Deonna Purrazzo Reveals Why She Signed With IMPACT Wrestling

Back on the May 26 episode of IMPACT! Deonna Purrazzo returned to IMPACT Wrestling. The Virtuosa has since kicked off a feud with Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace and they will go one on one for the title at Slammiversary 2020.

After she was released by WWE, some assumed Purrazzo would be heading to AEW, but the former NXT Superstar revealed why she signed with IMPACT during a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet. Deonna said AEW reached out to her, but IMPACT was excited to bring her back, and from a security standpoint she didn't feel like she could turn down their offer. She also explained being in NXT knocked her confidence and she wanted to take some time to develop her character post-WWE. IMPACT was willing to give her all the time she needs.

"Some people had reached out (from AEW) but it was all kind of like fleeting," Purrazzo said. "There was no like, 'You're gonna have a meeting,' or, 'We're gonna sit down and do this.' So, luckily I had been to IMPACT before, I know the people there and it was like right away, 'We'd love to have you, let's talk about it when we can.' And it was just more of a secure thing, but I think also too for me, I don't want to, and it's funny now that we've seen my debut so this is kind of like contradictory to what I've done, but I want to get back to the wrestler I was before NXT, and I want to fight for myself again and find happiness and all the things that as a performer I lacked when I was competing in NXT.

"I want to do that before I go somewhere that's as mainstream as AEW, that has the critics of AEW. Like, I don't want to go there and be exploring myself and kind of fall into the same role that I fell in in NXT. And luckily IMPACT is a place that understands who I am, is totally on board with what they think I can do and are willing to give me the time for the character development I need. So, I think like all things considering, it just really worked out well there but who knows? I would love to go to AEW."