Deonna Purrazzo has big plans for her reign as the inaugural ROH Women’s Pure Champion, and they involve crossing over to Wednesday nights. In a recent interview with Gabby AF, “The Virtuosa” outlined her ambitions for 2026, specifically her desire to showcase the Pure Championship on AEW Dynamite and Collision. Purrazzo believes the technical nature of the title deserves a spotlight on national television and has identified several top AEW stars she wants to test her skills against under Pure Rules.
“Oh my gosh, absolutely. I mean, it was a goal before I was the champion, right? To get back on Dynamite,” Purrazzo said. “And I’ve talked endlessly about, I’ve never wrestled Kris Statlander ever, so that would be a first-time match up. I’ve never wrestled Mercedes [Mone], and I think that we’ve both established our careers on submission finishes. And how great would it be to wrestle Mercedes in a Pure Rules match where we can rely heavily on those submissions?”
Purrazzo’s victory over Billie Starkz in the tournament final at ROH Final Battle 2025 marked a turning point in her career. She candidly admitted that 2025 had been a difficult year, describing it as “really crappy” and filled with self-doubt. There were periods where she questioned her place in the industry and struggled with a lack of ring time. To rebuild her confidence, Purrazzo returned to the independent circuit to get more reps, a decision that ultimately paid off with her historic title win.
“That’s something that I look forward to doing in 2026 is putting this Women’s Pure Championship on the map and saying there will be space for Deonna Purrazzo and Pure Rules on Dynamite. There will be space for me on Collision in a Pure Rules contest. And I know that I could get there. It’s just going to take some time, but I’m confident in that.”
Reflecting on the evolution of Ring of Honor, Purrazzo expressed pride in how far the women’s division has come since the Sinclair Broadcast Group era. She noted the expansion of championships available to women, including the World, TV, and now Pure titles, as evidence of the promotion’s growth. She cited Athena’s historic 1,000-plus day reign as a blueprint for success, noting how the current ROH Women’s World Champion forced her way onto AEW television through undeniable performances.
The Pure Championship operates under a unique ruleset that emphasizes technical wrestling, limiting competitors to three rope breaks per match and banning closed-fist punches. Alongside her in-ring resurgence, Purrazzo also celebrated a personal milestone in 2025 by launching the Boots to Boots podcast with her husband, Steve Maclin. As 2026 begins, Purrazzo appears revitalized and ready to force the “Pure” style into the spotlight of AEW’s weekly programming.
