Deonna Purrazzo Reveals Lifelong Battle With Scoliosis

Deonna Purrazzo may be one of the most technically gifted wrestlers in the game, but behind her confident in-ring style is a lifetime of pain management and adaptation.

During a new interview on The Lightweights Podcast with Joe Vulpis, the AEW star opened up about her ongoing struggle with scoliosis and how it’s shaped her wrestling career.

When asked about painful wrestling moves and how she protects her neck during training, Purrazzo revealed she’s been managing spinal issues since childhood—including bulging discs and curvature caused by scoliosis.

“I have scoliosis, so my neck has like a slight curve to it and I just from childhood have like bulging discs and stuff like that—just had to work through my whole life. Those Jersey school textbooks carrying on my back.”

Because of her condition, she avoids standard neck-strengthening drills that many wrestlers rely on, including bridges and extreme resistance techniques.

“I just have to be aware of those potential injuries. So a lot of people like to do neck bridges and stuff like that… that doesn't feel good for me. A couple training schools want you to hang your neck over the edge of the ring and pick it up—that's very uncomfortable for me.”

Instead, Purrazzo said she focuses on a more manageable and sustainable recovery approach.

“For me, it's more chiropractic work and range of motion stuff. That helps manage my scoliosis and potential injuries way more than traditional neck strengthening.”

The Virtuosa’s willingness to speak openly about physical limitations adds yet another layer to her already-respected career—proof that toughness isn’t just about what you do in the ring, but how you train for it behind the scenes.

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