Deonna Purrazzo and Steve Maclin will bring Battle For The Brave back in 2027.
The wrestling couple staged the first Battle For The Brave event in June in Rahway, New Jersey, with the show benefiting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The card brought together a notable collection of talent, including The Hardys, Marcus Mathers, Kris Statlander and Amazing Red. While the event gave fans a chance to see a diverse lineup in support of a charitable cause, it also gave Purrazzo and Maclin a firsthand education in the work required to present a live wrestling event from the promoter’s side.
Purrazzo discussed the experience in a recent interview, describing the many logistical challenges that are largely invisible to talent when they arrive at a venue to perform. The first Battle For The Brave was held at the Rahway Rec Center, a building she characterized as large, but preparing it for wrestling required the team to coordinate essential elements such as the ring and lighting.
For Purrazzo, that was the biggest lesson from taking on a promoter role for the first time. Wrestlers are accustomed to walking into a finished environment, with the ring assembled and production already in place. Running an event demanded that she and Maclin consider every detail necessary to make a venue workable for both performers and fans.
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“We never ran a wrestling show, we just as wrestlers show up and the ring is built and the light rig is up and we do our job as the wrestler,” Purrazzo said. “We don’t think about what it takes to light a building that holds 1200 people, right?”
That reality became especially apparent when a planned lighting arrangement fell through at the last minute. Purrazzo explained that Battle For The Brave had rented its ring from one provider and expected lighting from another, only for the lighting plan to change shortly before the show. The person supplying the ring was able to bring lights, but the venue presented a greater scale than the setup that provider would normally use.
Purrazzo said she spent time during the event looking for solutions, including considering whether the local fire department might have flood lights that could be used. Ultimately, the Tunnel to Towers production team had a light being used backstage, and that light was moved out to help address the situation.
The ordeal provided a practical example of the kind of live problem-solving that comes with event promotion. It was not simply a matter of booking wrestlers and announcing matches. Purrazzo and Maclin had to respond in real time to production needs while also keeping the show moving and ensuring the audience could enjoy it.
Those challenges did not change the central purpose behind Battle For The Brave. Purrazzo said she and Maclin wanted to build an event around a cause they cared about while treating the wrestlers they booked with the same level of consideration they would hope to receive as talent themselves.
“Steve and I just wanted this event and we wanted to treat the wrestlers that we booked how we’d want to be treated,” Purrazzo said. “We didn’t want to be like, ‘Hey brother, give me a rate for a charity show.’ It’s like, ‘What does it take to get you here?’”
That approach extended beyond arranging the matches. Purrazzo said the pair wanted talent to have hotel rooms available if they arrived early, transportation from the airport when needed and food at the venue. Squared Circle Cafe donated its time and services to cater the event, helping the hosts create an environment that was mindful of the performers’ needs.
The emphasis on hospitality is significant in an independent wrestling landscape where wrestlers often make complicated travel arrangements and work demanding schedules. Purrazzo and Maclin’s stated goal was to create a show people would want to be involved with again, rather than relying on the charitable nature of the event as a reason for talent to accept less-than-ideal conditions.
There was another major issue on the day of the show: the heat. Purrazzo revealed that she and Maclin did not learn until the morning of the event that the Rahway Rec Center did not have air conditioning. The problem was compounded by what Purrazzo described as the hottest day on record in New Jersey that year.
As the building filled, the conditions became increasingly difficult. Purrazzo estimated that between 700 and 800 people were in attendance midway through the event, creating an understandably uncomfortable environment in the heat. The organizers reacted by arranging an Uber Eats order for approximately 1,000 bottles of water, which were then handed out to the people in the building.
“Steve and I were trying to make sure that everyone was taken care of,” Purrazzo said.
The response from the crowd left a strong impression on Purrazzo. Despite the conditions, fans supported the fundraiser and remained in the venue through the conclusion of the show. The Hardys headlined Battle For The Brave, and Purrazzo noted that the audience was still present for the main event.
That turnout was meaningful for more than just the atmosphere of the card. Charity events depend on the willingness of fans, wrestlers, vendors and production personnel to commit their time and resources to a shared purpose. Purrazzo said she and Maclin were unsure what kind of response the event would receive, making the sustained support from those in attendance all the more important.
“We were so fortunate that so many people supported this amazing cause,” Purrazzo said. “We weren’t sure if they were and for them to turn out in the heat and stay with us until the end, our main event was The Hardys and every single body was still in the room at the end of that show. We couldn’t be more grateful to all of you for sticking it out.”
With a second Battle For The Brave now planned for 2027, Purrazzo and Maclin will be able to carry the lessons of the debut event into the next edition. One priority is already clear: finding a building with air conditioning. Purrazzo said they are currently working on securing a venue that can provide that amenity, an understandable focus after the conditions in Rahway.
The return announcement also reflects confidence in the foundation established by the inaugural show. Battle For The Brave overcame unexpected production complications and severe weather conditions while featuring established names alongside standout talent from across wrestling. The event’s 2027 return gives Purrazzo and Maclin another opportunity to support the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, while applying a more experienced promoter’s perspective to the operation.
Purrazzo’s comments also underlined how her career as an active wrestler shaped her outlook as a promoter. Rather than viewing talent merely as names to fill a card, she and Maclin sought to address the travel, lodging, food and comfort concerns that can shape a wrestler’s day long before they step through the curtain. That philosophy will likely remain central as plans for the next Battle For The Brave develop.
No date, location or lineup for the 2027 event has been announced. For now, the confirmation establishes that Battle For The Brave was not intended as a one-time undertaking. Purrazzo and Maclin are moving forward with another fundraiser, equipped with a clearer understanding of the behind-the-scenes demands involved—and with air conditioning firmly on the checklist.
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.