On tonight’s episode of Monday Night RAW, Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke appeared. They were seen backstage with Shayna Baszler, conversing with the former two-time NXT Women’s Champion before the show went to commercial. Later on in the show, on RAW Underground, it was the women’s time to shine. Shafir made her in-ring debut on the show, competing against a woman simply known as “Brandi.” In quick fashion, Shafir submitted the fighter. This eventually led to Nia Jax crashing RAW Underground. She stood off with Baszler before fleeing the scene.
Prior to her professional wrestling career, Marina Shafir made her name in mixed martial arts.
It was in this industry she competed for Invicta Fighting Championships. She also became close friends with Ronda Rousey. They, along with Duke and Rousey, became known as the “Four Horsewomen” of MMA. Shafir was a submission specialist in the game before ultimately departing from mixed martial arts. In 2018, it was confirmed that she had signed with World Wrestling Entertainment, where she began her professional wrestling training.
👀 @MarinaShafir's #RawUnderground game looks STRONG. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/UzPeeFaAR3
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 18, 2020
Viewers of the original Mae Young Classic may remember Marina Shafir for being in the front row where she, along with Duke and Rousey, supported Baszler. In October, at WWE Evolution, Shafir and Duke interfered in the NXT Women’s Championship match, allowing Baszler to win her second title from then-champion Kairi Sane. While Shafir spent most of her time in NXT assisting Baszler, she also competed in a number of matches against the likes of Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox.
In real life, Shafir is the real-life wife of NXT Superstar Roderick Strong.
They were engaged in late 2015 and wed in 2018. Together, they have one child. Fun fact: she appeared on NXT multiple times as Strong’s wife during his feud with Bobby Roode, who was the NXT Champion at the time.
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