Mercedes Martinez on Feeling Underutilized in AEW & Future Plans

Former AEW and Ring of Honor wrestler Mercedes Martinez has publicly stated she felt underutilized during the final years of her contract with All Elite Wrestling, a period that ultimately led to her departure earlier this year and an announced retirement from full-time competition in 2026.

Speaking with A2theKWrestling, Martinez expressed gratitude for the opportunity Tony Khan provided her over four years, but detailed a growing frustration with a lack of television time. “I’m blessed for the opportunity that Tony [Khan] gave me for the last four years. But it felt like the last year and a half, almost two years, I just sat on the shelf not doing anything for the company,” she said.

The prolonged inactivity, Martinez explained, began to impact her mental state and self-perception within the promotion. She questioned whether her skills were valued and if she still fit within AEW’s creative direction. “And it kind of messes with your mind a lot. It kind of just makes you think, ’Am I worth it? Does he really want to utilize my talent and my expertise?’” Martinez recounted. She acknowledged a perceived stylistic mismatch, noting, “I know my style is not like a TV style. It’s very just raw. It’s very rugged. It’s very old school in the sense of very power and strong style. And maybe the girls didn’t want to wrestle somebody like me with that style because it’s very raw.”

Martinez drew a comparison to Eddie Kingston, a fellow AEW performer known for a similar hard-hitting style, suggesting he demonstrated a pathway for wrestlers with a more “raw” approach to find a place on the AEW roster. “But I also look at Eddie Kingston and be like, ‘Well, if he can do it, I know I can do it. You need a female like that.’”

The 45-year-old wrestler also considered the role age might have played in the decision-making process, as AEW increasingly focused on developing younger talent. “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 new 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 she had anticipated her contract would not be renewed and began preparing for the next stage of her career independently. “So it’s just one of those things where I’m like, maybe if we don’t renew the contract, which I already knew wasn’t going to happen, that I’m gonna go out the way I want to go out.” She announced earlier this year that 2026 would be her final year as a full-time professional wrestler, according to reports. Following her departure from AEW, Martinez has also expressed interest in a potential match with WWE veteran Natalya, who responded positively to the idea on social media.