Marina Lindsey (née Shafir) (Romanian: Marina Șafir; born 14 April 1988) is a Moldovan-born American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She formerly competed for Invicta Fighting Championships in the women's featherweight division. Shafir is best known for her time in WWE, where she was the first and to date only Moldovan to ever compete for that promotion. She has been wrestling on the independent circuit since 2021 where she is undefeated at Josh Barnett's Bloodsport events promoted by Game Changer Wrestling. She is also the current DEFY Wrestling Women's Champion.[1]
Early life
Shafir moved from Moldova to the United States when she was five years old. Her father, a mechanic, and her mother, a teacher, settled in New York along with Marina and her two older brothers. Shafir began training judo when she was six years old and started competing at a high level in the sport when she was 12. However, she stopped competing in judo in her late teens.[2]
Mixed martial arts career
Shafir began her mixed martial career at an amateur level in 2012. In a two-year spell, she was unbeaten, winning all five of her matches by submission (four by armbar and one by arm-triangle choke). She turned professional in early 2014.
Shafir's first professional fight was against Chandra Engel on April 12, 2014, where she won by submission in the first round. Later that year, Shafir suffered her first-ever loss in a first-round defeat to Amanda Bell.[3] The following year, she signed with Invicta Fighting Championships.[4] Her first match in the Invicta promotion was against Amber Leibrock on July 9, 2015, which was Leibrock's first professional fight. Shafir was defeated in the first round.[5]
Professional wrestling career
WWE (2018–2021)
On 7 May 2018, WWE announced that Shafir, along with Jessamyn Duke, had signed with WWE and reported to their Performance Center for training.[6] On 28 October at WWE Evolution, Shafir and Duke made their WWE debuts as heels when they interfered during the NXT Women's Championship match, in which they helped Shayna Baszler regain the title over Kairi Sane.[7] They made another appearance at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, when they interfered during Baszler and Sane's two out of three falls match, in which Baszler scored the first fall and the victory in the latter to retain the title.[8] On the 19 December 2018 episode of NXT, Shafir and Duke made their NXT in ring debut, but were defeated by Io Shirai and Dakota Kai, when Shirai pinned Shafir after a moonsault.[9] At NXT TakeOver: Phoenix, Shafir and Duke assisted Baszler in retaining the title against Bianca Belair.[10] In October 2019, Duke and Shafir were defeated by Kai and Tegan Nox in a number one contender's match for the Women's Tag Team Championship.[11] After several months of inactivity, Shafir returned to WWE TV on 17 August 2020, reuniting with Baszler and Duke, and winning a Raw Underground match. On 25 June 2021, Shafir was released from her WWE contract.[12]
On 30 March 2023, Shafir defeated Killer Kelly via submission at Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 9.[15] On 4 April 2024, she competed in a four-women tournament at Josh Barnett's Bloodsport X. She defeated Janai Kai in the semi-finals via submission and Lindsay Snow in the finals via referee stoppage.[16]
DEFY Wrestling (2023-present)
On 20 January 2023, Shafir made her debut at DEFY Wrestling's Most Dangerous defeating Cat Power.[17] On 10 May 2024, she defeated Vert Vixen for the DEFY Women's Championship at Here and Now.[1]
Other promotions (2021-present)
On the 13 November 13 2021 episode (taped 7 October 2021) of UWN Primetime Live Championship Wrestling from Georgia, she defeated Nightmare Factory alum, Brooke Havok. [18]
In December 2015, Shafir got engaged to professional wrestler Christopher Lindsey, better known as Roderick Strong.[24] In 2017, Shafir gave birth to their first child.[25] The two were married on 7 November 2018.[26]