Deonna Purrazzo didn't work out in NXT, but it wasn't all bad.
When a wrestler gets released, especially after being creatively frustrated, many perceived them as being bitter. Purrazzo is quick to tell you she could and should have been used better in her 18 months with the brand before her April 2020 release from the company. That's not to say she didn't learn when she was there, though.
"I’ve said it before, too, NXT at one point was very, “We need characters! Everything needs to be character driven,” and that’s not who I am," Purrazzo told Fightful. "As a human being I’m not like that and as a wrestler I’m not like that. So, it’s been very interesting to find that character within myself and how I used Virtuoso before to the presentation of the Virtuoso now is completely different. So, I take that as the biggest positive of I’ve been able to get amazing looking here. I’ve been able to put a whole package together of who I am. I improved on my move-set and integrated more submission wrestling and things like that. So, those are definitely positives."
Purrazzo mentioned that the wrestler you saw across the indies two years ago will be different than the one you see return to the scene, and the Performance Center is a big reason for that. She was able to expand her offensive arsenal and overcome some obstacles that stood in her way previously.
"They have a ring in the PC that is like soft so you can flip and do stuff, so I’ve gotten over my fear of the top rope. I could always do flips, it was just me not being comfortable in the ring. So, I think that entering back into wrestling when we can, my moveset is completely different," Purrazzo said.
The learning environment with the wealth of experience WWE provides was a big positive for the 25-year old as well. She cited several names prominent in the Attitude Era that would bestow their wisdom.
"You just build a rapport with people and whether they ultimately liked me or not, I’ve gotten to sit down and have conversations with Triple H. I’ve gotten to sit and have conversations with Road Dogg or Paul Heyman and make those contacts that, if I get an opportunity to go back to WWE in the future, are only going to benefit me more. So, it’s not all negative. I had a really great time and I made money. I’m in a good position in my life because of all the experiences that I have. So, it’s not negative. I don’t hate WWE. I don’t hate NXT. I just didn’t have the experience I thought I would have," Purrazzo closed.
Purrazzo now enters the free agent market with television experience on Raw, Smackdown, NXT, NXT UK, Main Event, Ring of Honor, and Impact Wrestling.
You can see our full interview with Deonna Purrazzo above. Check out her upcoming series on Independent Wrestling TV, as well as her Pro Wrestling Tees Store
