Marina Shafir’s Husband: Roderick Strong and Their Family

Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong are a married couple who have built a life together while both pursuing careers in professional wrestling and combat sports.

Shafir’s husband is professional wrestler Roderick Strong, whose real name is Christopher Lindsey. The couple married on Nov. 7, 2018, after several years together, an engagement and the birth of their first child. WWE officially confirmed their wedding at the time, describing them as one of NXT’s notable couples.

Their relationship has an interesting connection to the wrestling world. Strong was already an established professional wrestler before Shafir joined WWE, while Shafir came into wrestling after making her name as a judo competitor and professional mixed martial artist.

They have also worked around many of the same wrestling personalities over the years. Shafir was closely connected with Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler and Jessamyn Duke through MMA, while Strong became a major figure in WWE’s NXT brand and later continued his career elsewhere in professional wrestling.

Today, the couple are known not only for their careers inside the ring but also for their family life and the way they continue to support each other’s demanding schedules.

Who Is Marina Shafir’s Husband?

Roderick Strong is the professional name of Christopher Lindsey, an American professional wrestler with a career spanning independent wrestling, WWE and AEW.

Strong became particularly well known during his time in WWE’s NXT brand. He was a member of The Undisputed ERA alongside Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish, and he also became an NXT Tag Team Champion.

Strong’s career started well before his WWE run. He spent years working on the independent wrestling scene and built a reputation as a technically skilled performer.

His career eventually brought him to WWE, where he joined NXT in 2016. During that period, he became one of the brand’s established performers.

His marriage to Shafir added another wrestling connection to his personal life. By the time they married, Shafir had also begun her own transition into professional wrestling.

When Did Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong Get Married?

Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong got married on Nov. 7, 2018.

WWE confirmed the marriage the following day, reporting that the couple celebrated their wedding on a Wednesday. Shafir also shared a photograph of their wedding bands on social media, while Strong posted a wedding photo.

Their wedding included several people from the professional wrestling community.

Reports at the time said fellow wrestlers were among those who attended the celebration. Britt Baker also shared video from the reception, giving fans a look at some of the lighter moments from the party. Ronda Rousey was also reported to have traveled back to the United States to attend the wedding.

The celebration reflected the couple’s place within the wrestling and MMA communities.

For Shafir, the wedding came only a few months after she officially began her WWE career. Strong, meanwhile, was already an established NXT performer and was competing as part of The Undisputed ERA.

The Couple Were Engaged Before They Married

Strong and Shafir did not rush into marriage.

The couple became engaged in December 2015, nearly three years before their wedding. Their engagement came while Strong was already an established name on the independent wrestling circuit and Shafir was developing her career in combat sports.

Their engagement also came before Shafir made her WWE debut.

Over the following years, their lives changed considerably. They became parents, Shafir moved further into professional wrestling and Strong established himself in WWE’s NXT brand.

By the time they eventually married, they had already experienced several major milestones together.

Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong Have a Son

The couple welcomed their first child before their wedding.

In April 2017, Shafir and Strong became parents to a son named Troy Veniamin Lindsey. WWE reported the birth at the time and described the couple as new parents.

The arrival of their son came during an important period in both of their lives.

Strong was working in NXT, while Shafir was continuing her career in MMA and preparing for her next chapter. Their growing family became part of the story of their relationship as they continued to balance professional commitments with parenthood.

Shafir has spoken warmly about family in interviews over the years, and her husband has also been an important part of her journey from combat sports into professional wrestling.

How Did Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong Meet?

The pair’s relationship developed through the combat sports and wrestling world.

According to reports at the time of their marriage, Shafir first encountered Strong when she attended a Pro Wrestling Guerrilla show with Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler and Jessamyn Duke. Strong was the PWG World Champion at the time.

The connection was helped by the fact that Shafir already had strong ties to the wrestling community through her friendships with Rousey, Baszler and Duke.

Shafir and Rousey, in particular, had trained together in judo and later worked together in MMA. Shafir was part of the group that became known as the Four Horsewomen of MMA, alongside Rousey, Baszler and Duke.

Strong’s background was different, but professional wrestling eventually became the common ground between the couple.

Marina Shafir’s Background in Judo and MMA

Before she became known as a professional wrestler, Shafir was a highly experienced combat sports athlete.

She trained in judo and later competed professionally in mixed martial arts. Her judo background became an important part of her identity in combat sports.

Shafir trained at Glendale Fighting Club in California and became close friends and training partners with Ronda Rousey. The two were part of the same MMA circle that included Baszler and Duke.

Shafir eventually competed in Invicta Fighting Championships and built a professional MMA record before moving toward professional wrestling.

Her combat sports experience made the transition into wrestling a natural fit. She already understood grappling, submissions, conditioning and the physical demands of combat competition.

She Joined WWE Before the Wedding

Shafir signed with WWE in 2018 and reported to the WWE Performance Center in May of that year.

