Mercedes Martinez announced last night that she is retiring this year and 2026 is going to be her last year active in the ring.
The former TNA, WWE, and AEW/ROH star has been wrestling for over 25 years and said wrestling gave her everything.
“2026. Different mindset. Different fire. This is my last year as a full-time ACTIVE professional wrestler. No contracts. No agents. No creative. Just me – and everything I’ve earned over 25 damn years in this business,” she wrote in a long post on social media.
She said last year was about going back to the indies and the grind, reminding her exactly who she is.
Martinez noted that she hopes will be able to give back to the business by teaching and helping the next generation of stars.
“So 2026 gets one more year of my body, my heart, and my fight. One more year of scars, sweat, pain, and pride. One more year of showing up and giving everything I’ve got because that’s the only way I’ve ever done this,” she continued.
“I trust the universe to meet me where I’m at – like it always has. Goodbye 2025. One last run,” Martinez concluded.
