Marina Shafir, a prominent AEW wrestler and close friend of Ronda Rousey, reacted after the announcement that Rousey will be returning to mixed martial arts. The announcement, made in early May 2024, revealed that Rousey will fight Gina Carano in an upcoming MMA bout scheduled for May 16, to be exclusively shown on Netflix. Shafir and Rousey share a strong bond beyond wrestling, having competed together in the ring and sharing roots in MMA.
During their WWE days, Shafir was part of Shayna Baszler’s entourage, and alongside Rousey, who was often called
“The Baddest Woman on the Planet,”
they formed a close-knit group. After wrestling on the independent circuit as a duo, their last joint wrestling performance was for ROH, where Rousey appeared before seemingly retiring from the sport. Shafir showed her support for Rousey’s comeback by reposting the official announcement video on her Instagram Story, highlighting their continuing friendship.
Recent AEW Match Highlights Marina Shafir’s Role and Resilience
At the recent Grand Slam event in Australia, Marina Shafir competed in a high-stakes hair vs. hair tag team match alongside her Death Rider teammate Wheeler Yuta. Their opponents were Toni Storm and Orange Cassidy. Despite a hard-fought match, Shafir’s team lost when Yuta was pinned, triggering the match’s stipulation that his hair be shaved off in front of the Australian crowd. Shafir supported Yuta during the embarrassing moment but avoided having to suffer the same fate herself. This outcome maintains her standing while leaving questions about how Yuta will respond going forward.
The Wider Implications of Rousey’s MMA Comeback for AEW and Fans
Ronda Rousey’s decision to leave retirement and enter an MMA fight again presents new dynamics for AEW and fans familiar with her wrestling career. As a key figure in the combat sports world with connections to AEW through Shafir, her comeback generates significant interest and speculation about future appearances or implications for those in their circle. For Marina Shafir, this moment not only underscores her support for a close friend but also places her in the spotlight as fans anticipate developments both inside and outside the wrestling ring.
