Deonna Purrazzo Says She Was Shocked To Win ROH Women’s Pure Championship

Deonna Purrazzo says she was shocked to become the first-ever ROH Women’s Pure Champion.

The Virtuosa won the title at ROH Final Battle earlier in December, defeating Billie Starkz in the tournament finals.

Speaking on Gabby AF, Deonna Purrazzo says she didn’t expect to become the inaugural ROH Women’s Pure Champion. But Queen Aminata’s injury changed things, and she ended up winning at the finals.

“No, I was definitely shocked because I was like, there’s no way. But I feel like I’ve always felt that way when I won a championship because I’m not the type of person that’s like I deserve to be a champion.

I just want to tell good stories and have good matches. If that means I come out on top in some of that, then that’s the cherry on top for me. Even getting to the finals, I was like there’s no way. I was originally supposed to wrestle Queen Aminata, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s doing so much stuff on Dynamite and Collision and like really embroiled in these stories with these girls. There’s no way they’re not going to want her in the finals.’ Then unfortunately, she is injured, and we got a pass to the finals,” Purrazzo said.

She said this year, she questioned herself a lot, but in the end, every obstacle she faced and overcame was worth it.

“I was really shocked. But again, I feel like I’ve questioned myself and if there’s a place for me in wrestling anymore so much this year. I’ve really had to go back to like my roots and go back to the indies because I felt like I wasn’t getting enough reps. When I was getting reps, I wasn’t confident in myself and I wasn’t putting out the best version of The Virtuosa that I could.

I just think throughout the year, I’ve really had to like grind and kind of like mole around in the shit so I can get to the top. It was a really defeating year in terms of is there a place for The Virtuosa in this new wrestling landscape, in this new company. I think that the Pure Women’s Championship is definitely my style of wrestling. Ring of Honor is my heart and my soul and so to see where this women’s division is and now to be a part of leading it is really special and has made all of the trials and tribulations this year, the doubt, the worry and the insecurity worth it.”

Elsewhere in the same interview, Purrazzo talks about what it meant to win the ROH Women’s Pure Championship to her. Fans can read her comments here.

If you use any of the quotes above, please credit and link to the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.