Credit: AEW
Deonna Purrazzo, one of the top female talents in professional wrestling, recently revealed frustration with All Elite Wrestling’s handling of her character development. On a candid episode of Rule Breakers with Saraya, Purrazzo claimed that AEW never fully invested in crafting her storyline, leaving her to define her “Virtuosa” persona largely on her own. This lack of creative follow-through, she says, hindered her momentum after a strong debut in AEW and contributed to challenges within the promotion’s creative environment.
Strong AEW Debut but Stalled Momentum
Purrazzo’s debut match against Toni Storm was met with acclaim, showcasing her technical prowess and earning positive fan reaction. Yet, despite this promising start, she felt the sparks didn’t fully catch fire. “The match was strong, but then it felt like the story just didn’t go anywhere,” she explained. The Virtuosa, her uniquely refined wrestling character, lacked the layered storytelling and rivalries essential to connecting on a deeper level with the audience and developing her character organically on television.
According to a WWE insider with knowledge of AEW’s backstage workings, “Deonna’s in-ring skill is undeniable, but AEW’s women’s division has been somewhat stuck in a holding pattern when it comes to creative support for newer characters. There’s been talent, but not enough narrative investment.” This perspective aligns with Purrazzo’s own remarks about lacking meaningful interactions and clear storyline motivations within the locker room environment and on screen.
Missing Character Layers and Storytelling Depth
Deonna elaborated on the core issue being the absence of “layers” to her character. She pointed out that character work involves more than just attire and entrance music. “There needs to be a reason why the audience dislikes me or why I ally with someone else. Who is The Virtuosa beyond her wrestling skill? What motivates her? Those kinds of details were missing,” Purrazzo shared.
She emphasized that part of wrestling’s storytelling magic comes from on-screen relationships reflecting real camaraderie or animosity from backstage, which then pay off in events and feuds. “You miss the chance to create a dynamic and surprising journey if you don’t build those relationships and interactions,” she warned.
Taking Creative Initiative Amidst Adversity
Frustrated by the stall in her character development, Purrazzo didn’t wait for AEW’s creative team to catch up. Instead, she took steps to produce and promote her character’s story more independently. This self-driven approach represents a growing trend where wrestlers actively shape their personas and content due to perceived creative gaps.
However, this approach has its limits. Purrazzo acknowledged how isolating it can be without creative support or a foundational storyline guiding fans. “I didn’t want to be just a technical wrestler with no emotional connection to the audience, but without storyline support, it’s tough to sustain,” she remarked.
Mental Health and Fan Interaction: Coping Beyond the Ring
Aside from creative frustrations, Purrazzo also opened up about dealing with the pressures of social media negativity, body shaming, and harassment challenges many wrestlers face in today’s digital age. She credits therapy and family support as vital pillars in overcoming the impact of hateful online comments.
Meeting fans in person, she said, was a turning point that helped separate genuine supporters from online trolls. “The people who say awful things are not the folks buying tickets or tuning in to watch me wrestle,” she noted. This realization helped her focus on positive fan relationships and regain confidence despite the negativity.
AEW Women’s Division Evolution and Future Prospects
Deonna Purrazzo has been a vocal advocate for the ongoing women’s wrestling evolution. Despite her challenges, she remains optimistic about future storytelling potential within AEW. She has expressed interest in high-profile submission matchups, particularly citing a dream match against Mercedes Mone another submission specialist as a unique storytelling opportunity yet to be fully explored in AEW’s women’s division.
Additionally, sources close to AEW suggest that the company recognizes the need to beef up women’s storylines and character arcs. An insider commented, “AEW is growing, and the women’s division will reflect that growth soon. They’re aware of the feedback and want to deliver more compelling narratives for talents like Deonna” (Source: Wrestling industry insider, August 2025).
What This Means for WWE and the Wrestling Landscape
For WWE observers, Purrazzo’s outspoken comments about AEW present an interesting contrast. Purrazzo recently returned to WWE, where her character work has traditionally been more layered and developed over time. Industry watchers speculate that her frustrations might have influenced her decisions regarding her future bookings and developmental trajectory.
A WWE insider noted, “Deonna’s return to WWE could signal a fresh start creatively, where more tradition in character-building is emphasized to help her reach the next level.” WWE has long been known for its focus on detailed character arcs and layered storytelling, which may align better with Purrazzo’s aspirations and talent.