Marina Shafir Discusses Stepping Up to Face Mercedes Mone, Why She Decided Now Was Her Time

AEW star Marina Shafir recently sat down with Close Up with Renee Paquette, discussing her upcoming title bout against AEW Women’s World Champion Mercedes Mone at AEW Full Gear 2026. Below are some highlights:

Marina Shafir on the Moment Where She Stepped Up to Mercedes Mone

“It would have sucked if all this was just a waste of time, you know? It’s simply — it’s just that simple. Like time is money and I didn’t want to waste anybody’s time and definitely not going to waste any of her time.”

Why She Feels Now Is Her Time

“It’s gotten to a point where I feel like an undeserved fortune, right, always conceals a snare. And like I didn’t want that to happen. I didn’t want to get this far just to get this far. You know, the intention was always to evolve and change and grow. And this is just another — it’s another step in all that, like it was always meant to be this.”

Shafir on Her Evolution and Still Grieving Over the Recent Passing of PAC

“I’ve been marinating in front of her for a long time. This is obviously isn’t the first time we’ve met. You know, there’s some history there or maybe a lack thereof history. And maybe I have a little bit of a grudge about that. Never really got to truly cross paths with her the way that I deemed fit, and I had to let her know.

“It’s all a little crazy over how everything happened. I try not to think about anything negative, but with PAC and then all the opportunities coming, it’s, you know, that’s a little I had to mature in the sense of, like, an opportunity is an opportunity, and I’m meant to grow and evolve somehow through this. And that has always been the mission. And regardless of what the circumstances are. My brothers are grieving. We’re all still grieving. None of us have been able to come up for any kind of air because that’s really not how we operate. That’s not how we — [we] wouldn’t feel good about it if we did that. And I just had to let her know in there. And she had to let me. She had to remind me who she was, and it was kind of nice.”

Marina Shafir challenges Mercedes Mone for the AEW Women’s World Title at AEW Full Gear 2026. The event takes place on Saturday, November 14. It will be held at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. AEW Full Gear will be broadcast live on pay-per-view.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Close Up with Renee Paquette with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.