos that you see of them on social media making TikTok are genuine. She says what IMPACT has been able to cultivate is special.

Deonna spoke about her history with Tasha Steelz; it was special for them to work together and pass the torch to her. She mentioned that she helped train Tasha.

On potentially leaving IMPACT, Deonna said it is a big decision she must make. She mentioned being at a high level while in IMPACT and wondered if it was time to go elsewhere. The former ROH Women’s World Champion said now would be the time if they were in the old territory days. She said she was not welcomed at many places when she left the WWE.