Marina Shafir is headed to CMLL as a late replacement for Shotzi Blackheart in the promotion’s 2026 Women’s International Grand Prix, with the Amazonas edition of the tournament set for October 23. CMLL confirmed the change, announcing that Shafir will take Blackheart’s spot on Team World for the event.
Shafir, an AEW talent known for her background in mixed martial arts and a distinctive in-ring style, was announced by CMLL as the addition to the Amazonas Grand Prix card. The promotion’s announcement highlighted her credentials as an AEW star stepping into the international tournament on short notice.
Blackheart’s withdrawal came after she revealed earlier in the week that she would not be able to make the trip to Mexico for the scheduled appearance. According to F4W Online, Blackheart shared that the decision followed the death of her brother, Dean Urbanski. The circumstances surrounding her exit from the card were not elaborated on further in the available reporting beyond that confirmation.
CMLL’s Women’s International Grand Prix has historically drawn talent from across the wrestling world to compete on teams organized by region, and the Amazonas installment positions Team World against other international rosters participating in the October 23 show. Shafir’s addition keeps that team intact following Blackheart’s departure from the lineup, though no further details on the full roster of Team World or the tournament’s broader card have been made available in the current reporting.
Neither Fightful nor F4W Online indicated whether Blackheart’s withdrawal would affect any other scheduled appearances tied to her AEW commitments, and no additional statements from CMLL, AEW, or the wrestlers themselves have been reported beyond the confirmation of the roster swap. The Amazonas Grand Prix remains scheduled for October 23 with Shafir now set to represent Team World in Blackheart’s place.
