Jon Moxley has never been shy about his desire to reshape the landscape of professional wrestling. In a candid interview on AEW Close Up, the reigning Continental Champion delved into the philosophy and motivation behind the creation of the Death Riders, the dominant faction currently terrorizing the AEW roster.
Building a Culture of Professionalism
The group, which features Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, PAC, Daniel Garcia, and Marina Shafir, was born out of Moxley’s frustration with the existing locker room environment. “I don’t think there’s anything I’ve ever done that I’m more proud of in my career than when we built the Death Riders,” Moxley told the program. “This culture, this attitude, this does not represent me. I do not represent it… So I just decided I would build a culture of my own.”
Moxley described the selection process for the group, highlighting his years of trust in Castagnoli and his role as a mentor to Yuta. However, he reserved his highest praise for Marina Shafir, whom he designated as the “heart and soul” of the operation.
“If every wrestler in this sport worked as hard every single day as Marina Shafir, everybody would be a thousand times better,” Moxley asserted. He detailed her relentless training schedule, noting that even on show days, he often finds her performing shadow boxing or rope exercises at the arena or hotel pool. “Marina has become my lieutenant, my head of security… looking like a pitbull.” Moxley’s comments, originally transcribed by WrestleTalk.com, underscore the disciplinary standards he expects from those walking alongside him in the Death Riders.
