Marina Shafir, known for her intense and hard-hitting style in AEW, is set to make her debut in Progress Wrestling at their upcoming event, Chapter 171: History Is Written By The Victors. This marks a significant moment in her career as she expands her presence in the independent wrestling scene. Recently, Shafir aligned herself with Jon Moxley in AEW, indicating a potential elevation in her storyline and regular appearances in the promotion.
Additionally, Shafir is the reigning DEFY Women’s Champion, a title she will bring with her to Progress Wrestling. This crossover highlights her growing influence in the wrestling world and suggests she could play a pivotal role in the UK wrestling scene, starting with her Progress debut next month. Fans of both AEW and Progress will be eager to see how Shafir’s unique skill set and championship reign impact her matches in this new environment.
Born on April 14, 1988, in Soroca, Moldova, Shafir moved to the United States at a young age and began training in judo, eventually transitioning into mixed martial arts (MMA). She competed in several MMA promotions, including Invicta FC, before making her move into professional wrestling.
Shafir is best known in the wrestling world as a member of the “Four Horsewomen of MMA,” alongside Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler, and Jessamyn Duke. The group is celebrated for their MMA backgrounds and their crossover success in professional wrestling. Shafir began her pro wrestling career in WWE’s NXT brand, where she aligned with Baszler and Duke as part of a heel faction. Though she didn’t achieve major singles success in WWE, she gained valuable experience and developed her in-ring persona.
In 2021, Marina Shafir made the jump to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where she has been slowly building her reputation. Her partnership with Jon Moxley, a top star in AEW, has further raised her profile. Known for her no-nonsense approach and submission-based wrestling style, Shafir brings a unique blend of MMA authenticity and wrestling prowess to the ring.
Beyond AEW, Shafir also made a significant impact on the independent wrestling scene, becoming the DEFY Women’s Champion. Her ability to seamlessly transition between different wrestling promotions while holding championships has made her a standout talent. Her upcoming debut in Progress Wrestling at Chapter 171 is highly anticipated, as it marks her first appearance in one of the UK’s premier wrestling promotions, potentially setting the stage for her to become a major player in the international wrestling scene.
In a press release, Progress wrestling wrote:
PROGRESS Wrestling is thrilled to announce that Marina Shafir, the current DEFY Women’s Champion, will make her highly anticipated UK debut at PROGRESS Wrestling Chapter 171: “History is written by the victors” on Sunday, September 22nd, at the historic Electric Ballroom in London.
Marina Shafir, known to wrestling fans as “The PROBLEM,” has been making waves in the wrestling world with her fierce in-ring style and formidable presence. Shafir has gained significant attention recently following her collaboration with Jon Moxley on AEW TV and now, she is set to bring her unique brand of intensity to British soil for the first time, giving UK fans a rare opportunity to see the DEFY Women’s Champion live in action.
Reflecting on her upcoming debut, Marina Shafir took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her excitement: “First time wrestling in England. Thank you PROGRESS. Let’s make it memorable.”
Lee McAteer, co-owner of PROGRESS Wrestling, shared his excitement about Shafir’s arrival: “We have our merger with DEFY Wrestling in place, and it has resulted in lots of talent shares already with the likes of Mark Haskins and Man Like Dereiss impressing over in Seattle, whilst we have been lucky enough to have a DEFY World Championship on our last show when KENTA defended against Ricky Knight Jr. We are so excited to welcome The PROBLEM Marina Shafir to our Chapter 170 show on Sunday, September 22nd. Now it’s down to us to find her the best opponent from the UK to face the DEFY Women’s World Champion on her UK debut!”
Marina Shafir’s UK debut represents the growing synergy between DEFY Wrestling and PROGRESS Wrestling, bringing together the best talent from both sides of the Atlantic. Tickets for PROGRESS Wrestling Chapter 171: “History is written by the victors” are available now, but they are selling fast. Don’t miss your chance to witness this historic debut and be part of wrestling history at the Electric Ballroom.
For ticket information and updates, visit PROGRESS Wrestling’s official ticket website or follow PROGRESS Wrestling on social media.
