Free-agent wrestler Steve Maclin recently appeared at JTown Smackdown, an independent wrestling event held in New Jersey and hosted by his wife, Ring of Honor women’s pure champion Deonna Purrazzo, to raise awareness about funding issues affecting New Jersey school districts.
Maclin, who left Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) earlier this year, has become one of the most talked-about free agents in professional wrestling. He drew attention with a standout match against All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Adam Copeland at Maple Leaf Pro’s Northern Rising, an event where Copeland ultimately won even with Purrazzo at ringside supporting her husband.
Speaking with OutKick Dropkick earlier this week, Purrazzo said she believes AEW could be a good fit for Maclin, though she said the decision should ultimately be his.
“I definitely think there’s a place for him here,” she said. “I’m Steve’s biggest fan, obviously, right? We’re talking today. It’s our fourth wedding anniversary today, and so, obviously I wouldn’t have married him if I didn’t believe in him and I wasn’t his biggest fan, but I think that he has to go where he’s happy, right? And he has to go where he thinks he can contribute the best, and I do believe that there would be a spot for him on AEW. I do believe there’s a spot, maybe versus Bandido for the Ring of Honor World Championship.”
Purrazzo also pointed to Maclin’s military background as part of what makes him stand out in the ring. The interview took place on the 251st Marine Corps birthday.
“Steve is such a phenomenal wrestler, and I think there’s so much of Steve that also while we’re talking, it’s the 251st Marine Corps birthday, and there’s a piece of Steve that carries that and what it means to be a Marine with him everywhere he goes, especially in the ring. He’s not just trying to engage the fans and engage the audience at home, but he’s also trying to live fully for the brothers who didn’t get to make it home. I think that intensity that he brings translates so much to where the best wrestle, which is AEW.”
For now, Maclin continues to wrestle on the independent circuit, including the New Jersey event organized by his wife to shine a light on school funding problems in the state.
