Deonna Purrazzo Explains Why She Chose To Sign With AEW Over Returning To WWE

Deonna Purrazzo established herself as one of the top female wrestlers in the world while working for Impact Wrestling between 2020 and 2023. Still, knowing she was capable of more, once she was officially a free agent, she signed with AEW in January 2024, with it known, she also spoke with WWE. And now, while being interviewed by Stephanie Chase , Purrazzo has explained why she opted to sign with AEW rather than return to WWE.

“I felt ultimately like, back before I went to NXT the first time, I was supposed to be on All In, I was supposed to be doing all these great things, going back to Japan, and I gave all that up to go to NXT and it didn’t work out. I was very bitter about that, but now I can say, it just didn’t work out.

I learnt a lot about myself but I was hesitant to go back into that situation knowing how I was treated wanting to avoid that at all costs and I just felt like there wasn’t trust there for me, to squander this really great opportunity I knew was there with AEW.”

Purrazzo previously looked destined for the top after signing with WWE in 2018 and becoming part of NXT. However, due to budget cuts and management at the time not feeling she was ready for television, she would be released just two years later. Yet, she obviously didn’t let this discourage her and has subsequently proven there is life after WWE if you’re prepared to put the work in.