Mercedes Martinez Details Feeling Underutilized in AEW | Wrestling News
Mercedes Martinez, a veteran professional wrestler, has announced that 2026 will be her final year as a full-time competitor, attributing the decision in part to frustration with her lack of opportunities during her time with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Martinez, who departed AEW earlier in 2026 after joining the promotion in 2022, revealed her feelings on the A2theK Wrestling Show podcast.
The 45-year-old wrestler expressed gratitude for the initial opportunity Tony Khan provided her, but detailed a period of inactivity that spanned the last year and a half to two years of her AEW contract. “You know, I was blessed for the opportunity that Tony gave me for the last four years, but it felt like the last year, year and a half, almost two years, I kind of just sat on the shelf not doing anything for the company,” Martinez said. This lack of consistent involvement, she explained, led to self-doubt and questioning of her value to the promotion.
Martinez acknowledged the potential disconnect between her wrestling style and the preferences of AEW’s creative direction. “I know my style is not like a TV style. It’s exceptionally just raw. It’s very rugged. It’s very old school in the sense of very power and strong style,” she stated. She questioned whether other female wrestlers might have been hesitant to work with her due to this more physical approach, but also pointed to Eddie Kingston’s success within AEW as evidence that a more hard-hitting style could find a place on the card.
The wrestler also considered her age as a potential factor in the limited opportunities. “It’s kind of one of those things where I’m just like, ‘Man, I’m hitting that age group. I’m 45 and can I still go with the novel generation?’ Maybe that’s their thing. Maybe they didn’t want to put me into creative storylines or anything like that I’ve pitched,” she said. Martinez indicated that she had anticipated her contract would not be renewed, and that the lack of utilization ultimately led her to conclude that she would conclude her full-time wrestling career on her own terms.
Martinez’s career spans over two decades, beginning in 2001, and includes appearances in major promotions such as WWE, ROH, and AEW. She recently expressed interest in a match with WWE veteran Natalya before her retirement, a suggestion that Natalya acknowledged positively on social media, stating it “would be so cool.”