The 25 year veteran Mercedes Martinez is giving fans one more year. The 45 year old Martinez has spent more than half of her life in the squared circle, and has worked for every top promotion and many more indie promotions.
She stated that 2026 will be her final year as a full-time active in-ring wrestler –
2026.
Different mindset. Different fire. This is my last year as a full-time ACTIVE professional wrestler.
No contracts.
No agents.
No creative.
Just me – and everything I’ve earned over
25 damn years in this business.
Wrestling gave me everything.
It broke me.
Built me.
Tested me.
Somehow still made me fall in love with it again.
2025 wasn’t about being showcased. It was about going back to the indies, back to the grind, back to the reason I started -and remembering exactly who the hell I am.
Giving back.
Teaching.
Helping the next generation. Passing on what was given to me the hard way.
That part means everything.
So 2026 gets one more year of my body, my heart, and my fight. One more year of scars, sweat, pain, and pride. One more year of showing up and giving everything I’ve got because that’s the only way I’ve ever done this.
The last few years flew by.
I don’t know what’s next. All I’ve ever known is wrestling, grinding, and hustling.
And for one more year…that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
I trust the universe to meet me where I’m at – like it always has.
Goodbye 2025.
One last run.
Martinez is still listed on the AEW online roster. She hasn’t appeared in AEW since 2023 and ROH since 2024. She wrestled about a dozen matches on the indies in 2025.