Every WWE Release Of 2021 - Where Are They Now? (Five Years Later)
48. Marina Shafir
Then: Ex-MMA fighter Marina Shafir landed in WWE at the same time as her pal Jessamyn Duke. Together, they acted as heel foil for fellow badass Shayna Baszler, but the creative team didn't have much for the pair after Baszler headed to the main roster.
Shafir would follow, albeit briefly. She was another who showed face in Shane McMahon's Raw Underground experiment that faded out as quickly as it appeared. To be honest, those illicit fight club segments were perfect for Marina's no-frills style.
After that, WWE released her in (you guessed it) June 2021.
Now: If someone had told you at the time that Shafir would succeed in AEW, then you probably would've laughed. Not necessarily at her, but more at her inexperience. How could somebody with so few reps survive on a competitive roster that was trying to figure things out on the women's division side? Surely, Marina would be cooked and then go off to do something else.
Or not.
She aligned with Jon Moxley in August 2024 and hasn't looked back. Shafir has been a key member of the Death Riders, which was born from the ashes of Mox's old Blackpool Combat Club faction. Critics and fans alike have had their say on the Riders, but it's been a good spot for Marina.
Her early struggles, including that promo, are a thing of the past. Marina's improvements in-ring have even drawn praise from another of her mates away from the biz: Ronda Rousey. Thus far, Ronda has resisted the urge to sign with AEW full-time herself.
She's busy doing some MMA stuff on Netflix.