A match between Deonna Purrazzo and Mercedes Martinez has been announced for October.
WrestlePro has announced that Purrazzo will defend the Knockouts title against Martinez at their event in Rahway, New Jersey, on October 16. This would be the first post-WWE match announced for Martinez.
Martinez was released on August 6 along with 12 other members of the NXT roster. It has been reported that the cuts were a part of an effort to revamp NXT, focusing more on younger and bigger stars.
She was signed by WWE in 2020 and at one point was called up as a member of Retribution. However, she requested and later was granted a return to NXT. She had most recently been feuding with Xia Li, with her last match being a mixed tag match in June. She teamed with Jake Atlas (who was also released) to face Boa and Xia Li. Martinez suffered an injury during the match that she was recovering from prior to her release.
I have been very honest with my past struggles, and it has been an ongoing battle. On Saturday night, I obviously let my demons get the better of me and I ruined an important night for a really great guy in an unfortunate series of events. I have worked incredibly hard to get where I am, and even harder to overcome my ongoing battle with depression. But I will work my absolute hardest to right the wrongs of Saturday night and apologize to Kevin Mathews, Pat Buck, Joey Janela, the entire WrestlePro locker room and all parties involved from the bottom of my heart.
I’m getting help from family and friends as we speak and will be getting professional help in the near future and ask all to please respect my privacy in the meantime.
When & if I reemerge as a public figure it will be in good faith and I hope to inspire those who struggle with the same mental health issues I do to seek the help they need. If Tyson Fury can do it….so can I.
Remember…I ain’t dead yet. And neither are you.
Peace and love,
William Patrick Morrissey III —
Kevin Matthews responded to Cass’ apology: “Myself and the entire @WrestlePro family are all behind you and wish you all the health and happiness in the world my friend. Can’t wait to see the new and improved CazXL! kick ass bud @TheCaZXL”
Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the WrestlePro incident on Wrestling Observer Radio on Saturday night/Sunday morning. Their report stated that — despite Amore and Joey Janela recently being involved in a separate altercation at a concert — there were no problems between Cass, Amore, and Janela when all three appeared for Northeast Wrestling in Waterbury, Connecticut on Friday.
Cass and Janela were both booked on Saturday’s WrestlePro show, which was a farewell event for promoter Pat Buck, who is joining WWE as a producer.
The Wrestling Observer Radio report noted that Cass showed up at WrestlePro in a “belligerent” state. He threatened (and may have also slapped) Janela. Cass also claimed that a sweater had been stolen from him and threatened people in the locker room if he didn’t find it.
Cass ended up getting in a confrontation with Buck, at which point Buck knocked him down with a punch. Alvarez said that everyone was sympathetic to Buck and that he didn’t hear anyone defending what Cass did.
After being taken out of the building, Cass then spoke to police outside. Police were reportedly concerned by things Cass said and his loud demeanor, and Cass was transported to a local hospital.
Janela tweeted about the incident the day after it happened: “Not gonna elaborate at all on this whole deal besides that it was probably the [most] bizzare situation I’ve ever seen let alone been a part of in a wrestling locker room in 15 years, everything was cordial and friendly Friday and I hope the dude gets back on the right track…”
Cass opened up about battling depression, anxiety, and alcohol issues in a video for the DDP Yoga YouTube channel in June.
The report states Cass appeared on a Northeast Wrestling event in Waterbury, Connecticut on Friday without incident. Also booked on the Northeast Wrestling show were Joey Janela and Morrissey’s WWE tag team partner, Enzo Amore (Eric Arndt).
Amore and Janela were recently involved in a separate altercation at a concert, but there were reportedly no problems between any of the three on Friday.
Cass and Janela were also booked on the WrestlePro show on Saturday in Rahway, New Jersey, which served as a farewell event for the show’s promoter, Pat Buck, who is joining WWE as a producer.
According to Wrestling Observer Radio, Cass showed up at WrestlePro in a “belligerent” state. He threatened (and may have also slapped) Janela. Cass also claimed that a sweater had been stolen from him and threatened people in the locker room if he didn’t find it.
Cass ended up getting in a confrontation with Buck, at which point Buck knocked him down with a punch. Alvarez noted that everyone was sympathetic to Buck. Alvarez said he didn’t hear anyone defending what Cass did.
After being taken out of the building, Cass then spoke to police outside. Police were reportedly concerned by things Cass said and his loud demeanor, and Cass was transported to a local hospital.
Current subscribers can listen to the full edition of Wrestling Observer Radio here.
