Mercedes Martinez Announces 2026 As Her Final Full-Time Year In Wrestling
If you were hoping to see Mercedes Martinez putting on clinics and breaking backs on a weekly basis well into the 2030s, I’ve got some bad news for you. The veteran grappler, who has been tearing it up on the independent scene, AEW, WWE, and everywhere in between for a quarter of a century, has officially put an expiration date on her full-time career.
Martinez took to social media to drop the bombshell that 2026 will be her final year as a full-time active wrestler. And in true Martinez fashion, she isn’t doing it with a corporate press release or a flashy vignette produced by a marketing team. She’s doing it on her own terms—raw, direct, and a little bit defiant.
A Legacy Built on Grit, Not Glitz
Let’s be honest: in an industry that often prioritizes the shiny new toy, Martinez has been the reliable, dangerous engine that keeps the car running. She’s the wrestler your favorite wrestler is terrified to get in the ring with.
In her announcement, Martinez made it crystal clear that this final run isn’t about chasing fame or contracts. She explicitly stated:
That’s the kind of statement that should send a chill down the spine of anyone standing across the ring from her in 2026. She’s not fighting for a spot on the card anymore; she’s fighting because she loves the violence, the art, and the grind.
Returning to Her Roots
Interestingly, Martinez framed her 2025 as a year of recalibration. It wasn’t about being the face of a major televised brand. Instead, she went back to the indies—the gritty, unpolished proving grounds where she first cut her teeth. She noted that going back to the grind helped her remember exactly who she is.
And who is she? She’s a teacher. A mentor. A punisher.
Martinez emphasized that a huge part of this final stretch is about giving back to the next generation of pro wrestlers. She wants to pass on the lessons she learned the hard way—the scars, the sweat, and the pride that come with surviving 25 years in a business that chews people up and spits them out.
One Last Run on Her Terms
The social media post was heavy on emotion but short on self-pity. Martinez acknowledged that wrestling broke her, built her, tested her, and somehow made her fall in love with it all over again.
For fans, this is a bittersweet deadline. We have one calendar year left to appreciate the technical mastery and sheer toughness of Mercedes Martinez on a full-time schedule with either Ring of Honor or AEW. Well, AEW is gonna need somebody to have a retirement year as it looks like Chris Jericho is leaving. She’s promising one last run, fueled by nothing but her own desire to go out swinging.
So What’s Next After 2026 For Martinez?
She admits she doesn’t know what’s next after 2026, noting that all she’s ever known is “wrestling, grinding, and hustling.” But if the last two and a half decades are any indication, whatever she does next will probably involve her being the toughest person in the room. So, enjoy the violence while it lasts, folks. The clock is officially ticking on one of the most respected careers in modern wrestling history.
