Deonna Purrazzo joins All Elite Wrestling. TNA Wrestling gears up for its second-ever Knockouts Ultimate X Match. Kingsley chats with WrestleZone, and more. Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
Deonna Purrazzo Is All Elite
Following the expiration of her IMPACT Wrestling contract, Deonna Purrazzo has now found herself a new home in All Elite Wrestling. “The Virtuosa” made her official return to AEW on last week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, marking her first appearance in the promotion since May 2022, when she lost the ROH Women’s Championship to Mercedes Martinez.
Purrazzo’s return to AEW came on the heels of Mariah May‘s AEW in-ring debut, where she defeated former GCW Women’s Champion Queen Aminata. After her victory, May delivered a post-match promo, expressing her excitement to be in an AEW ring. However, May then brought forth one of her regrets — having her in-ring debut take place in the state of New Jersey.
This statement then prompted Deonna Purrazzo to make her entrance, proclaiming her pride in being a New Jersey native. Purrazzo also revealed that she had a warning for May to send to her ally, AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm, who had also made disparaging remarks about Purrazzo’s home state.
“It doesn’t matter where [Storm] runs or where she hides, I will find her, because Mariah, I am All Elite!” Purrazzo told May. “And we are in The Age of the Virtuosa!”
In response, May informed Purrazzo that she would have to deliver the message to Storm herself before slapping Purrazzo in the face. Purrazzo eventually gained the upper hand with a kick to May’s chest.
After AEW President Tony Khan confirmed that Purrazzo had signed with the company, Purrazzo wrote that it was “a dream come true” on X (formerly Twitter).
READ MORE: Deonna Purrazzo Comments On AEW Debut
Knockouts Ultimate X Match
On January 13, TNA Wrestling will head to the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas for its annual Hard To Kill pay-per-view. There, six women will compete in the second-ever Knockouts Ultimate X Match, where the winner will earn themselves a future shot at the Knockouts World Championship.
This year’s field includes Dani Luna, Gisele Shaw, Xia Brookside, Jody Threat, Alisha Edwards, and the inaugural Knockouts Ultimate X winner — Tasha Steelz. Other than Steelz, Edwards stands as the only competitor with prior experience in this match situation; both competed in the inaugural contest in 2022. This match will also marks Xia Brookside’s official TNA debut.
Following her victory at the 2022 Hard to Kill event, Steelz cashed in her title opportunity on Mickie James at No Surrender the following month, albeit in a losing effort. Steelz eventually dethroned James at Sacrifice in March to begin her first reign as Knockouts Champion — a run that later ended in the Queen of the Mountain match at Slammiversary. Now, Steelz looks to claim another title shot. To that do though, she’ll have to first overcome five of TNA’s fiercest Knockouts.
Elsewhere on the 2024 Hard To Kill card, Jordynne Grace will challenge Trinity for the Knockouts Championship — a title Trinity has held since the 2023 Slammiversary event. Grace secured this opportunity by winning the Call Your Shot Gauntlet at Bound For Glory in October.
Interviews
SLAM! Women’s Champion Kingsley spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about the formation of the Backslide Girlz, potential music aspirations, her reaction to Mickie James’ upcoming HER event in Australia, rising talents in the Australian wrestling scene, Jude London’s 2023 year in wrestling, her goals for 2024, and more.
Former WWE NXT backstage interviewer McKenzie Mitchell chatted with SEScoops about her departure from WWE, receiving support from her colleagues, the next chapter of her career, her previous run in IMPACT Wrestling, and more.
NWA Women’s Champion Kenzie Paige spoke with WrestlingNewsCo about growing up in a promoter’s home, the possibility of seeing Empowerrr 2, NWA’s women’s division, getting a spotlight as NWA Women’s Champion, and more.
Former AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker appeared on Ring The Belle to discuss her on-screen feud with Saraya, becoming AEW’s first female signee, balancing careers as a pro wrestler and dentist, her notable absence from AEW television, what’s next for her career, and more.
Former WWE NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion Fallon Henley joined Busted Open Radio to talk about Tiffany Stratton becoming her temporary ranch hand, her social media interactions with Mickie James, working a potential program with Mickie, getting advice from her coaches at the WWE Performance Center, and more.
