Following recent retirements in WWE, including John Cena‘s exit in December 2025 and AJ Styles‘ farewell at the 2026 Royal Rumble, Mercedes Martinez is expressing interest in a final showdown against Nattie Neidhart. The seasoned wrestler announced her desire for a physically intense retirement match that highlights her signature strong style, aiming to face Nattie before stepping away from professional wrestling.
Mercedes Martinez, who gained fame in AEW before joining WWE, shared her thoughts during an appearance on Fightful’s In The Weeds podcast. She emphasized wanting an unscripted match with Nattie, allowing the Queen of Harts to compete authentically without following predetermined storylines. This suggestion caught the attention of Nattie Neidhart, who responded briefly on social media, stating, “Would be so cool.”
Interestingly, Martinez specifically named Nattie rather than Natalya, underscoring her wish to face Nattie’s heel persona in all its intensity and authenticity.
Nattie Neidhart’s Recent Decisions and Hart Dungeon Insights
In a separate development, Liv Morgan spoke in an interview with Bradley Martyn on Raw Talk about her most influential trainers in wrestling, naming Bayley and Natalya. Morgan revealed she had spent substantial training time at the famed Hart Dungeon. Nattie Neidhart replied to this segment by welcoming Liv Morgan back to the Dungeon, while simultaneously announcing she had revoked training privileges for Becky Lynch and Maxxine Dupri at her family’s wrestling school.
“Liv will always have a standing invite to The Dungeon. She worked her a** off in there. Maxxine’s invite has been revoked. And Becky as well.”
?Nattie Neidhart, WWE Wrestler
This decision comes amid ongoing tensions between Nattie and both Maxxine Dupri and Becky Lynch. Recently, Nattie defeated Dupri on WWE RAW by knocking her out against the ringpost, forcing a referee stoppage. Her feud with Becky Lynch remains unresolved after Lynch eliminated Nattie from the Royal Rumble, despite Nattie assisting Lynch in an earlier match against Dupri.
Significance of the Proposed Match and Future Implications
Mercedes Martinez’s call for a retirement match against Nattie Neidhart reflects a growing trend of wrestling veterans seeking meaningful send-offs that emphasize genuine competition over scripted entertainment. Such a match would appeal to long-time fans craving authentic in-ring intensity and could serve as a memorable finale for both wrestlers.
With WWE restructuring after several high-profile retirements, this proposed encounter may have a considerable impact on the company’s women’s division, showcasing veteran talent and potentially inspiring future storylines. Fans and insiders alike await confirmation if this match will materialize before either competitor retires permanently from the ring.
Would be so cool https://t.co/h127ZqUrNL
— THE LOWKEY LEGEND (@NatbyNature) February 27, 2026
