Deonna Purrazzo believes Lee Moriarty has set the standard for technical wrestling in the modern game.
Purrazzo, the reigning ROH Women’s Pure Champion, offered emphatic praise for Moriarty while discussing the parallel paths the two competitors have taken at the top of Ring of Honor’s Pure divisions. Both wrestlers have built lengthy championship reigns around a style that places a premium on precision, preparation and the ability to solve opponents within the ring.
As of Purrazzo’s comments, she had held the Women’s Pure Championship for nearly 300 days. Moriarty, meanwhile, had been Men’s Pure Champion for nearly 800 days. Those reigns have made them the defining champions of their respective divisions, even if the demands of television production do not always leave them much opportunity to compare ideas before matches.
When asked whether she and Moriarty ever exchange notes, Purrazzo explained that those conversations happen only occasionally because of the pace of taping days.
For more background on this topic, read Deonna Purrazzo Details Lessons From First Battle For The Brave Event.
“Every once in a while. TV days are crazy busy and a lot of times when we’re taping Ring Of Honor, we don’t know until later in the day what we’re doing. Sometimes, we don’t get to get in the ring and roll through some stuff. It’s just like mad dash, get hair and makeup and get out there.”
That schedule can make the smallest moments of collaboration valuable. Purrazzo and Moriarty occupy comparable positions within ROH, carrying championships tied directly to the Pure wrestling identity, but their responsibilities can still pull them in different directions on a busy event day. The Women’s Pure Championship and Men’s Pure Championship place their holders under a particular kind of spotlight: every defense invites scrutiny not just over who wins, but how the champion approaches the match.
For Purrazzo, that shared responsibility has also created a mutual respect with Moriarty. She described him as an exceptional performer and revealed that he has repeatedly offered her a significant compliment. However, Purrazzo made clear that she does not accept his assessment that she is superior to him.
“But, he’s incredible. He’s always said, ‘You’re even better than I am’, which I do not agree with. I think Lee is like the greatest technical wrestler that there is in the world right now. To even be in the same category as him is an honor.”
The comments are notable because Purrazzo herself has long been associated with a technical approach to professional wrestling. Her identity as “The Virtuosa” has been built around calculated execution, focused targeting and the confidence to treat a match as a contest of skill as much as endurance. Her current reign as Women’s Pure Champion has given that presentation a natural home in Ring of Honor.
Moriarty’s extended time as Men’s Pure Champion has likewise put him at the center of conversations about technical excellence. Reigning for nearly 800 days is an achievement that speaks to more than a single successful defense or a brief run of momentum. It means sustaining the role of champion over a lengthy period, with every appearance reinforcing the idea that he remains the man to beat in that division.
Two Champions Carrying the Pure Wrestling Banner
Purrazzo did not frame her praise as a challenge or an attempt to create competition between the two champions. Instead, she stressed the significance of simply being mentioned in the same discussion as Moriarty. That is a revealing perspective from a wrestler who has spent nearly 300 days holding a championship of her own.
There is a difference between acknowledging another wrestler’s talent and identifying that wrestler as the best in the world in a specific discipline. Purrazzo did the latter. In her view, Moriarty’s technical work has placed him above the field, and she considers it an honor to be considered alongside him.
That mutual admiration also gives additional weight to Moriarty’s compliment toward Purrazzo. While she rejected the notion that she is better than he is, she did not dismiss the respect behind it. Their exchange reflects the connection between two wrestlers whose current championship positions demand a similar attention to detail.
The reality of ROH tapings, as Purrazzo described it, means that such exchanges are not always accompanied by extensive planning sessions in the ring. Wrestlers may not learn the full scope of their work until later in the day, creating a rush to prepare for cameras, appearances and matches. Purrazzo’s description of the process—getting ready and heading out—underscores the adaptability required of champions working television events.
Even within that environment, a wrestler’s instincts and command of their style remain central. Purrazzo’s admiration for Moriarty is rooted in what he consistently brings to the ring, not in how much time they have to discuss it backstage. Her comments indicate that his work stands out regardless of the pace around it.
Purrazzo’s Championship Run Continues
Purrazzo’s near-300-day reign as Women’s Pure Champion remains a major part of her current position in Ring of Honor. Holding a title for that long requires a champion to maintain credibility through every defense while continuing to represent the division’s purpose. For Purrazzo, the championship aligns closely with the reputation she has established through her career.
Her comments about Moriarty also place her own reign in a broader context. Rather than presenting the men’s and women’s Pure champions as disconnected figures, Purrazzo sees a shared standard between them. They may not always have the chance to rehearse or “roll through” ideas together during hectic taping days, but they are linked by their respective roles as the faces of the Pure divisions.
The length of Moriarty’s reign further emphasizes that connection. Nearing 800 days as Men’s Pure Champion, he has held his title for substantially longer than Purrazzo’s already impressive run. Purrazzo’s willingness to point to that body of work, while also noting his personal encouragement toward her, illustrates why she views him as the premier technical wrestler in the world today.
There is no indication that Purrazzo’s praise will lead directly to an in-ring meeting or any formal joint undertaking between the champions. Her remarks were centered on professional respect and the realities of their shared workplace. Still, the endorsement is one of the strongest possible from a fellow Pure champion, especially one whose own wrestling style is so often defined by technique.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Beyond her thoughts on Moriarty and the Pure division, Purrazzo also disclosed plans involving Steve Maclin. She stated that she and Maclin will bring back Battle For The Brave in 2027.
No additional details on the returning event were included in Purrazzo’s remarks, including a date, location or format. The confirmation nevertheless places a future project on the horizon for Purrazzo and Maclin while Purrazzo continues her prominent championship run.
For now, Purrazzo’s immediate message was one of appreciation for Moriarty’s place in wrestling. She holds a championship that demands technical excellence, has maintained it for close to 300 days, and still sees Moriarty’s work as the benchmark. In Purrazzo’s eyes, the Men’s Pure Champion is not merely a peer in Ring of Honor’s championship picture—he is the greatest technical wrestler in the world right now.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.