The WWE Performance Center welcomed three new signees to NXT, although none of them are unfamiliar with long time fans. The final two members of MMA’s Four Horsewomen – Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir – joined NXT and will begin training at the Performance Center, while the third, British indie star Martin Stone, officially signed with WWE, after working on a per appearance deal in NXT as Danny Burch.
#FourHorsewomen's @MarinaShafir and @jessamynduke have reported for training at the @WWEPerformCtr! https://t.co/VeTQMYLTZU
— WWE (@WWE) May 7, 2018
It was always a question of when, not if, when it came to the remaining two, as both were initially trained several years ago by Josh Barnett and WWE Superstar Natalya in preparation for transitioning to pro wrestling, alongside other Horsewomen Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey. Baszler made the jump first, hitting the indie circuit first in late 2015, before signing with the WWE last summer. Ronda Rousey made her debut this January at the Royal Rumble.
From WWE’s official statement on their website today:
Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir have joined their Four Horsewomen teammates Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler in making the move from mixed martial arts to sports-entertainment, reporting for training today at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla.
The 5-foot-11 Duke fought professionally from 2012 to 2016, competing in the bantamweight class for organizations including the UFC. She was also a member of the UFC’s “Ultimate Fighter” reality competition series in 2013, as part of “Team Rousey.”
Shafir, 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.
It's time to officially welcome @strongstylebrit to the @WWEPerformCtr! https://t.co/WwMXppTzww
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) May 7, 2018
Martin Stone is a 16-year veteran of the UK scene, working for the likes of IPW, RevPro , ICW and PROGRESS, as well as working the US indie scene, with Beyond, EVOLVE, Full Impact Pro, WrestleCircus, GCW and more. He’s also worked for Germany’s wXw and Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan. He was briefly signed to the WWE from 2012 through 2014, but continued to work with NXT on a per appearance deal off and on for the past few years, continuing to work as Danny Burch.
From the WWE’s official statement today on their website:
The battle-tested Briton, a familiar face to NXT fans, has signed a WWE contract. He reported for training today at WWE’s Orlando, Fla.-based facility.
A 15-year ring veteran from East London, England, Burch was a member of WWE’s developmental system from 2012 to 2014, and he has been a regular competitor inside the yellow ropes since then as well. He also wrestled in the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament in 2017. More recently, Burch has found success in NXT’s Tag Team division, forming a popular smash-mouth alliance with Oney Lorcan.
