One of the top wrestlers in AEW is the current AEW World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley. He recently brought in former WWE Superstar Marina Shafir into his faction, The Blackpool Combat Club. The faction has been terrorizing the Jacksonville-based promotion.
In an interview with TVinsider, Jon Moxley shared his thoughts on Marina Shafir.
“Dude, Marina is great. I only surround myself with people I trust and people of the highest quality of character and integrity because I don’t have time for bullsh*t. Marina has earned that respect with me. She is that kind of person who is unf*ckwithable as they say. I find her to be an inspiring person to be around. The thing about her is she has done as much or more work in the last two years than anyone. Just getting better at her craft, and pro wrestling. I’d say more than anyone in the f*ckin business. Definitely, anyone in AEW.”
Jon Moxley on why he loves to work on the Independent Wrestling Circuit
During the same interview, Moxley revealed that he had plans to work with a group of young talent as they were not getting enough exposure since AEW was not doing any house shows. Thus, he decided to build a good relationship with multiple Independent Wrestling Companies.
“I was trying to get a thing going three years ago. A lot of these younger guys aren’t getting a lot of reps without us doing house shows. A lot of these guys are fresh out of wrestling school. They are doing an eight-minute match here and there or once a week. Sometimes you have to work not on TV. It’s why I love working on the indies. It’s not the payday. I just like to be out there with no time limits or limitations and just f*ck around. It’s like a jam session. It didn’t make sense for our business plan to do house shows.
“So I thought, “Why don’t we just build relationships with these indie companies?” The good ones. No dilapidated rings or nobody doing heroin in the locker room. Just reputable people I work with. We could send these guys there. That was my idea. We didn’t really make that official but presented that if anyone wanted to get extra work, I would see what I facilitate. A lot of people did at first.”
Jon Moxley is inspired by Marina Shafir
Moxley also mentioned that he is impressed and inspired by the growth of Marina Shafir.
“The one person who said, “I’ll go wherever you want. I’ll do whatever you want me to do. Just tell me where to go.” She states working with DEFY and REVOLVER. From where she was two years ago to now is night and day. This was through sheer will. She is going to England, Seattle, Texas. I just watched her match from DEFY this past weekend. She blew my mind. Sometimes I’m gone a week and feel like my kid grew a foot.
“I’m like, “How did that happen so fast?” Just how Marina has matured as a performer is incredible. The tools she has at a super high level like being an Olympic level judo practitioner and martial artist. Everything she brings to the table. It’s inspiring to me to see someone who is willing to put myself out there and do the work and wants to improve all the time. She is inspiring to me. She is badass,” Jon Moxley said.
What are your thoughts on Marina Shafir’s recent run in AEW?