Deonna Purrazzo, the AEW talent and Ring of Honor Women’s Pure Champion, revealed her longtime support for the New England Patriots, a team she began rooting for nearly two decades ago. This allegiance came during the era of the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick dynasty when the Patriots held a dominant position in the NFL, drawing widespread admiration beyond New England.
The New Jersey native’s interest in the Patriots was not solely fueled by their winning record but by a more personal motivation tied to WWE star John Cena, known for his Patriots fandom. Her affection for him played a key role in shaping her support for the team.
How John Cena Influenced Purrazzo’s Team Choice
During a February 9 interview on Busted Open Radio alongside former TNA colleague Tasha Steelz, Purrazzo openly discussed her initial reasons for backing the Patriots. She candidly described how her role as a cheerleader in the early 2000s required her to learn about football, which coincided with the Patriots’ winning streak and Cena’s known loyalty to the team.
Purrazzo said,
If you want to call me a fraud, by all means, because I was a cheerleader in the early 2000s being forced to learn about football, so I could call the proper cheers,
And they [the New England Patriots] just happened to be the dynasty and keep winning. And I was like ‘Wait a second, John Cena likes that team. They win. And one day, I’m going to marry John Cena. And if I like that team, then we’ll have something in common, so he’ll like me too.’ And then I liked them.
– Deonna Purrazzo, AEW Star
This combination of fandom and a personal crush on Cena helped establish her connection to the Patriots during a time when the team’s prominence was hard to ignore.
From Cena Crush to Wrestling Partner
Although Purrazzo’s crush on John Cena eventually faded, her admiration for the Patriots has remained steady. Instead of marrying the WWE icon, she found love with fellow wrestler and former TNA star Steve Maclin, marrying him in November 2022. Her commitment to the Patriots fandom, however, stands as an interesting personal footnote intertwined with her wrestling journey.
The Legacy of the Patriots’ Nationwide Appeal
Purrazzo’s story highlights how the Patriots’ success under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick expanded their fan base beyond traditional regional boundaries, even influencing unexpected circles like professional wrestling. Her experience reflects how sports fandom can sometimes grow from personal connections as much as team performance. As the Patriots’ dynasty era has passed, Purrazzo’s enthusiasm underscores the lasting impact they made on fans nationwide.
