Retirement has been a very hot topic recently in the wrestling world as John Cena retired last month, and AJ Styles has made it clear that he’s planning to retire at some point in 2026.
Now it seems that another wrestler is getting ready to step away from the ring as Mercedes Martinez has announced that 2026 will be her last year as a full-time active wrestler when she posted the following:
“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. Wrestling gave me everything. It broke me. Built me. Tested me. Somehow still made me fall in love with it again.
2025 wasn’t about being showcased. It was about going back to the indies, back to the grind, back to the reason I started -and remembering exactly who I am.
Giving back. Teaching. Helping the next generation. Passing on what was given to me the hard way. That part means everything. 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.
The last few years flew by. I don’t know what’s next. All I’ve ever known is wrestling, grinding, and hustling. And for one more year…that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I trust the universe to meet me where I’m at – like it always has. Goodbye 2025. One last run.”
Mercedes Martinez announced on social media that 2026 will be her final year as a full-time active professional wrestler
“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… pic.twitter.com/p76HFVFj3e
— Covalent TV (@TheCovalentTV) January 1, 2026