Deonna Purrazzo was part of the ROH women’s roster before she signed with WWE.
On a recent edition of the “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, Purrazzo spoke about her experience in ROH, her departure from the promotion, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On if the ROH women’s division helped the company at its peak: “[Laughs]. No. I think, for many different reason, we were very held back. I think there were people in higher positions that didn’t believe in women’s wrestling. I couldn’t tell you the emails I sent to Joe Koff and I would get the statistics from YouTube pages and Instagram numbers and be like, ‘look at the interaction we’re getting. Look at the numbers we’re bringing to the company. We deserve better.’ I don’t feel it ever happened.”
On if that was why she left: “Yeah, at the same time, mid-2018 WWE had approached me about having me in the Mae Young Classic, having them sign me, but I was in the middle of my Ring of Honor contract. I did have an opt out clause, so six months in, I could say, ‘This isn’t for me, I want to leave,’ and that’s exactly what I did. I felt like my hands were tied, but I’m trying so hard, I’m fighting for women to get this opportunity, and it’s not happening, and I don’t know what else I can do personally, professionally, and more I could give of myself to make it happen, so maybe it’s time to move on.”
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Deonna Purrazzo, a talented professional wrestler, recently opened up about her time in Ring of Honor (ROH) and her decision to leave the promotion. In an interview on the “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, Purrazzo shed light on the challenges she faced and the reasons behind her departure.
Purrazzo began her wrestling career in ROH, where she was part of the women’s roster. However, she expressed her disappointment with how the company handled the women’s division. According to Purrazzo, there were individuals in higher positions who didn’t believe in women’s wrestling, which hindered the growth and success of the division. She revealed that she had sent numerous emails to Joe Koff, the Chief Operating Officer of ROH, providing statistics from YouTube and Instagram to showcase the positive impact of women’s wrestling. Despite her efforts, Purrazzo felt that the necessary changes were not implemented.
When asked if this was the primary reason for her departure, Purrazzo confirmed that it played a significant role. In mid-2018, WWE approached her to participate in the Mae Young Classic and potentially sign with the company. However, she was still under contract with ROH at the time. Purrazzo had an opt-out clause in her contract, allowing her to leave after six months. Frustrated by the lack of progress and opportunities for women in ROH, she decided to exercise this clause and move on to explore new possibilities.
Purrazzo’s departure from ROH marked a turning point in her career. She recognized that despite her dedication and efforts to advocate for women’s wrestling, she couldn’t single-handedly bring about the changes she desired. Moving on from ROH allowed her to pursue new opportunities and continue fighting for equality and recognition for women in professional wrestling.
For fans of wrestling, eWrestlingNews.com provides a platform to stay updated on all the latest news and developments in the industry. Additionally, you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook to stay connected with the wrestling community.
Deonna Purrazzo’s story serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by women in professional wrestling and the importance of creating equal opportunities for all athletes. It also highlights the determination and resilience of individuals like Purrazzo, who continue to push boundaries and fight for change in the industry.