Deonna Purrazzo Remembers Wrestling On TNA TV For Her Eighth Match Ever

Deonna Purrazzo has found her way to IMPACT Wrestling, but it’s not the first time.

Between 2014 and 2017, Purrazzo appeared in several IMPACT Wrestling matches back when it was known as TNA. Whether it be against now-friend Chelsea Green, or the women who got her into IMPACT Madison Rayne, she gathered valuable experience. 

“It’s so funny. So, my phone right now is propped up high enough so you can see me at my desk, and just under the stack of DVDs that my phone is on, there’s Knockouts Knockdown 2014. I’m gonna try to pull it out slowly without screwing up the camera. But, I swear, my eighth professional match in front of a crowd was at Knockout Knockdown 2014 against Brooke Tessmacher. I was 18 years old. I wasn’t even 19 yet,” Purrazzo recalled to Fightful.

That match with Tessmacher taught Deonna a lot, and the experience has come full circle. 

“I was so in over my head,” Purrazzo admitted. “I almost killed her with body slams because I was so nervous and didn’t know what I was doing. To be able to have my career come full circle like that and go from that shy little girl who didn’t know what she was getting herself into to this confident Virtuosa that’s more than a moniker, it’s a transformation from that little girl to who I am now. This whole last few months has been so special to me because of the past I had with IMPACT! or TNA.”

The big difference in then and now? In-ring experience, a contract, and Purrazzo having her own creative input. As opposed to just being happy to be there, Purrazzo came in as one of the best women’s wrestlers around. 

“I wasn’t in the company then. I just came in for the Knockouts Knockdown and then another one and then I did a couple Xplosion matches. Just one shot opportunities. For me something that was always lacking was the character and, of course, I was brand new. I had no idea how to work a hard cam or floor cams. Or how to give a body slam properly. So, the second time I came back, it was like, ‘I’m confident in my wrestling ability, but I still don’t have a character to it.’ This time I had all that written out,” Purrazzo closed. 

You can see our full interview with Deonna Purrazzo at the top of the page, and check her out on Twitter at this link. She’ll be defending her IMPACT Knockouts championship against Kylie Rae at IMPACT Wrestling Bound For Glory on October 24.