Her arrival came as WWE was developing a group of women with backgrounds in MMA. Shafir joined Jessamyn Duke and Shayna Baszler, with Rousey already becoming one of the biggest crossover stars between MMA and professional wrestling.

Shafir made her wrestling debut later that year and quickly became associated with the Four Horsewomen of MMA.

Her WWE career developed alongside Strong’s NXT run, meaning the couple were both working within the same company during an important period of their professional lives.

That made their relationship somewhat unique. Both partners understood the travel, training and physical demands involved in wrestling.

Their Wedding Came During a Busy NXT Period

The timing of the wedding was notable because Strong was one of NXT’s established performers at the time.

In 2018, he was part of The Undisputed ERA and had become a regular presence in NXT’s championship picture. WWE also noted that he was an NXT Tag Team Champion around the time of the wedding.

Shafir was also beginning to make her mark in WWE.

She had recently appeared in connection with Shayna Baszler’s NXT Women’s Championship story, including an appearance connected to Baszler’s match against Kairi Sane at Evolution.

As a result, the wedding brought together two people who were both increasingly visible within WWE.

Ronda Rousey Was Part of Their Wrestling Circle

Ronda Rousey’s connection to Shafir goes back years before either woman became a major WWE personality.

The two trained together and became close friends through judo and MMA. Shafir was also part of the Four Horsewomen of MMA, the group that included Rousey, Baszler and Duke.

That friendship continued as all four women became connected to professional wrestling.

Rousey’s connection to Shafir also extended to the wedding. Reports following the ceremony said Rousey traveled back to the United States to attend the celebration.

This made the wedding another gathering of a group whose members had crossed paths through both MMA and WWE.

Strong and Shafir Have Also Worked Together

Being married to another professional wrestler means Strong and Shafir understand the unusual nature of the business.

Their professional careers have sometimes brought them into the same wrestling environment. WWE even released footage showing the husband-and-wife team preparing for an NXT live event in 2019.

That kind of shared experience can be useful in a career where training, travel and performance are all closely connected.

Shafir has also spoken about training with her husband and the trust that comes with working together. In an interview, she described Strong as an important partner in both her personal and professional life.

The pair therefore have a relationship that goes beyond simply being two wrestlers married to each other.

They can also understand the physical and mental preparation that goes into stepping inside the ring.

Where Are Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong Now?

Both wrestlers have continued their careers since their WWE NXT days.

Strong eventually left WWE and joined All Elite Wrestling in 2023, continuing his career as a major name in professional wrestling. Shafir also moved into AEW after her WWE run and has competed in the company and its sister promotion Ring of Honor.

Shafir has been associated with the Death Riders in AEW and has continued to compete as a singles and tag team wrestler.

The couple’s careers have therefore continued to evolve, even as their marriage has remained a constant part of their personal lives.

Their Family Remains Important Away From Wrestling

Although professional wrestling takes up a large portion of their working lives, Shafir and Strong have also built their relationship around their family.

Their son, Troy, was born in 2017, before the couple married the following year. The family has experienced several career changes since then, including moves between wrestling promotions and changes in their professional schedules.

Shafir has spoken publicly about the importance of her family and her relationship with Strong.

The couple’s careers may involve long travel schedules and physically demanding work, but they have continued to find ways to support each other.

That shared understanding is especially relevant because both have spent years in combat sports and professional wrestling, industries where injuries, travel and intense training can be part of everyday life.

Marina Shafir Husband FAQs

Who is Marina Shafir’s husband?

Marina Shafir’s husband is professional wrestler Roderick Strong, whose real name is Christopher Lindsey. The couple married in November 2018.

When did Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong get married?

They got married on Nov. 7, 2018, after being engaged since December 2015.

Do Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong have children?

Yes. They have a son named Troy Veniamin Lindsey, who was born in April 2017.

Are Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong both wrestlers?

Yes. Strong has had a long professional wrestling career, while Shafir moved from judo and MMA into professional wrestling and has competed for WWE and AEW.

Is Roderick Strong still married to Marina Shafir?

Yes. Recent reporting continues to identify Strong and Shafir as a married couple, and they have remained together since their 2018 wedding.

Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong’s Story

Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong’s relationship is a story that connects several parts of the combat sports world.

Shafir entered the public eye through judo and MMA before making the move to professional wrestling. Strong spent years establishing himself as one of the respected performers on the independent wrestling circuit before joining WWE and becoming a key member of NXT.

Their relationship eventually brought those worlds together.

They became engaged in 2015, welcomed their son Troy in 2017 and married in 2018. Their wedding was attended by friends and colleagues from the wrestling community, including people from Shafir’s close MMA circle.

Years later, both continue to work in professional wrestling while raising their family.

For fans searching for Marina Shafir’s husband, the answer is Roderick Strong. But their story is more than a simple celebrity relationship. It is a partnership between two people who understand the demands of combat sports, professional wrestling and life on the road, while also sharing the responsibilities of raising a family.