Deonna Purrazzo explains decision to leave TNA, sign with AEW

Deonna Purrazzo says she had done all there was to do with TNA Wrestling. 

The 29-year-old debuted with the promotion formerly known as Impact Wrestling in May 2020 after having been released from WWE the month prior. She quickly became a focal point of the division, winning the Knockouts title from Jordynne Grace at Slammiverary that July. 

Purrazzo was a guest on Talk is Jericho recently and detailed what led to her leaving the company. 

Purrazzo said: 

I knew my contract was coming up with Impact and I just kind of felt like if it was time to leave, it would be now. If this was the territories, now would be the time you leave, right?

Britt Baker actually connected me with Tony Khan and we just got to talking and I knew the first Dynamite of the new year was going to be in Jersey, that's where I'm from so I was like that would be a dream scenario, a dream come true if we could do that and it all worked out. 

Purrazzo is a three-time Knockouts Champion. The 551 combined days she's spent with the title is second all-time behind only Gail Kim (711 days.)

She continued:

I was the champion for a very long time in Impact, I got to work with all of the women that were in our locker room and it was just like, what other stories are there to tell?

Everyone's kind of put me over at that point, I've beaten everybody, they kind of figured maybe I was on my way out so I got to do the favors and put everyone else over on my way out. It's just kind of like, what else is there to do? There's no one new coming in that I can work with, I don't know what else there is to tell here. 

Purrazzo confronted Mariah May on the January 3, 2024 edition of AEW Dynamite. She defeated Red Velvet in her first match as a member of the roster on Saturday's episode of Collision. 

Purrazzo will be in action on AEW Dynamite tonight as well. She is scheduled to face Anna Jay on the show.