6 times Vince McMahon hired a WWE Superstar's partner

#5. WWE hired Marina Shafir two years after Roderick Strong

Signed in 2016, Roderick Strong is one of the longest-tenured WWE NXT Superstars who are yet to enter the main roster.

Before joining WWE, Strong got engaged to MMA fighter Marina Shafir. The MMA star followed in her fiancé’s footsteps and signed with the company in 2018. Soon after, the two superstars got married.

WWE made the following statement after Shafir joined the company:

“Shafir, an accomplished judoka known by the nickname “The Supernova from Moldova,” stands 5-foot-7 and has fought under the banners of Invicta and Lights Out Promotions. She is also engaged to NXT Superstar Roderick Strong and has been seen at ringside for many of The Messiah of the Backbreaker’s matches.”

After the Undisputed Era dissolved, Strong took some time off from the ring and returned as a part of the Diamond Mine. He was all set to work alongside his real-life wife in the faction, but WWE released her from her contract in June 2021.

The plan to have Strong and Shafir work together could have worked out well. However, WWE needed to cut costs and release some underutilized stars from the roster. Shafir has since returned to the independent circuit to compete in a few matches.