Steve Carrier on March 21, 2026
Mercedes Martinez isn’t holding back when talking about the real reason behind her decision to make 2026 her final year as a full-time wrestler.
While appearing on The A2theK Wrestling Show podcast, the veteran star made it clear that her frustrations during the final stretch of her AEW run played a major role in forcing her to rethink her future. Martinez explained that the turning point came during the final year of her AEW contract, when she felt her experience and abilities were not being used to their fullest. That stretch of inactivity didn’t just affect her schedule — it started to affect her mindset.
“I think it happened last year when being contracted especially with AEW and not being utilized to my full potential kind of brought me into that weird space — headspace — of like, am I really, like can I still hang with the females? Can I still hang with the top tier? Do I still have a lot to prove? Do I have anything to prove left?”
She acknowledged that she appreciated the opportunity she had under Tony Khan, but said the lack of consistent involvement created a long stretch where she felt sidelined. According to Martinez, that period lasted far longer than she expected and took a mental toll.
“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. And it kind of messes with your mind a lot.”
Martinez also questioned whether her wrestling style — known for its physical, hard-hitting nature — was being overlooked. She said the situation left her wondering whether AEW leadership truly saw value in what she brought to the table.
“It kind of just makes you wonder — does he really want to utilize my talent and my expertise? 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.”
Despite those frustrations, Martinez pointed to other wrestlers with similar styles who found success on television, reinforcing her belief that she still belonged at a high level.
“Maybe the girls don't want to wrestle somebody like me with that style… 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.”
As time passed, Martinez admitted she began to accept the likelihood that her contract would not be renewed. Instead of waiting for the situation to resolve itself, she made the decision to take control of how her full-time career would come to an end.
“So it's just one of those things where I'm like, you know what, maybe if the contract — we don't renew the contract, which I already knew it wasn't going to happen — that I'm going to go out the way I want to go out.”
Rather than quietly stepping away, Martinez said she intends to use her final full-time year as proof that she still belongs among the top names in the industry. Her goal is to face as many opponents as possible and leave no doubts about her ability.
“I want to make sure that I can spend this last year wrestling anybody and everybody — new generation, old generation, the vets — the works, and show that yeah, it doesn't matter if I was on TV or not. I can still go.”
“I'm going to do it with just one last year without any change around my wrists — my way, the way I chose to do it, the same way that I came in. Balls to the wall, baby.”
Martinez’s comments paint a clear picture of a veteran who believes her AEW frustrations directly influenced her decision to step back from full-time wrestling. Rather than letting inactivity define her legacy, she’s turning her final year into one last run meant to prove she still has plenty left to give inside the ring.
Do you think Mercedes Martinez was right to blame her AEW frustrations for pushing her toward her final full-time year, or should the company have found a bigger role for her before it reached this point? Share your thoughts and leave your feedback below.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
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