Mercedes Martinez was set to finish her in-ring career at the end of 2026. As fate would have it though, it is ending early due to a torn ACL.
On Aug. 15 in a match against Allie Katch, Martinez’s knee gave out.
“We are just about three-quarters of the way into this Last Run Tour, and about two weeks ago, I injured my knee in a match against Allie Katch for 2CW, August 15th. Two doctors later, an MRI later, the prognosis is torn ACL. For most, it’s probably not a career-ending injury but for me, it is. So I humbly — and am heartbroken to even say this — but, that’s the end of my wrestling career. This was the year, as everyone knows, was going to be my last year full-time, meaning that I wasn’t going to wrestle every weekend; that even once a month, maybe special occasions after this year. I wanted to give back to women’s wrestling. I wanted to do this my way and give 110 percent and give my body to wrestling and I did just that. My body was definitely hard to recover but I did it.”
Martinez is a veteran of wrestling as she has a 25 year career. She spent most of her years in the indie scene and eventually worked bigger promotions such as WWE’s NXT, AEW, ROH, and TNA.
She is a former SHINE Champion, two-time SHIMMER Champion, ROH Women’s World Champion, three-time WSU Champion, and is ending her in-ring career as SHINE Nova Champion. These are just some of her many accolades over the years.
Diva Dirt thanks Mercedes for one hell of a career and hope to see her as part of the industry still for years to come.