"It's an interesting addition" - Jim Ross says AEW star is a key element of Jon Moxley's faction
AEW has been under attack by its World Champion. Jon Moxley and his Death Riders recently launched an onslaught on Tony Khan's company, and now the younger generation is fighting back. Jim Ross has just weighed in on an important addition to Moxley's faction, which might come as a surprise to some.
The Purveyor of Violence returned to All Elite Wrestling to begin his takeover, and with him was Marina Shafir. Married to Roderick Strong, the former WWE NXT Superstar previously competed in judo and MMA, and is better known as one of Ronda Rousey's Four Horsewomen. Moxley and Shafir eventually recruited PAC, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta to establish their violent coup.
The Problem was "an interesting addition" and a key member of the Death Riders, according to the legendary Jim Ross. Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, the part-time AEW commentator praised Shafir and talked about how important she was to Moxley's campaign. Ross also acknowledged how Shafir had been waiting for a chance like this.
"Marina is a key element to that whole package. I'm not saying she's the key element, but she is a significant contributor, and a key — an element, an important element to that whole unit. It's an interesting addition, it's timely. She's been waiting around for her opportunity since who knows when, and I think the role she's in right now is really perfect for her. So that's a good job booking, a good job of writing," Jim Ross said. [H/T:WrestlingInc]
Shafir continues to wrestle for various indie promotions, including DEFY, where she holds the Women's Championship. She has not wrestled for AEW since the Rampage loss to Ruby Soho in late December, but she was still working ROH until early August when she defeated Reiza Clarke.
Marina Shafir on why she isn't smiling in AEW
Marina Shafir has returned to AEW as a stone-cold heel with Jon Moxley and his Death Riders. Interestingly, some have even started to cheer for the violent faction in recent weeks.
Shafir has been a quiet, dominant competitor for some time, but she's turned things up a notch with her current character. The 36-year-old recently took to X (fka Twitter) and commented on why we have not seen her smile on AEW programming.
"I sell myself short if I grin #TheProblem," Marina Shafir wrote with the photo below.
The Problem captured the DEFY Women's Championship from Vert Vixen earlier this year in May. Shafir has already defended her title twice in November as she won against Danika Della Rouge on November 9 in Seattle and then picked up another win over Shoko Nakajima the next night at the same venue.