Sports
Deonna Purrazzo touts Ring of Honor as having ‘great women’s wrestling,’ should be seen as landing spot
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Deonna Purrazzo was credited with helping restart the women’s division in Ring of Honor (ROH) when she joined the company in 2015. She was featured in one of the first women’s matches in the company’s history in nearly a decade at the time.
She spent three years with the company before she landed back in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2024. By that time, AEW co-founder Tony Khan had bought Ring of Honor and it became a sister company of AEW. Upon her return to Ring of Honor, she was thrust into a tournament to determine the first ROH women’s pure champion.
PRO WRESTLING STARS LEADING SHOWCASE TO BENEFIT TUNNEL TO TOWERS, SHARE WHAT BEING AN AMERICAN MEANS TO THEM
Deonna Purrazzo celebrates after winning her match during AEW Collision on June 15, 2024, at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)
In December, Purrazzo defeated Billie Starkz to be crowned the champion and has held the title ever since.
As a wave of new wrestlers hit the free-agent market over the last two weeks, Purrazzo touted the opportunities that Ring of Honor has for women’s wrestlers – something that was “really important” to the New Jersey native.
“I think what’s so great about Ring of Honor is that it kinda flies under the radar a little bit,” she told Fox News Digital. “So, you get to really develop and tell stories and show personality and maybe try something different than you would if you were on ‘Dynamite’ every single week. I think that there is really great women’s wrestling within Ring of Honor. Most weeks there’s four, five, six women’s matches and so I think that it doesn’t get enough credit online that it deserves for what it’s doing and the purpose it’s serving for women’s wrestling, which is, again, really important to me, starting in Ring of Honor, starting the women’s division 11 years ago.
“To get to see multiple women every single week grow and develop, I think it’s really important and I think that if more people saw it as a landing spot, we can maybe grow that perception in the public’s eyes.”
Athena sits at the top of the women’s division in ROH. She’s held the ROH Women’s World Championship for more than 1,200 days. Red Velvet is the current ROH Women’s World Television Championship and has held it for more than 150 days.
Deonna Purrazzo attends Shaq’s Fun House at XS nightclub at Encore Las Vegas on Feb. 9, 2024. (Greg Doherty/Getty Images)
Purrazzo also has the opportunity to help veterans and first-responders in need.
She and her husband, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling star Steve Maclin, are putting on the Battle for the Brave on June 6. The charity event will benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Purrazzo stressed how important giving back to military veterans was to her in an interview with Fox News Digital earlier this week, especially as a military wife. Maclin served in the U.S. Marines.
“Growing up in New Jersey as well, 9/11 was such a big deal. For me, I was in second grade,” she said. “I didn’t understand what was going on but in the days after, I felt a sense of unity in that everyone came together, everyone was proud to be an American, and we were going to fight back and stand together and be one, united country. And I think that, that feeling has always stuck with me but being a veteran’s wife, it’s taken on a completely different role.
“Steve opening up about his service and things he’s seen and experienced with me has given me a new passion to let veterans know that, yes, war will always come home with you but it doesn’t have to define you. Steve was so lucky that he was able to find wrestling right after he got out of the Marine Corps and it saved him, in a way, from falling down the unknown path of ‘What am I? Who am I next?’
Pro wrestling stars Steve Maclin and Deonna Purrazzo stare at each other. (Provided to Fox News Digital)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“And I think that’s something that our veterans deal with unbeknownst to the rest of the public. It’s not talked about enough. They say 22 veterans but right now the math is leading toward 44 veterans a day lose their lives to that battle – an identity crisis of who am I after service. So, that’s what it means to be American for me now, is showing that support for our veterans, showing that our country is here for them and we’re here to support them and we’re here to give them the resources that they need to live healthy and successful lives after service.”
Sports
Caitlin Clark listed as probable for Fever-Valkyries rematch following early season back issues
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The latest development in Caitlin Clark’s closely followed season arrived about 24 hours before tip off of the Indiana Fever’s latest game.
Clark was listed as probable ahead of Thursday’s matchup with the Golden State Valkyries as she continues to deal with a back issue early in the WNBA season.
Meanwhile, all signs point to teammate Bree Hall also being available to suit up.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark warms up on the court before a WNBA game against the Seattle Storm on May 17, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Doug McSchooler/Special to IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Caitlin Clark was a late scratch for the Fever’s May 20 matchup against the Portland Fire, marking her first missed game of the season. Even without Clark, Indiana rolled to a 90-73 victory. The Fever hit the 90-point mark again last Friday, this time in a win over the Valkyries.
