Ronda Rousey comments on Marina Shafir ‘coming into her own’ in AEW
Ronda Rousey credits Jon Moxley for helping her friend Marina Shafir come into her own in AEW.
Shafir first aligned with Moxley at AEW All Out 2024 when the Blackpool Combat Club turned on Bryan Danielson. Since then, she’s been a prominent part of The Death Riders storylines.
During a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, Rousey commented on Shafir’s last year in wrestling, saying she’s “coming into her own in that space and feeling really confident and just becoming like a real f—ing pro.”
“Going from being like, ‘How do I do an arm drag?’ To being part of five-star matches and stuff like that, it’s really great to see her just having so much joy with it and rising to the top level of the industry,” Rousey said.
Shafir was in the Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing, which received a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer.
Rousey continued:
“I think so much has to do with Jon Moxley being the most incredible human being ever. He is just so supportive and so kind and so passionate.”
“He’s just so humble and I feel like so much of that success stems from his talent — and not just his talent, but his willingness and passion to give back and to bring up everybody with him and have his rising tide lift all of their boats. And I’m so grateful for him and the kind of friend that he’s been to Marina.”
She added that it’s wrestlers like Moxley, who give back to the industry, that keep the business moving forward.
“They’re the real lifeblood of the industry. And I hope that continues and that it’s encouraged, and that it’s not like some cutthroat, ‘me versus you’ kind of environment,” Rousey says.
“It’s the culture and the giving back to each other and the constant hands helping each other up — that is what makes it continue to be great. And will continue to make pro wrestling rise in cultural awareness.”
Shafir and Rousey teamed together on three occasions in late 2023 after Rousey’s second stint with WWE came to a close. They defeated Taya Valkyrie and Brian Kendrick at a Lucha Va Voom show in Los Angeles, went to a no-contest with Billie Starkz and Athena at a Revolver show in Glendale, and later defeated Starkz and Athena at a Ring of Honor taping.
The full interview with Ronda Rousey is available here.
