The AEW star gets candid about loss, love, life on the road, and the role cannabis has played in helping her stay grounded through it all.
There’s nothing subtle about Marina Shafir.
I learned this last week after sitting down with the former mixed martial artist turned wrestling icon, who cheerfully sparked one up while we discussed her life, her career, and of course, her love for the plant.
The daughter of professional power lifter Veniamin Shafir, Marina Shafir began her journey at six years old, when her parents signed her up for Judo.
While most girls her age were crafting and taking piano lessons, Shafir was launching opponents over her shoulder and perfecting her rear naked chokes.
Even at a young age, she was a badass. And when she talks about her early years in combat sports, it’s clear she’s proud of the dedication and work she put in to go from after-school Judo classes to one of the most distinctive figures in pro fighting and sports entertainment.
But it was also quite apparent that nothing – not even getting paid to beat the shit out of people on television – gives her greater joy than talking about her family.
Fighting, Family, and Weed
Mother to a 9-year-old son and married to AEW pro wrestler Chris Lindsey (a.k.a. Roderick Strong), Shafir perked up when I asked her about her husband, with whom she both works and trains.
“He’s such an amazing partner. I love that I can speak my love language with my husband while training together. That’s a different level of trust. He understands who I am, and I understand who he is,” Shafir said.
Indeed, a strong partnership with her husband makes her very hectic life possible. Balancing work and family life …
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Author: Jeff Siegel / High Times