While there were some concerns about Clark’s availability leading into last week’s Fever-Valkyries game, those worries proved short-lived. Clark returned to the starting lineup and scored a team-high 22 points to help lift Indiana to its third consecutive victory.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark dribbles the ball while Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun defends during the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 22, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
Clark’s promising start to her WNBA career was interrupted by injuries in 2025. After appearing in 40 games and winning Rookie of the Year in 2024, Clark was limited to just 13 appearances last season due to a groin strain and ankle-bone bruise.
WNBA COACH DOUBLES DOWN ON JALEN BRUNSON DOUBTS DESPITE KNICKS REACHING NBA FINALS
On Wednesday, during the Fever’s off day ahead of Thursday’s Golden State-Indiana rematch, Clark was spotted about a mile from the Valkyries’ home arena attending the San Francisco Giants’ game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Clark attended the game alongside her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, the former Iowa basketball player.
WNBA Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark watches the San Francisco Giants play against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park on May 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
McCaffery and Clark were seen wearing Giants hats at Oracle Park, though Clark has previously acknowledged her Phillies fandom — even if the team was not originally her top choice.
“My boyfriend grew up a really big Phillies fan, so I kinda had to like the Phillies. I do like them, I love Bryce Harper. I still like the Cubs, I like the Yankees. I’m not like a diehard any baseball team. My dad was a big Royals fan,” the two-time WNBA All-Star said in 2024.
“Kansas City was like a professional sports team to us. I liked the Chiefs before the Chiefs were really good too, so I’m not a bandwagoner either. I like the Phillies, so I’ll cheer for them this postseason.”
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
CITY SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS
Wednesday’s Results
SEMIFINALS
OPEN DIVISION
#1 Granada Hills 12, #4 San Pedro 9
#2 Carson 12, #3 Birmingham 2
DIVISION I
#1 Venice 7, #4 Chatsworth 2
#6 Eagle Rock 5, #10 Verdugo Hills 4
DIVISION II
#1 LA Marshall 5, #5 Sylmar 4
#6 Arleta 8, #18 Taft 5
DIVISION III
#5 South East 16, #9 Palisades 8
#15 Reseda 20, #11 Westchester 9
DIVISION IV
#4 Huntington Park 23, #16 Vaughn 2
#14 Franklin 5, #18 Diego Rivera 3
Note: Finals in all divisions May 29-30 (sites and times TBA).
Sports
New York Attorney General Letitia James joins FIFA investigation into possible ticket price gauging
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport to launch an investigation into FIFA’s high World Cup ticket prices on Wednesday, the New York Post reports.
Officials say the steep prices have sparked a “gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices,” ahead of the soccer tournament next month.
FIFA FACES LAWSUIT OVER PLAN TO BAN IRAN’S PRE-REVOLUTION ‘LION AND SUN’ FLAG AT 2026 WORLD CUP STADIUMS
New York Attorney General Letitia James stands silently during a press conference at the office of the Attorney General in New York City on Dec. 15, 2025. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Both James and Davenport announced the joint probe — which includes subpoenas sent to FIFA by the two attorneys general — to focus on the myriad issues that stem from the soccer federation’s ticket sales for the tournament, including reports that fans were being misled about where their seats were located in addition to the exorbitantly high prices.
“Being honest about ticket sales is not complicated. But FIFA has turned buying a ticket to the World Cup into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices — all at the expense of consumers and hardworking New Jerseyans,” AG Davenport said in a statement.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
The FIFA World Cup 2026 winner trophy is displayed at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, as the draw for the 2026 World Cup European qualifiers begins on Dec. 13, 2024. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu)
The joint probe from both states makes sense when considering a number of World Cup games, including the final on July 19, are being played at nearby MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Sky-high ticket prices for the World Cup seem to be a bipartisan issue, as this probe comes in the wake of President Donald Trump also making disparaging comments regarding the high prices earlier this month, which were routinely rumored to be north of $1,000.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
President Donald Trump dances at the end of the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Dec. 5, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/Pool Photo via AP)
“I did not know that number,” President Trump said, “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”
The 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa.
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoLoved ones search for 80-year-old woman missing in Westlake for nearly a week
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoDetroit PWHL team names Michigan native Josh Sciba head coach
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoWorld Cup dining guide near Levi’s Stadium and in San Francisco
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoNorth Texas doughnut shops named among best in U.S.
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoMiami’s Jai Lucas Tackles Year Two With A New Roster and New Goal
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoA look inside Joan Bennett Kennedy’s Back Bay condo, listed for $2.6m
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDenver Fashion Week Responds To Community Demand With Second Model Audition Date – 303 Magazine
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoThe Sale Of The Seattle Seahawks Gets A Big News Update
